X FACTOR #41 (JUN 89)

London: From under a bridge comes a troll, who senses gold and goes looking for it. His search ends at the home of Thomas Jones who is studying for a chemistry exam. As he tries to memorize the characteristics of different elements in the Periodic Table, his latent mutant ability kicks in, transforming his pen into solid gold. The boy is so immersed in his work that he doesn't notice and discards the pen. Having seen this, the troll believes that the boy is an alchemist and decides to capture the lad. Across the Atlantic, X-Factor relaxes and watches over the members of the New Mutants, who have also absorbed their former students Rictor, Boom-Boom, Rusty and Skids into their group. As Iceman, Beast, and Cyclops go through a training session with the kids, it's noted that Boom-Boom has abandoned her crush on Iceman to focus her affections toward the New Mutants leader Cannonball. Marvel Girl and Archangel watch from above, and talk about the changes both have gone through: Archangel's manipulation by Apocalypse, and Jean's having absorbed the minds of Madelyne Pryor and a portion of the Phoenix Force that was inside her clone. Back in London, Thomas is isnatched by the Troll. However, his kidnapping allows the boy to transform some bricks outside his window into gold and rouse the attention of his mother. Thinking the Troll is a mutant, she calls X-Factor's hotline