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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Even an External can Die!
Death. It comes to each of us. In youth, it seems so very far away. As an External - the rare mutant granted the gift of immortality - this man, Gideon, never gave death a thought. But here, lying gape-jawed and wide-eyed, horror-stricken, he is most certainly dead. ‘No pulse. No heartbeat. This cannot be happening!’ exclaims Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta, who, as a member of the young heroes X-Force, has seen death far too many times in his life - teammates and loved ones - his father, his first love Juliana Sandoval.
Perhaps that is why, despite the fact that Gideon was the cause of his father’s death, Bobby still strives to do everything in his power to save Gideon’s life, using his mutant powers to heat Gideon’s body up, until, Bobby’s teammate Caliban the Morlock approaches him in this deserted downtown street, telling him to stop, remarking that he may not know many things, but he knows that Gideon fell off a tall building and is now dead.
As Caliban pulls him off Gideon, Bobby tells his friend that he doesn’t understand, as Gideon was an External and supposed to life forever! Caliban replies that he is confused: ‘How come someone who lives forever…die?’. Although the simple-minded Caliban can track down any mutant on the planet, he has the unintentional ability of often stating what is too easily overlooked - the truth.
As Sunspot watches Gideon literally wither away before his eyes, he remarks that it is curious how, after knowing Gideon for so long, and there being no love lost between them, he doesn’t feel anything, despite the shockingness of it all. ‘Maybe friend Sunspot didn’t like Gideon very much’ Caliban states, but Bobby replies that he isn’t saying that, and remarks that it has to do with the Askani thinking in his mind, explaining to Caliban that it is the philosophy from the future Cable telepathically forced into his mind when he was being possessed by Reignfire, the belief that “what is…is”…can cut off any real emotion.
Sunspot wonders if that is why, perhaps, Cable is so distant some times, to which Caliban suddenly exclaims that what Bobby is saying is important, but that he senses mutants. Urgently, he shouts ‘Angry, powerful mutants!’. Indeed, leaping down towards Sunspot and Caliban from above are two, some would say deranged mutants, Absalom and Crule. Absalom grins, and addressing Sunspot and Caliban as murderers, tells them to look well upon this dawn, as it will be their last.
Even amongst the Externals, these two were always watched closely, for while the others traded in guile and concern, Absalom and Crule embraced the world of violence to achieve their goals. Crule warns the X-Force members that they will not find he and Absalom as easy to slay as they did Gideon. ‘Not that we’d give you half the chance!’ he boasts, before shouting ‘It’s killing time - DIE!’.
Sunspot flies up to meet Crule in the air, exclaiming that he and Caliban had nothing to do with Gideon’s death, but that doesn’t mean they will not defend themselves. But Sunspot’s words fall on deaf ears, for just as the young often act rashly and without thought, these Externals have already made up their minds. Bobby decides that the Externals must really mean business to attack him publicly, and knows that if the rest of X-Force doesn’t hurry up and get here, then this is going to end very badly.
Absalom declares that the Externals are not sheep to be slaughtered, nor fish that can be baited, and several dozen bones through his skin, exclaiming ’For the first, and perhaps, last time - we fight for our very lives!’. Several of these large extended bones strike Caliban, forcing the innocent mutant to the ground, pinning him next to Gideon’s withered body. Absalom admits that he didn’t not believe Crule when he told him that someone was hunting them down, and now, even with his body ravaged by the Legacy Virus, he welcomes this battle. ‘For if this External can die - it will be with the knowledge that others have been avenged!’ Crule shouts, while a pained Caliban whispers ‘Caliban…hurt nobody…’ as he struggles under Absalom’s extended bones.
Meanwhile, sixty miles North, at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning in Salem Center, New York, which is secretly, the home of the Uncanny X-Men and the irrepressible X-Force. Inside the hidden state-of-the-art hangar bay, the three femme fatale members of the team are just returning from a mission - Tabitha “Meltdown” Smith, whose attitude of late is to say the least, unnerving, Siryn a.k.a. Theresa Rourke Cassidy, the team’s deputy leader, and the enigmatic Domino, Cable’s confidant.
Tabitha grins and turns to her female companions, ’So I’ll say it for you: “Meltdown, you were awesome goin’ up against the Blob”. Anytime, ladies’. Meltdown tells everyone that if they need her, she has a hot date - with a warm bath. Siryn turns to Domino and quietly asks her if she is going to speak to Tabitha about her behavior, to which Domino replies that they will take it slow. She is about to say something else, when she is interrupted by James “Warpath” Proudstar and Shatterstar who rush into the hangar bay, ‘Saddle up, ladies - we’ve got trouble!’ Warpath announces.
Shatterstar informs the girls that they have a priority one distress signal, and explain that Sunspot and Caliban need their help. ‘Just what we need!’ Domino mumbles, asking where they are. Warpath replies that they are at Rockerfeller Center, and Shatterstar explains that Sunspot responded to a call for aid from the one known as Gideon, who is now apparently dead. ‘Now we’re in a full-blown battle with the Externals!’ Warpath exclaims as everyone gathers together. ‘No good deed goes unpunished’ Domino remarks, before telling her companions to move, and they rush into the PACRAT with a fluidity that is almost instinctual, and Meltdown shouting ‘Time to make the blisters!’. Each of these young heroes knows that as they step into the gaping jaws of battle, they may not return.
It isn’t that they do not have a choice, but weighted against the jeopardy their teammates are in, the decision is given little, if any, consideration. For in their own way, they have found a family in X-Force, and as a family, they look after their own. Once seated, Siryn asks if they want to wait for Cable, to which Domino replies that he is not here, and tells everyone to shut up. Her tone is abrupt, for the last thing she wants is to invite conversation on the subject of Cable - who has been missing for some time now.
Even though Domino is more than capable of looking after this group, she knows, in her heart, that this is Cable’s squad. ‘Punch it, Shatterstar - I want to be in New York yesterday!’ Domino orders. ‘Yesterday?’ Shatterstar replies, confused. ‘I was not aware this vehicle was equipped for time-travel’. Domino just tells him to go, as the PACRAT (Personnel Assault Carrier Recon/Aquatic Terrain) blows out of Westchester County at almost a five g-force, cloaked from even the most sophisticated radar, the silence within the aircraft…is deafening.
Shatterstar thinks to himself that yet again they step into the breech of war - but with his actions of late, wonders if his concerns about the loss of the edge will enable him to perform as is expected of him. Meltdown gazes out the window, looking at her reflection, she recalls Shatterstar mentioning that Gideon is dead, and reminds herself that Cannonball is an External, or so is said. ‘Does that men he can die, too?’ she wonders. Tabitha tells herself not to think about that, as Sam can look after himself. ‘And I’ve got to look after me’.
While the PACRAT swoops downwards towards the city, at Rockerfeller Center Caliban has managed to break free Absalom and holds his bloody wounds together and calls out to Sunspot, informing him that he cannot stop the bleeding. Bobby tells Caliban to hold on, assuring him that help is on the way. ‘I pray’ he thinks to himself, masking his growing concern, while he continues to fire his powers upon Absalom. After all, Sunspot has given his all this day, but it has not proven to be enough. After all, the Externals fight for something which is almost indefensible - the honor of having died in battle.
