Surrounded by Bobby, Dani, and Sam, Rahne, in wolf form, is sitting on a throne, which a group of slaves is carrying on a liter through the streets of Nova Roma. As Sam complains about feeling like an idiot waving to the people, Gallio thought-bubbles how Nova Roma views him as a hero for bringing to it the "living representation of our most revered deity." Deriding the crowd as fools (of course), he plans on using that belief to break the power of the Senate and end the Republic forever. As Aquila darkly looks at him, he crows that even Aquila can't stop him from becoming emperor. Sam comments on them glaring at each other to Bobby, but Bobby says it's none of their business as he instead thinks about his mother. He figures the patrols would've found her if she had survived; given the lack of word, he worries she's dead. He sees Dani looking at him and tries to keep up a brave face as he doesn't want his teammates to see how upset he is. Dani sees through his act, cursing him for being too proud to talk about his feelings but then realizing they're very much alike, which is why she cares.
At the conclusion of the parade, Gallio escorts the kids into a place he's giving to them. Dani finds a robe for Rahne as she changes into human form, expressing her concern the Nova Romans calling her a goddess is "na' proper." Gallio chides her, saying she is a god to them and even hypothesizes the Roman gods were actually mutants like them. (That's an interesting theory, to be honest.) Gallio brings out a banquet for the kids, but Sam expresses concern slaves are serving them, prompting Bobby to note his father was a slave and their luxury comes at a price. This talk concerns Dani, remembering how close they came to being slaves themselves and how Gallio could change his mind.
Later, Dani thanks Gallio for his kindness, but Sam, naively, notes the dark look the guy gave him at the parade. Gallio says he can guess who it was, but tells him not to concern himself with Senator Aquila. Sam realizes it's Amara's dad (having noticed a resemblance, apparently) and asks if they don't get along. Gallio says he's of the patrician class, "born and bred to uphold the ideals and traditions that have made Rome great." However, Aquilla is "plebeian," a commoner like other Senators, though they serve more honorably than he does. Gallio tells the kids Aquilla respects "no law but his own and desires nothing but power." He claims Aquilla is trying to make himself emperor, but Sam isn't buying it. Gallio reminds Sam of the slick company reps who used to screw over his father and his fellow miners by burying the details in their contracts. But, he realizes Gallio sees them as kids and Dani's successfully playing him with her obsequiousness, so Sam plays along, too. He says Amara told him her father ran the republican party, and Rahne bursts into hysterics, screaming at Sam that Amara is a liar and a sneak. The New Mutants express shock at Rahne's outburst, with Dani wondering why Rahne has been on Amara's case since the start, if it's an issue between her and Amara or her and Sam. Gallio tells Rahne she shouldn't judge Amara harshly; she's a loyal daughter to Aquilla. But, he then notes she didn't accompany them to the arena, leaving the New Mutants to their fate. Rahne agrees, saying the New Mutants stand by their friends and offering her support to Gallio. Gallio thanks her and then leaves them to rest.
Relieved, Bobby activates his powers and shatters his armor, apologizing to the other kids for his outburst but nothing how hot the armor is. He collapses into a chair and tells them to wake him in a week "preferably with a kiss." Sam isn't having it, though: he asks what Rahne is "playin' at," offering their help to Gallio without running it by the team first. Rahne asks why she shouldn't have done so, and Sam reminders her they're strangers in a strange land with no idea who the good or bad guys are. (Good point, Sam.) He tells Rahne that her "crazy hate" of Amara is blinding her, and Rahne shoots back, telling Sam he likes Amara and it's confounding his judgment. She asks who made him -- "high-an'-mighty Guthrie" -- leader of the New Mutants, and Sam hilariously tells her to mind her elders. Rahne gives as good as she gets, telling him she's not going to mind an elder who acts like a baby. (I'm not really buying Sam acting like a baby here, Rahne.) Bobby leaves, noting how Dani has been taking lead lately so he'll let her handle the situation. He realizes she's a better leader than him, since he doesn't have the patience to be one; his answer is to punch someone.
