Angel is fourteen years old when her mutant nature first manifests, and she is driven out of her home by her abusive step-father. The following morning, she awakes and discovers that a cocoon has formed; she emerges after sprouting a pair of wings. She is captured by U-Men, humans who seek to harvest mutant body parts to graft onto themselves. Wolverine rescues her from a mobile operating theatre by the side of the road. He kills all the U-Men and escorts her back to the school. They stop for a bite to eat, which is a mistake as the diner owner has gone insane from previous dealings with his mutant family. They are attacked when the owner sees Angel digesting her food in the manner of flies.