WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Way of X #4 by Si Spurrier, Bob Quinn, Java Tartaglia & VC's Clayton Cowles, on sale now
The recent events of the Hellfire Gala saw the newly elected X-Men and their allies make a major power move, changing the face of the Marvel Universe. There are still some problems with the after-effects of the terra-forming of Mars, and some mutants are crucial to the planet maintaining its place as the future of Arakko.
And in Way of X #4, the sand-manipulating New X-Men veteran Dust proves why she's one of the most important mutants to stabilizing living conditions on Mars.
Visiting Planet Arakko alongside Legion, the Xorn Brothers, and the newly re-empowered Lost, who has to relocate to Arakko full-time due to her powers having less of a negative effect on others on the different gravity of the planet formerly known as Mars), Nightcrawler learns about some of the natural problems that still exist on the planet -- even following the terra-forming of the planet by representatives of Krakoa. During the Hellfire Gala, it was revealed that a host of Omega-Level Mutants were capable of transforming the planet into a habitable home for the mutants of Akko -- doing so in a matter of hours, and seemingly cementing the mutant race as the future of the solar system. Although many elements of the planet have already been figured out by the group, however, there are still some unique challenges.
Noticing the eruption of the local volcano, Nightcrawler turns out to be right to be concerned. The visiting group ends up running into Dust, who shows up via a Krakoa Gate. Dust -- aka Sooraya Qadir -- was introduced in New X-Men #133 by Grant Morrison and Ethan van Sciver and quickly established herself as one of the more distinct young X-Men of the Decimation era. A devout Muslim and a quick friend of Laura Kinney, Dust has the ability to transform into a living dust storm and even control other similar clouds she encounters. She's been shown using the power offensively and defensively when necessary, became a reoccurring student and member of the Young X-Men, and has even recently become an ally to the Champions.
As she explains to Nightcrawler when she arrives on Arakko, Olympus Mons -- the volcano created in the terra-forming process -- has been erupting constantly since the Hellfire Gala. These new volcanos have resulted in gigatons of dust being stirred up across the planet's surface and coming together as a massive storm, which has begun to follow the Martian moon of Phobos like a tide of sand and dirt. Although the Arrako mutants invite the challenge of such elements, Dust has been tasked with controlling the dust storm and preventing it from decimating the newly constructed alien embassies. Wrestling the storm in her own sand form, Dust is able to seemingly get it under control -- even impressing Legion, who is often somewhat detached by choice.
It's an impressive showing from Dust, with the young mutant countering an entire elemental result of the terra-forming process. There are possibly plenty of other problems with the process that weren't predicted by the initial group of Omega-Level Mutants who went through with the act. But thanks to people like Dust, these problems can be countered and contained. Dust may even want to remain on Arakko to assist with such a potential crisis -- and possibly become one of the Krakoa-associated figures who can provide Storm with a familiar face and a steady ally as the former X-Men leader prepares to take her new position as the regent of Arakko. It all bodes well for Dust, who could use this as a stepping stone to taking on a more visible role in the modern era of X-Men.