In the hallway, a slave girl offers to "ease [his] sadness," but Bobby says he wants to left alone. He ponders how his feelings are so evident and if he likes feeling sorry for himself, reviewing for the reader how he was too slow to prevent the death of Juliana, the loss of Xi'an, and the disappearance of his mother. In tears, he wonders what good his powers are if he can't save the people he loves. He wishes his father were there, because when they're together they "talk like pals." (Enjoy that now, 'Berto...) Just then, he passes a window and notices two women leading a handcuffed woman with red hair into a building. Bobby rushes down the steps only to encounter armed guards preventing him from leaving, telling him Gallio has ordered them to stay in the palace "for [their] own protection." Bobby powers up abilities, but he then thinks of Professor X and how he'd be appalled at him for threatening an innocent man doing his duty. He also realizes the woman has disappeared and assumes he just imagined her. (Does he often imagine red-haired women who look like his mother?) He powers down his abilities and apologizes, to the "decurion's" relief.
Later that night, Dani sneaks from her room, using her powers to summon the image of two scantily clad women to distract the guards. Dani feels guilty given how happy the guys looked, but makes her way outside. She figures no one will notice her given she's Native American and the city is half Incan, but a hand places itself over her mouth before she can get far. Later, Rahne is sitting in a window worried that Dani hasn't returned but Bobby assures Rahne that Dani can take care of herself. He rubs her hair and she laughs, but then admits she's ashamed of herself for saying such hateful things to Sam and for blaspheming by pretending to be a god. She then sobs that she wonders why God hasn't struck her dead and frets over burning in Hell. Bobby tells her she shouldn't worry if her beliefs aren't shaken, but she confesses they are shaken, as she likes being a wolf more than a girl, a feeling that increases every day. Bobby doesn't know what he should say, but then notices a gun pointing from behind the drapes. The shot glances off his shoulder and sends him tumbling out the window, awakening a boxer-clad Sam. Sam blasts from his bed out the window to grab him, reminding us again that Bobby isn't invulnerable, even as Sunspot. Sam hastily returns, as Rahne is in the room with the attempted murderer, but she's already turned into a wolf and leapt at the assailant. Of course it's Castro, and Gallio and his guards (suspiciously) enter immediately. Sam tells Gallio they need a doctor, but an enraged Bobby points out Castro is the man who killed his mother. Gallio promises he'll face justice, but when he asks Castro who sent him Castro spits on him. Gallio threatens to leave him with Bobby to settle the matter and an allegedly panicked Castro says it was Aquilla. (Of course it was.) Gallio orders his centurion to arrest Aquilla.
Meanwhile, Dani awakens in a cave dressed in a bikini and notices two other girls drugged and dressed the same way, including Amara. Dani supposes her "mutant metabolism" burned off the drug more quickly. She asks a barely conscious Amara where they are and Amara mutters that she doesn't know. She asks why they're there and a brute carrying a torch tells her to be sacrificed. A still woozy Dani realizes she can't fight as she doesn't have control over her spirit forms. The guards lead her, Amara, and the third girl to a large pit of fire, apparently the "sanctuary of the Cult of Fire" where the girls will be sacrificed to the "eternal flame." Suddenly, Selene, "daughter of the moon, mistress of fire," appears, telling the girls to come to her. Dani recognizes the psychic tug and realizes her training is helping her to resist Selene's call. The third girl begs Selene to stop as she continues to walk closer to Selene and Dani frantically tries to summon her power. Dani realizes Selene knows she has powers and is blocking her from using them as she sends the third girl to her death so she can have life. (Aha!) Selene exposits she's a goddess who's walked Earth before the dawn of time and asks whether Amara or Dani will go next.