Suddenly though, after Crule smacks Bobby in the back with the large spiked-skulls he has on chains stuck to his head, Crule finds the skulls suddenly cut off. ‘Who dares!’ he cries, clasping his head. ‘WE dare!’ shouts Shatterstar, holding his swords, the cause of Crule’s sudden loss of accessories. ‘In fact we double-dare ya!’ shouts Meltdown, getting a plasma bomb ready, while Domino tells X-Force that she wants this by the numbers, telling Shatterstar and Warpath to take on Crule, and the rest of them will focus on Absalom. Domino motions to Caliban and points out that he looks in rather bad shape, adding that she is not looking for a win here, just to get everyone home to safety.
Still rubbing his head, Crule angrily tells Shatterstar that he will suffer for this. ‘I welcome the challenge, External!’ Shatterstar replies, leaping into the air with swords outstretched. Even though it may seem as if Shatterstar’s swords are laced with false bravado, his actions speak otherwise, for if he is truly fighting a foe who cannot be killed, what better way to test his warrior skills and fortitude? In other words: Rage! And Shatterstar slams down on Crule, his swords flailing about, and blood splattering everywhere upon contact with those trusty swords.
Meltdown approaches Absalom, telling him that he was good in his day, not that she ever cared for him much, but that they have been doing this dance a long time and it is now time for him to sit this one out. Tabitha casts a large plasma time-bomb on Absalom, knocking him backwards. The arrogance of youth can make you feel invulnerable - and few no more about arrogance than Sunspot, who flies straight towards Absalom and pushes him even further away, while telling his teammates that it isn’t as if he doesn’t appreciate the help, but that he started this fracas and wants to finish it. Siryn swoops in, telling Bobby and Tabitha to concentrate, as they only want Absalom off the field, not in the ground, and she lets out a powerful scream, paralyzing Absalom.
Domino goes over to Caliban, who addresses her as “Patch-Eye” and asks if he is going to die. ‘Caliban is too young to die!’ he whispers. Domino assures Caliban that he is not going to die on her watch, remarking that she would never hear the end of it from Cable. ‘And don’t call me “Patch-Eye”!’ Domino adds.
Warpath meanwhile has spotted a part of the building which Gideon fell from with smoke pouring out of it. James knows he should get in and help in the battle, but knows also that something is going on up there, where Gideon fell from - ‘Or was he pushed?’ James wonders. Walking towards the building, he isn’t quite sure if this has anything to do with his heightened senses of late, but he would sweat that someone was watching them from up there. Feeling that the answer to this lies up on that floor, James begins scaling the building exterior. There was a time though when he would have needed one of his teammates help to get him to the penthouse, Siryn or Sunspot, gifted with flight, but now, James gets a certain amount of pleasure digging his bare fingers into the solid concrete as he climbs.
James looks down at the view below him and thinks that this is incredible, as he made it up here in no time at all. James thinks to himself that so much is happening to him physically, so quickly, and wonders what would happen if he fell from this height. ‘Would I survive?’ he wonders, before entering the penthouse through the gaping hole. He recognizes it as Gideon’s place from the descriptions that Sunspot once gave him. Suddenly, James sees another External nearby, the one known only as Saul, who, even by External standards, was one of the oldest. To their group, he brought a gentle wisdom that they all respected. But upon seeing his crucified body, drained of all it’s life force, Warpath is overwhelmed with the feeling that they are up against someone extremely dangerous, and he realizes that he can tell that whoever did this is still nearby!
Sunspot, Siryn and Meltdown continue their assault on Absalom, and Bobby wonders how much more punishment Absalom can actually take. But this battle rages is one that Absalom has lived over and over. For the choice of being an External is not one given to it’s bearer. Meltdown tosses some more plasma at Absalom, grinning as she decides that cutting loose like this makes her feel the juice flowing inside her and remarks that she should have pushed herself a long time ago.
The choice, like life itself, can become a burden. Through the years, everyone the Externals have ever known - held - loved - are all gone. Siryn screams continuously, thinking to herself that something is not right here, for these are the Externals. ‘Who or what could weaken them so that we could hole our own against them?’ she wonders. Gone. Absalom collapses.
Crule is not faring any better, Shatterstar stands over him, sword raised, he remarks that Cruel has no more weapons and his strength has fled him. ‘I will give you the honor of a warrior’s death - for even you could not survive with your head severed from your -’ Shatterstar is suddenly interrupted by Domino, who grabs his hand as he is about to strike Crule’s neck. ’Enough!’ Domino orders. Annoyed, Shatterstar angrily tells Domino not to assume that she can stay his hand. ’You made that mistake once already!’ he reminds her. ‘Try me!’ Domino snaps back.
Shatterstar lowers his weapon as Domino declares that something isn’t right, for as powerful as X-Force is, they should not be having such an easy time here. ‘I something - or someone - is stalking these Externals - we’d better find out who or what it is - because it can’t be very long before he, she or it comes after one of us!’.
Inside Gideon’s penthouse, Warpath moves quietly in the darkness, knowing that someone else is in here, moving in and out like a shadow. Suddenly, some mist rises from the floor, ‘Impressive, Warpath!’ a woman’s voice calls, before Warpath is mentally thrown backwards, and lands hard against the wall, headfirst, he cracks the wall and blood spills down everywhere as he lays slumped on the floor. His mysterious assailant steps forward and declares that through all the centuries, she has never had anyone track her when she didn’t want them to. ‘Unfortunately, you won’t be alive long enough to share what you’ve learned…’.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Q & A
Sunday morning, New York City, at the interrogation room at the 53rd Precinct House - aptly nicknamed “The Box”, where currently, a member of the irrepressible X-Force - Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta is under interrogation. All the cops really know is that Sunspot is willing to cooperate - for the moment. For in truth, most people have never even seen a mutant - only what they know from television - how mutants have extraordinary powers and “regular” humans could never stand a chance against one - and how they all carry this deadly disease called “The Legacy Virus”. How much, if any, of that is true, isn’t the point. It is being locked inside a room with a young man whose ebony skin broils like the sun - who could kill them with just a thought - that makes it hard to keep clear who the prisoner is….
‘So, how would ya describe your relationship with Mr. Gideon? Friendly? Not so friendly? What?’ a detective asks. Sitting calmly in a chair, Sunspot half-smiles, and replies that it wasn’t either of those things. ‘I had hoped that I would never see him again’ Bobby admits. ‘Then ya got your wish, kid’ the detective replies. ‘Not like this’ Bobby exclaims. ‘Nobody would wish what happened to Gideon on anybody…’. The detective replies ‘But didn’t you say Mr. Gideon was…what did you call him? An “External”? You told us that meant he couldn’t die’. Sunspot replies that is what they thought about all of the, ”Them?” the detective asks, asking Sunspot to tell her again what happened to “them”.
(Flashback, takes place between X-Force (1st series) #53 and #54, narrated by Sunspot)
Sunspot reminds the detective that X-Force were down on the ice-rink at Rockerfeller Center, and that Absalom and Crule had attacked them because they thought X-Force had killed Gideon. ‘You have to understand these Externals, they were never supposed to die’. Sunspot adds once again, before remarking that when you are young, you don’t think about it, but now, something…someone…was killing them - one by one - it was Selene!
