This mess started shortly after the escape from Project: Arena. The plane wrecked on your way to LA from Denver. Surprisingly, you found yourself in Whitney's apartment.

From here you found that the actual events just happen to have strangely mirrored those during your time in the Arena. Very strange. Anyway, you ended up hiring Whitney to find out about you, while you made your return to life as James Sculley.

Eventually, she found your father. Your mother had been killed earlier. Your father was drunk and you didn't get very far with him. After recovering some personal stuff from the police station, he disappeared. However, an envelope with $2000 was left behind. You used this to pay off Whitney, among other things.

One day, while having lunch at the Flying Beagle Cafe, at the airport, you were embroiled in a five-way battle. Pulsar had found the location of one of Mechanon's secret labs located under the airport. He planned to break in, steal the spoils and then have a Mechanon robot under his command. His plan was foolproof; just like his last great plan.

Unfortunately for Pulsar, Armadillo came across part of the transmissions that led Pulsar to the lab. He followed Pulsar to the lab, hoping he could sneak in and get the goods for himself. Also, Shrinker found that the word on the street was that Pulsar was up to something big. She arrived just to take whatever it was he was working so hard to get. This could be the most fun she's had all year! And then Mechanon showed up.

In the fight that ensued, Mechanon got away with the essential memory circuits and trashed most of the base. But not before, some of the equipment was loaded onto the waiting semi. Shrinker managed to drive this away before Mechanon could stop her. Eventually, Armadillo caught up with her and took the spoils by force. He also gave Pulsar something to remember him by. He ended up back in the hospital, only a day after his released due to your attack.

Armadillo took this equipment to Hexmaster and upgraded his armor. It was now stronger and had Mechanon's laser attack.

Then you began your multiple identity escapade. First, you became Azure. He met up with Lady Blue. This was where the first mention to the GSVC out of Arena was made. She wanted to know if Azure was a hero or a villain, as points were important, and if a hero, this was her chance. He didn't know and Lady Blue left in a bit of a huff.

Next you became Ebony. During this alias there was a blackout caused by an unknown villain in an attempt to rack up points. It's not known if the ploy succeeded or not. Ebony ran into Ultraman, who blamed you for the blackout and tried to bring you to justice.

Then as Heliotrope you ran into Polaris and nearly killed him in the ensuing battle.

Finally, as Tawny, you came across Lady Blue again and proceeded to trash Thunder and Lightning, who at the time were still heroes. The two of you then robbed the 1st National Bank, but Shadow Queen showed up. You changed back to Sculley, as SQ promptly defeated Lady Blue.

The two of you then teamed up and started a free-lance adventurer's agency. You also sold an interview with SQ to Superstar magazine.

Your first case was to protect the Tanghal Tower. First Hexmaster attacked, and then came a squad of VIPER Agents and Icicle. You beat everybody off, but after talking with Icy alone, you let her go. Apparently she had been taken in by them and she was returning the favor.

The adventure continued with the H.A.R.T. trilogy.

X-Factor Annual #2 - "GSVC: Phase One"

Having met up with Blizzard and Shockwave, the three of you went about the mystery of the Hawkes Phantom. You freed Whitney, and found that she heard of an assassination attempt on Lou Mead, or so it was thought. In actuality, the Phantom was Lou Mead.

Mead's plan was to gather all his intended victims together in one place on the pretext of meeting you. A battle ensued there, but the Red Phantom managed to get away. You followed him on a chase on locomotives and caught him, but in the final struggle, he fell off the train and was chewed up under the wheels. You all then returned to LA.

Back home, you found out that Shadow Queen had been captured and taken to the Crimson Claw as part of the GSVC. You then planned to rescue her.

After finding out the location of the Claw's infamous citadel, you posed as a villian called Lightmaster who had "captured" Blizzard. Under this pretext, you were able to infiltrate the citadel and learn about the Claw's game.

After spending some time looking around and getting the basic layout of the place, you took advantage of a fight between two villains which quickly turned into a free for all. During the chaos, you were able to free a number of the captured heroes.

Morning Star was one of them. She joined your newly forming group, and X-Factor was born. This made your initial line-up: Spectrum, Blizzard, Shockwave, Shadow Queen, and Morning Star.

The team then bought an old school house and proceeded to turn it into your first base of operations.

From here, the adventures continued in the start of the X-Factor Series with issue #1.