At the Aquilla estate, Sam blasts through a wall, surprising Aquilla's personal guards. However, he thought-bubbles that Castro fingering Aquilla was suspicious, especially since Gallio had his army all set to go after him. He laments they have no time to think, particularly as Bobby just wants to bust heads. One of the centurions refuses to allow Rahne to follow Bobby and Sam, as she's the "living heart" of the city. Sam grabs Bobby, telling him the centurions don't need help massacring other centurions. Sam acknowledges Rahne might be right about Amara getting to him, but he tells Bobby he doesn't trust Gallio and they can make sure he doesn't "accidentally" kill Aquilla in trying to arrest him; Bobby concurs. On cue, Gallio's cronies burst into Aquilla's room, where he's ready with a sword. He takes out one centurion as another declares Gallio wants Aquilla's head on a pike, a different order than we heard Gallio give in front of the kids. Sam and Bobby arrive in time to prevent the centurions from killing Aquilla. In Latin, Aquilla asks Gallio if he's disappointed to see him alive. Gallio privately curses the meddlesome kids but then tells Aquilla he'll be dead soon enough, once the Senate convicts him of high treason due to the "overwhelming" evidence against him. Aquilla calls him the traitor, and Gallio gloats Aquilla couldn't stop him even if it were true. Gallio thanks the kids for their help, and Bobby reveals he speaks Latin and realizes they've made a terrible mistake in trusting Gallio.
Meanwhile, Selene has Amara on a platform, telling her she knew she'd come to her as her mother did. She reveals she knew Senator Aquilla was trying to save her by hiding her in the Amazon with the other refugees from her cult. She tells a drugged Amara she'll die by her hand and Gallio will kill her husband, spelling doom for the Republic. Dani is appalled, but Selene is too strong as she tries to break free. She finally overcomes her, creating a spirit form that scares the goons and allows her to make her way to Selene. A surprised Selene focuses on Dani for a moment, but quickly recovers before Dani can shove her into the lava. She tells Dani she realized she was a fellow mutant the moment she entered the arena, and she's surprised she is one, given Selene thought she was alone. Dani realizes why people hate mutants if they're all such monsters. Selene asks Dani to join her as she scratches her face and licks the blood, telling her it's allowed her to see into Dani's soul. (Um, OK.) Amara suddenly shouts "murderer" and exposits the fight broke Selene's hold on her. (So it wasn't the drugs?) But, Selene easily backhands her into the lava pit. However, suddenly, an earthquake sends columns toppling in Nova Roma, creating a fissure with lava. In the cave, Amara's powers are fully evident and she swears vengeance on Selene for all the people she's killed.
The Review
This issue really kicks the Nova Roma storyline into high gear. Claremont does a great job of using the situation to test the kids in a way they previously haven't been, bringing out new aspects of their personalities. Despite his country-bumpkin act, Sam is insightful in his reading of the political situation in Nova Roma and shows maturity in acknowledging Rahne could be right that his feelings for Amara might be clouding his judgment. Bobby also shows maturity for recognizing his shortcomings and in embracing Dani's leadership of the team. For her part, Dani recognizes her pride has led her to build walls around her that aren't helping her, an example she clearly sees in Bobby. In fact, Rahne is the only one not to show growth here; instead, she reminds us just how much of a sheltered child she remains. All in all, this arc really sees the kids becoming full-fledged characters and this series really hitting its stride.
Some other thoughts:
- I thought Gallio proclaimed Rahne to be Caesar's descendant because of her short, not red, hair. In the narration here, it says Caesar had red hair, which was news to me.
- I'm surprised to the extent everyone just accepts Sam's feelings for Amara, given they've all basically spent less than 24 hours together. Other than carrying her while he was nearly naked last issue, I don't really remember them interacting all that much.
- At the pit of fire, Dani notices she and the other two girls are terrified and wonders why she's so affected, pondering if it was the drug. Um, maybe it's the huge pit of fire into which Selene is going to hurl you, Dani?
- Sexy time with slaves! Helping centurions murder other centurions! Sexy time as slaves! Seriously, Claremont continues the trend of putting the kids in adult or dangerous situations wearing little more than underwear. Bobby is thirteen years old, but Claremont has no problem showing a slave throwing herself at him. (I'm impressed by Bobby's ability to resist.) It's all very...questionable. ("X-Men and the Micronauts" really pushes this envelope.)
- I'm surprised Selene, who's allegedly walked the Earth for centuries, didn't know other mutants existed. What the what? Like, she hasn't left the Amazon in centuries?
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