‘X-Force! My quarrel is not with you today, leave while you can!’ the powerful villainess said to the young heroes. ‘This is a private matter!’ she exclaimed as she went about killing the Legacy Virus-stricken Absalom, ‘Selene! You traitorous -’ were Absalom’s last words. Siryn exclaimed that it was Selene who had been murdering the Externals, and asked Shatterstar if he can break through her protective aura. Armed with his sword, Shatterstar approached Selene, replying that he will try.
(Present)
Sunspot explains to the detective that they were all a little shocked to learn that it was Selene they were facing, as they thought she had been rendered powerless - stripped of her life force draining powers, but this encounter proved that particular rumor to be greatly exaggerated. Even so, X-Force tried to save Absalom, despite the fact that he only wanted to bring about their deaths. ‘We did everything we could to save him!’ Sunspot exclaims, remarking that their world is growing more and more separated along the lines of race and religion, mutant and human. ‘And if the madness continues growing with each passing day, where will it stop?’.
‘Where will it stop?’ Bobby asks, slumping over, placing his hands behind his head. A detective tells Sunspot that he made a nice speech, but that they never saw this “Selene” person. ‘And that leaves us with an angry young mutant who maybe wanted to get even with the man he thinks killed his father!’. This comment angers Sunspot, ‘How can you not believe me?’ he asks, his powers flaring up, ‘Talk to the others!’ he exclaims, admitting that he did not care for Gideon, but assuring the detectives that he had nothing to do with his murder.
The detective backs up, assuring Sunspot that they will speak to the others and asks him to try and see it from their side. The detective points out that Gideon was a prominent Wall Street business man, and his being a mutant - much less an “immortal” one is news to them. ‘It is the truth!’ Bobby shouts. As Sunspot is lead out of the interrogation room, the female detective tells her colleagues that, perhaps they are out of their league here, ‘Externals…a serial killer named “Selene”…maybe we ought to bring in somebody like, I don’t know, SHIELD?’ she suggests.
‘What are ya worried about, Jonesy…? You’ve always been soft on the whole mutie thing!’ one of the cops exclaims. Indeed, Detective Charlotte Jones, ally of the original X-Factor, steps into the light, ‘”Soft”? Is that how you describe someone who has a problem with bigotry?’ she asks. ‘If so, I’m real soft. Just bring in the next one, okay?’ she snaps back.
Soon, Theresa “Siryn” Rourke Cassidy sits, confidently, in the chair, and even though she has not been deputy leader of X-Force for very long, her loyalty to her teammates is unshakable. Theresa explains that she did not see Gideon die, and that she was called to the scene by Bobby and Caliban, along with the rest of the team. ‘This “team”…”X-Force”? What’s that? Some kind of version of the so-called X-Men?’ a fat male police officer asks. Siryn ignores the question momentarily, recalling how she agreed to go along with Sunspot and answer the officer’s question, even though she does not like the idea of having a bright light aimed at X-Force, so she will need to be careful about what she says and what she doesn’t. Careful not to make them sound guilty…?
Siryn turns swiftly and, ignoring the question about the X-Men, tells the officer that if he has questions about this morning then he can ask away, but otherwise if he is going to charge them with a crime then to get on with it. The fat officer just grunts, muttering ‘Maybe we will, ya little mutie’, before his colleague asks Siryn to tell them what happened after “Absalom” was killed. ‘There was an explosion’ Siryn replies. Siryn then adds that it was more like an implosion up in the penthouse, Gideon’s penthouse. ‘Gideon himself had either fallen or was pushed from up there’. Siryn remarks, before mentioning that one of her teammates had gone to investigate.
(Flashback, takes place between X-Force (1st series) #53 and #54, narrated by Siryn)
Hovering above the penthouse, a concerned Theresa was worried about Warpath whom she had seen climb into the building, but now the metal and concrete are all twisted - as if they were nothing. A mighty scream comes from Theresa’s inner soul as she began the search for her dear friend, wondering where he can be.
(Present)
Theresa states that she was concerned about a member of her team who had apparently vanished. Softly, upset, Siryn remarks that she doesn’t know where James is now. Detective Charlotte Jones asks Theresa if she needs some time to collect her thoughts, but Siryn replies that she is fine. Charlotte asks Siryn if the teammate who she thinks is missing she cares for him a lot, to which Siryn ignores the question, asking instead if she can go now. ’Soon as we find out what happened’ Detective Jones assures her. Siryn clenches a fist and declares that Gideon was an evil man, that he and his brethren, the Externals, have killed wantonly through the centuries.
Siryn declares that now, one of her team is in hospital and another is…gone. ‘Where is the justice in that?’ she asks. One of the male officers asks ‘What if they are telling the truth? What if these Externals exist and we don’t even know about it? What kind of world do we really live in?’. ‘NEXT!’ shouts the fat man.
Shortly, Shatterstar stands in the interrogation room, arms folded across his chest, he declares that he will not cooperate, and demands that his swords be returned to him and that this farce end. Shatterstar is a man who grew up on a planet, far, far away, bred only for battle, the concept of investigating the casualties of war is not only foreign to him - it seems more than a bit inane. One of the officers addresses Shatterstar as “Benjamin” ‘It’s okay if we call you “Benjamin, ain’t it?’ they asks, remarking that the rest of his crew refused to give their names. ‘I see no reason to call me a name which is not my own’ Shatterstar replies calmly.
‘Really? How come then this police report says otherwise?’ one of the officer asks, holding up a police report and some photographs. ‘Now, take a seat. Benjamin!’ the officer orders. Shatterstar goes wide eyed as one mystery unravels and another one begins to unfold.
By midafternoon, the cops are starting to grow anxious, having opened this Pandora’s Box, it may be too late to close it. The last thing they need is a suspect with an attitude like Domino. Her real name is…unknown. She has been a mercenary, an assassin and who knows what else. ‘You want to tell us your side of the story, Miss?’ the fat detective asks. Domino just smiles and looks at the officer’s gun attached to his belt. The officer remarks that they have no criminal record on her and points out that she hasn’t even offered them a name.
‘Why don’t you help us out like the rest of the gang?’ the officer asks. Domino just stares at him, after all, she has been held captive in China, Yugoslavia, Genosha…the list goes on. In other words, three New York cops in an up-town police station haven’t got a chance in Hell. The fat cop points at the door and furiously shouts ‘Get her outta here and find one of ‘em that feels like talking!’.
‘What’dya wanna talk about?’ asks Tabitha “Meltdown” Smith, creating a small plasma bomb as she sits in the chair, her turn now in the interrogation cell. ‘We didn’t kill Gideon or any of the other goons’ she declares. ‘You know it. I know it. And you couldn’t hold us if we weren’t letting ya!’. Tabitha Smith has thought of her life as one long nightmare. Bad parents, bad schools, bad times. She blamed it on a lot of things. However, since the day she decided to cut loose and call herself “Meltdown”, she isn’t blaming anyone anymore. ‘Kinda spooky, ain’t it?’ Meltdown exclaims, holding her plasma time-bomb up to her face.
