X-Factor, Vol. 1 #123 (1996)

It Begins... Again
Sabretooth lunges at Forge, Polaris, Valerie and Wild Child, only to attack the large being behind them - a mutant Hound. Sabretooth explains to Valerie that this is why he was sent here without the rest of X-Factor as he battles the Hound, Mystiqueâs attempted assassin. During this, Mystique remains unconscious. Polaris tries to stop the Hound with her magnetic powers, but he just passes right through them. Sabretooth and Wild Child tackle the Hound before he can get to Mystique, before Polaris drops a huge pile of rubble and equipment on the Hound. Forge decides to tap into the facilityâs computer to find some more information about the Hound, while Sabretooth tells Valerie that his collar has been switched off, so he doesnât have to so what she tells him. The Hound breaks through the rubble, and boasts that no mutant can stop him, which is why he was made into this thing. Polaris summons immense power, and takes control of the Hound, asking him various questions, he explains that he doesnât know why he attacked Mystique, but that he cannot stop until all mutants are dead, and that he is a mutant also. Polaris incapacitates the Hound, though she is drained of energy. Forge gets to work on finding out about this Government facility, and learns that Rory Campbell is somehow involved, when he is discovered by some black-op Government agents, who end the goings-ons by taking the Hound into custody. Valerie is confronted by a man called Gladstone whom she has some sort of friendship with, and Gladstone persuades her to give this mission up, warning her that it is for her own good. X-Factor, including Sabretooth, then leave. Meanwhile, at Falls Edge, two unknown Government operatives break in, as they were informed the place would be deserted. As they try to steal Forgeâs computer and files, they are stopped by Shard. Graydon Creedâs campaign for President of the United States receives a large sum of money from someone within the Government, and Graydon is warned that Mystique is going to be kept alive to keep him in check. Two days later, Valerie and Senator Kelly travel to the location of the Government facility on the border, only to find the whole place is gone, replaced by farms. They are confronted by a Government Scientist-cum-Farmer who explains that they are testing bovine diseases, and he claims he doesnât know what Valerie is talking about when she mentions the complex that was supposed to be here. Senator Kelly is annoyed, but tells Valerie that this confirms some suspicions he has been having of late. Later, Valerie walks the grounds of Falls Edge at night time, and is confronted by Sabretooth, who hints that he likes his current situation, before warning Valerie that she might be the next person to end up with a restraining collar around her neck.
Release Date: 1996