Charlotte tells Tabitha that she appreciates what she is saying, before asking if that ball is going to blow up. ‘Relax, as long as you guys are cool, you’ll get the same from us’ Tabitha assures her. One of the male officers asks Tabitha to tell them about the last one, the one called “Crule”. ‘Whacked’. Meltdown replies. ‘Like the guy wanted to die…’.
(Flashback, takes place between X-Force (1st series) #53 and #54, narrated by Meltdown)
‘SELENE!’ screamed Crule, freaked after watching his friend Absalom be murdered by Selene. ‘Did you think you could betray us, cow?’ Crule exclaimed as he attacked Selene. ‘With my brothers all dead, there is no one to stay my hand!’ he exclaimed. ‘No one to keep me from beating you to death!’. X-Force rallied around the Eternals, despite the fact that Meltdown could care less if they wanted to bash each other’s brains out. Sunspot and Meltdown make a combo-move, hitting Selene and Crule hard, but Selene began to get way out of hand.
The two Externals collided once more, then Selene grinned, and announced that she had waited an untold time to make this move. ‘Never before could I have overtaken all of the Externals, Crule - but a dark cloud hovers on the horizon. The world will be divided between the weak and the strong - and I will not be denied!’ she screamed as she murdered Crule with her phenomenal powers. Crule’s body was drained of its life-force, meaning now, Selene had her power plus the power she drained from the other Externals. There was no way X-Force could stop her. Until, suddenly, there was a flash of telekinetic energy, powerful enough to take down a Mack truck, it smacked into Selene, causing X-Force to turn - and see their leader and mentor, Nathan “Cable” Summers.
‘Enough!’ demanded the warrior from the future, who is seen by some as a savior, but as the worst example of what is yet to come by others. Whatever, X-Force is his charge, and a pity to those who put them in harm way. Cable turned to Selene, telling her that he is unsure of what happened here, but that he is giving her a chance to walk away right now. X-Force didn’t know what card Cable was playing, and Meltdown wondered if Cable thought Selene was a little more maimed than she let on.
Selene told Cable that there is an untapped power within him. ‘Let’s see what someone with a little finesse can do with it!’ she exclaimed, using her powers on Cable, tearing off most of his costume, X-Force could do nothing but watch as Selene attacked Cable, they had never seen him in such pain. ‘And this guy wrote the book on it’. However, Selene fell to the ground, ‘WRETCH!’ she screamed, clutching her throat, she asked Cable what sort of man he is, exclaiming that his life-force was tainted.
The others were not sure as to why Selene couldn’t siphon Cable off like anybody else, but at least they had Selene on the ropes, and Cable ordered them to hit Selene with everything they had. X-Force had been taught a hundred times that if their opponent gives them an opening, to take it for all it was worth. But in this case - bad move, for as X-Force unleashed their collective powers on Selene, she repelled them in an awesome display of her powers.
‘You were given a fair warning!’ Selene declared to the fallen young heroes around her. ‘There is a war coming over the horizon, where only the strong will survive. These Externals have outlived their purpose. Now, there’s only myself and one other!’ she exclaimed. Meltdown had regained consciousness by now, and with a plasma bomb charged, exclaimed ‘Lady, you will never get to Cannonball! The X-Men will stop you before -’ Selene interrupted Meltdown, ‘Oh, please!’ she laughed. ‘You don’t honestly believe that the stripling Guthrie is actually an External?’
‘But we all saw Sam die and come back to life!’ Meltdown exclaimed, holding back her time-bomb. ‘Did you now? Ask your mentor about that…’ Selene suggested, before vanishing, gone as quickly as she arrived. Meltdown woke Cable, asking him what Selene meant by Cannonball not being an External. But Cable just passes out, while the rest of X-Force regains consciousness.
Suddenly, Blaquesmith appeared, hovering over Cable he exclaimed telepathically that this is precisely what he feared - that Cable no longer has the strength for a battle such as this. Domino asked Blaquesmith what he had done to Cable, but Blaquesmith exclaimed that there is no need for anyone to remember his presence here, when they should be more concerned about what lay ahead. X-Force’s mind’s go blank for a few seconds, their memories wiped, then, suddenly, an entire platoon of cops arrived, ‘Get your hands up - and in plain sight!’ the commanded.
(Present)
Later, Siryn, Sunspot, Domino, Meltdown and Shatterstar, are in a holding cell, all clad in green overalls, Meltdown exclaims that they made like good little campers, and answered all the questions the cops had for them. ‘Now I got a question for you, Dom - when the heck do we get out of here?’ she asks Domino. Domino replies that she doesn’t know, and explains that, given Caliban’s condition, and the thought of them mowing down the NYPD to escape, that this was their best course of action. Sunspot assures Domino that no one is blaming her, and Siryn agrees, pointing out that they all went into this with their eyes wide open. Shatterstar remains silent throughout the conversation, wondering if the police report can be true.
Suddenly, Charlotte Jones appears at the cell door, ‘Everybody up!’ she exclaims, opening the cell door. ‘Just like that…you’re letting us go?’ Domino asks as they exit the cell and before remarking that she knows Detective Jones has worked with the X-Men in the past. ‘Let’s leave that aside for now’ Charlotte suggests, before telling X-Force that they have a friend, but that they should watch their backs , because with what is coming down, even she cannot protect them.
Later still, in the Police station garage, Charlotte walks towards her car, ‘So, in the end, it all adds up to…what? Fear?’ she asks herself. ‘Us afraid of them. Them afraid of someone else. Like that kid said - “where does it stop”?’ she wonders. As she puts her key into the door, someone appears beside her, hidden in the shadows, he whacks it out of her hand. ‘Detective Jones!’ he exclaims. ‘Hey!’ Charlotte retorts, kneeling down to pick up her keys.
‘We do not understand’ the man begins. ‘You had those…mutants…under lock and key. Where they belong. Where they all belong’. Charlotte tells the man that she doesn’t know who he is, or how he got inside here, but that she is in no mood to take any lip from the fringe. ‘So unless you want to be arrested -’ she begins, until she is interrupted by the stranger, who assures her that will not be necessary. ‘We merely wanted to make a point’ he remarks, explaining that they have very little tolerance for this kind of injustice. ‘Zero Tolerance, in fact!’.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Without a Net
Several thousand feet above sea level. ‘If I were you, I’d move!’ exclaims Tabitha “Meltdown” Smith as she hangs upside down, grinning, a powerful plasma time-bomb in her hand. ‘I am not going anywhere’ Shatterstar, Meltdown’s X-Force teammate replies as he holds her foot, resting on a narrow ledge of a large aircraft. ‘Okay by me, Shatterstar. It’s your funeral!’ Tabitha replies. The large vessel that the young mutants have attached themselves to is the SHIELD Helicarrier. This aircraft is an impenetrable fortress that hovers in the sky, the pride of America’s top secret intelligence organization.
No one has ever successfully broken past the massive security - that alone would be tempting enough for these unique young men and women with dazzling, but nearly uncontrollable powers. Tonight, however, somewhere between New York City and Washington D.C., they are on a mission… ‘Three, two, one!’ exclaims Meltdown as she releases her time-bomb. ‘It’s show time, folks!’.
Inside the helm, a computer gives off a warning signal, alerting all personnel to a hull breach on level 27. ‘What the -?’ exclaims Timothy Dugan, who has been in charge of internal security for the “tub” as he calls it for more years than he will admit. The computer announces that there are hull breaches on level 9 and level 54 also. While SHIELD agents mill about, Dugan shouts ‘What in the name of Sam Hill is going on out there?!’. “Dum-Dum” Dugan, as his previous boss, Nick Fury, used to call him, has an odd feeling - even though the night is still young, it is going to be one that he will not forget.
Dum-Dum tells everyone to listen up, announcing that he wants Task Forces One, Two and Three to check out the explosion sites and orders an F-14 squad to be launched. ‘Whatever wants in here so bad is about to get the surprise of his, her or it’s life!’. Suddenly, someone approaches Dugan and tells him that this is not a break-in, but a break-out, reminding him that they have on board the man wanted for the assassination attempt on Senator Robert Kelly. ‘Who - oh, it’s you’ Dugan replies coldly.
Dugan tells the new arrival that since the last time he checked, he is still head of security, ‘So why don’tcha take a long walk off -’ he remarks, to which the newcomer points out that when it involves mutants, the ball is in his court. ‘In a pig’s eye!‘ shouts Dugan, until he is interrupted by Contessa Valentina de la Fontaine, acting head of SHIELD who tells him to stand down. ‘He’s right. It’s his show’ Contessa declares, ‘For now’ she thinks to herself, while the newcomer thanks Contessa, remarking ‘At least someone understands the chain-of-command’. Dugan just skulks off, muttering that this is not the way Nick would handle things.
Meanwhile, Shatterstar and Meltdown radio to their teammates, announcing that they are in at level 27, while on level 54, another plasma time-bomb goes off, and on level 9, Siryn a.k.a. Theresa Rourke Cassidy asks her teammate Domino if she can remember a time when Meltdown could handle multiple explosions, but multiple locations also. ‘Yeah, our little “Meltdown” is a pip’ Domino replies, before telling Siryn to concentrate on the mission. Domino knows that X-Force are sticking their heads into the lion’s mouth, and doesn’t like it one bit. Nearby, Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta radios to his teammates, telling them that he has taken out two more satellite mines, and announces that they are secure.
Elsewhere in the Helicarrier, ‘Okay, boys and girls. Make some noise!’ exclaims Cable a.k.a. Nathan Summers, telepathically, as he makes his way through the gateway for the Helicarrier’s enormous turbine engines, in the wake of the deafening propeller blades, the last two members of X-Force make their entrance, quietly, Cable, accompanied by the mutant tracker, the simple-minded Caliban. Cable tells the Morlock that they have to time this right, ‘Unless you want to wind up like slice bologna’ Cable remarks. ‘Caliban likes bologna’ Caliban replies. ‘But Caliban would not want to be bologna’.
‘Well, come one!’ Cable exclaims. Looking at the massive spinning fan, Caliban whispers that he wants to move, but that he is scared. ‘We don’t have time for this!’ Cable exclaims, and suddenly picks Caliban up and throws him through the spinning blades. Cable tells Caliban that he knows what it is like not to be at the top of your game, and remarks that Caliban’s incident with Absalom must have spooked him about dying. ‘But everyone is depending on you now. You want to let them down?’ he asks. ‘N-no’ Caliban replies nervously. Cable starts running ahead, telling Caliban that the sooner he finds their target, the sooner they will all get home safely. Caliban thinks to himself that he hears Cable’s words, but that he can also see Cable is not feeling well either.
Elsewhere, Domino runs along a corridor, with Siryn flying above her, but Domino exclaims that something is not right, pointing out that they haven’t encountered any hostile resistance. ‘Thank Heaven for small favors!’ Theresa replies, before telling Domino that she doesn’t understand why X-Force is off doing the X-Men’s business when one of their own is missing. Domino grabs Siryn’s foot, preventing Theresa to fly any further and tells her to get her head out of the clouds, before pointing out that there is an empty corridor up ahead and asks her what the standard operating procedure is.
Siryn apologizes and replies ‘Check - then proceed’. Siryn recalls how her Dad, Banshee taught her this “trick”, as she sends out a single pulse of sound, like a depth charge, ‘Whoa!’ she exclaims as she sees dozens of red lazers lining the corridor. ‘So, that’s the way SHIELD wants to handle it. Automated defense response to limit the human contact. Well, they just made their first mistake!’ she exclaims, before leaping into the danger zone. No one has ever pinpointed exactly what Domino’s mutant ability is, some say that things just have a habit of going her way - but as she tucks, rolls and fires, taking out the state of the art laser cannon’s shot for shot, one thing is certain - she has a bit more than just luck on her side!
The ladies make their way down the corridor, with Domino remarking that she cant help thinking that this is a bit ironic, that after all this time, Siryn waits until Warpath is missing to show concern for him. ‘What?’ exclaims a wide-eyed Siryn. ‘How is it wrong to be worried about a fellow teammate?’ she asks. Domino tells Siryn that she has lost too many friends and too many chances to tell them that she cared - ‘And then it was too late…’.
Meanwhile, Meltdown tells Shatterstar that she is glad she got paired with him. ‘How so?’ Shatterstar asks. Meltdown explains that when the rest of the team turned away from her over the Sabretooth thing, he was the only one who didn’t. ‘I wont forget that’ she assures him. Shatterstar replies that he only did what he believed was right. ‘Yeah, well, so did everybody else’ Tabitha points out as they enter a room full of SHIELD agents. Checking a scanner though, Meltdown announces that she is getting no bio-readings, and announces that they are all Life Model Decoys. ‘Have at ‘em, killer!’ Meltdown exclaims.
Indeed, Shatterstar lunges full-throttle into the LMD’s, “killer”? he thinks to himself. ‘If only she knew. My warrior instinct seems to be waning’. Shatterstar slices the glorified robots apart, wondering if this is what lies ahead for him, reduced to brandishing his sword against men made of metal. Looking around at the fallen LMD’s only moments later, Tabitha grins and jokes ‘Remind me not to talk to you until you’ve had your morning coffee!’. Shatterstar replies that he doesn’t understand and points out that he doesn’t drink Coffee, to which Tabitha tells him to forget it, as it was a joke.
‘This is not a joking matter’ Shatterstar declares, reminding Meltdown that their orders are specific to keeping on the move. ‘Yeah, well, nobody thought we were gonna trip over a SHIELD data base either!’ Tabitha exclaims leaning over a computer console. ‘Meaning?’ Shatterstar asks. ‘We’ve got access to the entire intelligence community - including what they have on us!’ Tabitha replies, asking Shatterstar if he can operate the system. Shatterstar replies that he doesn’t see why not, and boasts that compared to his home-world, it will be like child’s theater.
‘”Child’s play”’ Meltdown corrects her teammate, and searches her own name, during which she discovers that Sabretooth is alive. ‘Location - classified?!’ Tabitha exclaims, reading off the computer screen. Enraged, she creates a time-bomb. ‘Classify this, you lying sacks of -’ Meltdown exclaims, until Shatterstar grabs her and pulls her away, telling her that they best keep moving, though Tabitha still tosses the time-bomb at the computer, causing it to explode.
This sends a warning signal to one of the control rooms, announcing that the data base on level 30 has been deactivated. ‘Mother of mercy! How much more of this are we supposed to take!’ Dum Dum Dugan complains. Contessa sighs and reminds Dugan that he of all people understands the chain of command. ‘But Val…Nick would never -’ Dugan begins to reply, until Contessa interrupts him, declaring that Nick is not coming back - ever - so he needs to get used to that. ‘Like the rest of us…’.
More computer warnings are signaled as X-Force continue to cause havoc on the Helicarrier, Sunspot damages the flight deck with his solar powers, while Siryn and Domino taken down the weapons systems, and Shatterstar and Meltdown destroy the internal communications center.
Finally, Cable kicks a vent open and crawls his way into another room, followed by Caliban. Nathan thinks to himself that it may be all clear, but it’s too clear, as the saying goes. ‘We’re breaking into the top military installation in the country - and this is what they have for security?’. Cable then calls out to the three squads, asking them to report telepathically. ‘Making noise with these boys!’ Meltdown exclaims, while Domino replies ‘Ditto’ and remarks that something is very weird about this.
Caliban points to a large door ahead and announces that “One-Eye” is in there. ‘Oh, fine’ Cable replies, before telepathically informing the others that they have made contact. Cable examines the hulking doors and declares that they are made of titanium, vibranium and who knows what else. ‘One thing’s for certain, they don’t want us opening this door!’. Caliban promises Cable that “One-Eye” is in there. Cable assures his teammate that he believes him, but that this is just going to be a little more difficult than he thought.
The rest of the team arrives and Meltdown asks Cable if he can handle it. ‘Tell us we didn’t come all this way for nothing!’ she exclaims. ‘Tell us you can handle it, right?’. Nathan hears the challenge in Tabitha’s voice and knows that it is not entirely unfair - he has, of late, had trouble focusing, a by-product of the growing Techno-Organic virus in his system. But Cable is, first and foremost, a leader to his team - and a leader never puts himself first. ‘Piece of cake!’ he exclaims, giving his team the “thumbs-up” signal.
Cable exclaims that they started this together, and will therefore finish it together. ‘Shatterstar!’ he exclaims, before telepathically explaining to the warrior that he wants him to find a hairline joint opening, that is all they will need. ‘As you wish!’ Shatterstar replies as he slices his sword into the doors. ‘Meltdown - I want something with a kick!’ Cable orders Tabitha, who replies ‘You got it, boss, but lay off on the psi-speak, you’re giving me a headache!’.
‘That’s it, work as a team!’ Cable exclaims, before telepathically telling Siryn that he wants her to scream her lungs out the second Meltdown is in place. Theresa exclaims that she understands what Cable is doing and unleashes her sonic scream, while Cable calls out to Domino, who holds her massive gun and replies ‘Grab hold of something kids’ before Cable orders ‘Hit it!’, and everyone’s powers react against the solid doors. Steam sizzles off the doors, which do not open. A dejected X-Force is silent for some time, ‘So. Do we have a plan “b”?’ Domino asks. Siryn asks Cable to forgive her for stating the obvious, but they are running out of time. Cable points at the door and exclaims that all they need is a little faith - ‘And for the entire team to PULL!’ he exclaims as everyone draws the two heaving doors apart.
Inside the new chamber, a voice exclaims ‘Hello -? Who’s there?’. X-Force cannot respond at first, the very sight of Scott “Cyclops” Summers, the leader, the very symbol and strength of unity of the senior X-Men team, bound helplessly, his optic blasts somehow curtailed, his voice harsh and raspy - has them each sharing the same terrible thought. Cyclops has been treated like this for one reason - he is a mutant. And despite all their efforts to see to it that Homo Sapien and Homo Superior can coexist peacefully…the horror before them is a brutal reminder of their awful reality.
‘Caliban was right…”One-Eye” is here!’ exclaims Caliban. Cable calls out to his father, informing him that X-Force will set him free, when, suddenly, countless cocking of weapons are heard in the darkness, and X-Force find themselves surrounded by countless SHIELD agents. ‘Nate?’. ‘Yes, Dom’. ‘I believe this is the hostile resistance we were expecting’ Domino remarks. ‘Thank you’ Cable replies coldly, while a figure steps forward from the mass of SHIELD agents, announcing that he has waited a long time for this. ‘But, I finally caught you with your hand in the cookie jar. My cookie jar!’.
It’s G.W. Bridge, once one of Cable’s closest allies, now he is in charge of something called “Mutant Affairs” for SHIELD. G.W. exclaims that Cyclops is a prisoner of the United States government. ‘And after tonight, so are the lot of you’ he adds. ‘Bridge! How could you do this? You used to run with Cable and me!’ Domino exclaims, annoyed. X-Force stand behind their leader who tells Dom to save it, reminding her that G.W. always had a justification for his actions. ‘Although I never thought he’d sink this low…’. Cable remarks, before declaring that G.W. has them to rights. ‘Hands up, everybody!’ Cable orders his team. ‘But -’ Meltdown begins to protest, until Cable shouts ‘I said get ‘em up!’.
Then, it only takes a moment of awestruck confusion - and a carefully aimed telekinetic whack, and the device covering Cyclops’ eyes is destroyed by Cable. ‘What goes on here?’ Scott demands to know. ‘Do you trust me?’ Cable asks his father telepathically. ‘Do I have a choice?’ Cyclops replies before Cable tells him to open his eyes wide and to let him guide his optic blasts telekinetically. This turns the tables around completely, as ruby-red optic blast is fired around the room, pouring from Cyclops’ eyes, guided by Cable and faster than anyone can comprehend.
Cable tells Siryn to get Cyclops down, while G.W. turns and sees all his soldiers knocked unconscious by the blast and puts his hands in the air. ‘Cable, he was involved in an attack on a United States -’ G.W. begins, until Cable tells him to shut up and punches him in the face, knocking him over. Cyclops is given a visor to keep his powers in check while Cable orders everyone to move it, as they still have to get off the Helicarrier. Sunspot drops down and asks if he missed anything, to which Siryn tells him he didn’t. ‘Good. Because I kinda had my hands full up there’ Bobby remarks.
Cyclops runs beside Cable, asking him how he knew that the telekinetic-eyebeam stunt would work, pointing out that they had never tried it before. Cable replies that he didn’t know it would work, and explains that G.W. knows him well enough so he could go to his usual bag of tricks. ‘When you’re flying without a net, Scott, you’ve gotta take some chances’. Looking up, Cyclops is shocked to see the Blackbird hovering there, waiting for them.
Cable explains that they kept the Blackbird cloaked for as long as they could, and had Sunspot as a diversion. ‘Oh, and I think you’ll appreciate my choice of pilot’ Cable adds. The hatch opens and a smiling face welcomes Cyclops as he enters. ‘Jean!’ he exclaims. ‘Hello, Mr. Summers’ replies his wife, Jean “Phoenix” Grey-Summers, one of the most powerful psychics on the planet, and a founding member of the X-Men, but right now, she only wants to be thought of as a woman in love reunited with her husband, ‘Hello, Mrs. Summers’ Scott replies as he kisses Jean. With everyone aboard, the Blackbird takes off for Westchester.
While inside the Helicarrier…’G.W.!’ screams a furious Dum-Dum Dugan.
Meanwhile, at South Beach in Florida, for days now, James “Warpath” Proudstar has been missing, apparently vanished during X-Force’s battle with Selene. ‘Owww!’ exclaims Warpath as someone places their hands on his shoulders. ‘You are such a wuss’ remarks the young woman rubbing his shoulders. ‘Am not’ James replies. ‘Are too!’ she exclaims, flipping over. A barely-dressed Warpath smiles at Risque and tells her that he wouldn’t trade this time they have had together for anything.
‘But you’re starting to feel guilty about not contacting X-Force by now’ Risque declares. ‘Am I that transparent?’ James asks. ‘Maybe’ the sultry Risque replies, reminding James that, when she rescued him in New York, she told him she only wanted to take care of him until he got better. ‘Now you’re better and…and I don’t know if I want to go back…’. James stands up, revealing a tribal bird tattoo which Risque painted on his back, and they kiss passionately.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Crazy for You
The look. Don’t let it fool you. Siryn a.k.a. Theresa Rourke Cassidy gives that look to her teammate, Shatterstar, standing behind her and tells him that if he wants to play this game with her then he better play to win, before taking to the moon-lit sky, giving Shatterstar a hint: ‘You’ll not catch me less ye learn to fly!’ she exclaims. Siryn is the daughter of Sean Cassidy, known as Banshee, the leader of the young mutants known as Generation X. Theresa inherited her father’s stealth and natural ability to lead - and one more thing - his awesome ability to manipulate sound into an unbelievable power. Siryn’s voice is a devastating thing, and she is the deputy leader of X-Force, the group of irrepressible young mutants with likewise mutant strengths and abilities.
Shatterstar takes off after Siryn, following her on foot swiftly, not replying to her comments, after all, he has been a hunter all his life, and even coming to this world, crashing out of a time and dimension many years to come. Flying causally into a large church, Siryn exclaims that she is glad that they got out of the mansion for one night. ‘Big as that place is, it can be suffocating some…Shatterstar?’ Siryn asks, realizing that Shatterstar is nowhere to be seen, when, suddenly, she hears a cracking noise above her, ‘SHATTERSTAR!’ Theresa exclaims as the sword-wielding young man bursts through some glass above her.
Siryn and Shatterstar are an unlikely pair - they have found this empty church some ten miles outside Salem Center, in Westchester County, New York, while all the others - Meltdown and Cannonball, Sunspot, Caliban, Cable, Domino, all had plans this evening. Leaving the two of them feeling like this former house of worship - abandoned. ‘Ulp!’ mumbles Siryn, while Shatterstar declares ‘I believe the colloquialism is…”tag” “you are the one”!’ he exclaims as he pins Siryn to the ground, his swords either side of her. ‘”It”, I’m “It”!’ Siryn corrects Shatterstar, who replies ‘Whatever’, smiling.
Siryn has lost Warpath. Shatterstar has lost Rictor. Both see these missing teammates as “friends” - both too stubborn to admit they may mean more than that. Siryn looks up at Shatterstar and tells him that, for someone who thinks he is losing his edge, he plays a mean game. Suddenly, Theresa glances at one of the swords, where she sees a distorted image of Deadpool, shouting ‘Help me!’. This causes Siryn to reel backwards, knocking Shatterstar to the side, she urgently exclaims ‘Deadpool!? Oh my God, Shatterstar, I remember! I remember!’. ‘Remember what?’ Shatterstar asks. What indeed….
Meanwhile, in Miami, James “Warpath” Proudstar exclaims ‘YES!’ as he speeds along the highway on a motorcycle, with his companion, the glamorous Risque clutching on to him. There is an awful lot bottled up inside Warpath - who possesses the speed of a cougar and the strength of ten men. But on this hot night in South Beach, tearing up the highway at over a hundred miles per hour on this vintage Harley - which would make even the X-Man know as Wolverine jealous - the bottle has been uncorked.
The reason for James’ good mood can be summed up in one word: Risque, the mysterious young woman who looks at him longingly. James doesn’t even know Risque’s full name, or why she even sought him out. But ever since Risque saved him from certain death in New York City and brought him to Miami to recuperate, James, who has spent his whole life overanalyzing every choice he has made, simply doesn’t care.
A siren suddenly sounds - there is a Police car following them. James tells Risque that perhaps that they should pull over, but Risque replies ‘What’s life without a little…Risque?’. ‘Good point!’ James exclaims as he accelerates the motorcycle off the edge of a bridge. ‘Yippie-yi-yo-ky-yay!’ exclaims Risque, throwing her hands up in the air. ‘RISQUE!’ shouts James, concerned for her safety. The Police officers who were trailing the troublesome duo stop and one of them asks the other if he wants to call it in. ‘And tell them what?!’ the other replies, thinking to themselves ‘Kids…not a care in the world!’
‘Think we’re gonna make it?’ James asks as they continue to sail through the air on the motorcycle. ‘Don’t tell me you’re starting to doubt me now’ Risque replies, before they land, safely, on the ground below, with James bringing the motorcycle to a screeching halt. James grins and Risque and tells her that she is something else. ‘Isn’t that what we’re all about, James? Something…else?’ Risque replies, before they kiss. James wonders to himself if that is it though, or does he find himself drawn to Risque because for the first time in his whole life, he is out. Out from under the shadow of his brother, from X-Force, from Siryn… ‘There you go again, Jimmy…thinking about life instead of just living it!’ he tells himself.
Soon, on a highway outside Salem Center, heading North for Rutland, Vermont, Theresa and Shatterstar are inside an ambulance, it’s siren roaring as they speed along the highway. Siryn tells Shatterstar that she doesn’t like “borrowing” this ambulance, but that the people they are going up against cannot be underestimated. ‘Besides, what’s life without a few risks?’ she adds. Shatterstar replies that he agreed to accompany Siryn, but that he still doesn’t know why she did not want to inform Cable about their intended adventure - or even Xavier himself.
‘What about it can you not understand?’ Siryn asks, reminding Shatterstar that it was Cable and Xavier who sent her to the Weisman Institute in the first place. Theresa adds that she might even still be there if it wasn’t for Deadpool, who she only now remembers was actually captured there. ‘Somebody messed with my mind!’ Siryn exclaims, telling Shatterstar that she doesn’t want to believe that Cable and Xavier - two of the world’s most powerful telepaths and men she has trusted for years are responsible. ‘But how can I be certain?’ she wonders. Shatterstar replies ‘I…suppose not’ while thinking to himself that there is something else about the Weisman Institute that bothers him, something disturbingly familiar. ‘How could it be that I would have a memory of a place that I have never been?’ he wonders.
Later, it is almost dawn when Theresa and Shatterstar arrive at the Weisman Institute for the Criminally Insane. Shatterstar notices the name plaque, and Theresa explains that as far as she can remember, the place is run by a woman called Dr. Weisman, who is a colleague of Xavier’s and a member of his Mutant Underground. ‘But there was…someone else…’ Siryn adds, before looking at the silent Shatterstar and asks him if there is something he is not telling her. ‘No. For what could there possibly be within these walls that could befall…a warrior born?’ Shatterstar asks. Siryn tells her teammate to just be careful, explaining that it was that kind of attitude that got her in trouble here the last time.
Making their way to the front door, Shatterstar asks if it wasn’t their plan to have the Weisman staff come out and greet the ambulance, to which Siryn replies that it was, ‘But as Domino would say, “time for plan B”!’. Checking the door, Theresa discovers that it is locked, so she unleashes a small sonic scream, so quiet, it just shatters the lock, enabling them to push the doors open and step inside. Theresa quietly tells Shatterstar to get ready, as they are walking straight into the mouth of the lion. But turning to her companion, Siryn finds herself alone in the dingy hallway. ‘Curiouser and curiouser…she whispers’.
Nearby, Shatterstar moves stealthily through the corridor telling himself that he didn’t wish to leave Siryn like he did, but his mind is swimming with images and he is overwhelmed by the feelings that he has experienced this all before, and he recalls the expression that Meltdown has used to describe what is happening to him: “Deja vu”. Shatterstar finds an empty room with a computer in it and sits at the desk, sensing that this is more than déjà vu, recalling his waning warrior’s edge, and the Police report claiming he had another name - another life. ‘Someone called…’ his thoughts are interrupted, when the door slams open, and three figures enter. ‘Welcome home, Benjamin’ snaps the aforementioned Dr. Weisman. ‘You’ve been a very bad boy!’ smirks an unusual ten year old patient named Jeremy Stevens, while the third figure clad in red and black remains in the shadows….
Elsewhere in the maze of corridors, ‘DEADPOOL!’ shouts Siryn. ‘Wade, where the Devil are ye!?’ she asks as she passes from room to another. Suddenly, Deadpool pops his head through a window in one of the doors, exclaiming ‘Say the secret world and the duck will come down and you’ll win a prize!’. Siryn turns quickly and calls out to Deadpool, but he is gone as quickly as he arrived. She starts pounding her fists on the door, telling Deadpool that he is not allowed to play games with her. ‘I came to get ye out of here and there’s not much time!’ she exclaims as manages to force the door open, only to discover the room empty.
Confused, Theresa runs her hands through her hair, exclaiming that she doesn’t understand. ‘The man was here a moment ago!’. Another door in the corridor opens, Siryn hears it and rushes out of the room, only to see Deadpool exclaim ‘Bus nine leaving for Anaheim…Azusa and Cucamonga!’. The door closes, and Siryn pounds on it, telling Deadpool to stop this foolishness. Suddenly, one of Deadpool’s arms appears and points in one direction, ‘That way is a very nice way!’ he exclaims, before pointing in another direction, ‘It’s pleasant down this way, too. Of course, people do go both ways!’ The door slams shut, ‘Madness!’ snaps Siryn coldly.
Back at South Beach, Warpath and Risque are still kissing, and Warpath admits that what he is about to say sounds crazy, and tells Risque that being with her feels right. Risque replies that she is not arguing, and tells James not to look to her for - ‘HELP!’ screams someone nearby. Warpath and Risque focus themselves, and take off on the motorcycle, James remarks that the call didn’t sound very far away, to which Risque replies that whoever it is, their timing stinks.
Nearby, a mutant with facial deformities is being harassed by some thugs on motorcycles who keep circling him, holding chains and baseball bats in their hands. ‘Please, I haven’t done anything to you!’ the mutant exclaims. One of the thugs mocks the mutant by repeating what he said before exclaiming ‘You’re here, mutie - and for the Friends of Humanity, that’s enough!’. Another of the thugs declares that they are going to play a little baseball as he waves his baseball bat around. ‘And guess who’s gonna be the ball…!’. ‘But, I’m not -’ the mutant begins to say, ‘Gonna play?’ the thug interrupts. ‘We’re not giving you a choice!’ he exclaims, when suddenly, Warpath speeds into the middle of the gang and picks up the mutant, telling him to go limp.
Seeing a man move faster than humanly possible, this can only mean one thing to the thugs - ‘More of them! Run them down!’ they shout as they return to their motorcycles and speed towards Risque. ‘Who…me?’ she asks. ‘Poor, little, defenseless me?’ she grins. ‘Poor, little defenseless me…who can kick your butts so far up your backs you’re gonna have to put your pants on over your heads!’ she exclaims as she waves her hand, causing the first thug’s motorcycle to implode on itself just inches away from her.
‘You flatscans getting a little rush? Still feel up for a mutie bashing?’ Risque asks defiantly as the other two thugs speed towards her, their motorcycles imploding and sending them careening across the beach. As Risque is about to use her powers again, James suddenly grabs her by the wrist, telling her ‘Enough! That’s not the way we…I handle things’. Annoyed, Risque replies that she doesn’t like being told what to do, to which James tells her they will discuss it, later.
The mutant, lying near the three Friends of Humanity members exclaims ‘I tried to tell them! I tried! I’m not a mutant!’ he suddenly reveals, revealing that his face got burned in a grease fire. ‘These guys wouldn’t have attacked me if it weren’t for real mutants!’ he exclaims angrily. ‘Like you two!’ he tells James and Risque. ‘It’s all your fault!’. Standing in the water, James begins to protest as the thugs and the victim rush away, while Risque tells James to let it go. ‘I’ve known this sort of prejudice all my life’ she reveals. ‘Maybe…maybe the only answer is for mutants to stay only with other mutants?’ she suggests, while Warpath silently wonders if Risque could be any more different than Siryn.
Back at the Weisman Institute, Siryn enters another room, telling herself that she has to get her bearings, realizing that someone - or something - assaulting her senses. Suddenly, the lights flick on, and Theresa is confronted by dozens of Deadpools, all singing a song: Here’s the story about a merc named Wilson who was dying from a cancer all alone! Siryn rolls her eyes, ‘By the saints, what’ve I stumbled on now?!’ she mutters, as the myriad of Deadpools continue their song: He had quite the handsome pecs! Like none other! So they put him in a place called Weapon X! The Weapon X! The Weapon X!
The Deadpools all move towards Siryn carrying flowers and other gifts, they surround her as she decides that some kind of sick and twisted game is being played here - but who could be behind it? Suddenly, the Deadpools vanish, and Theresa finds herself outside a large set of doors that have been made up to look like a face. ‘Arcade?’ Siryn wonders, before calling out ‘Whoever ye are, ye’ve gone out of yuir way to make this personal! No matter what anyone else thinks of Deadpool, I know what risks he’s taken for me - though for the life of me I cannot say why’.
Taking flight, Siryn declares that she will not let Wade’s mind and memories be used this way, but as she flies into another room, she uncovers a dozen crazed Deadpool’s, their masks gone, their faces blackened, they sing: HELP! I need somebody! HELP!  Not just anybody!  Siryn clutches her head and angrily shouts ‘Why are ye doing this? I know the sacrifice Wade Wilson made by going into the Weapon X program! How he risked any semblance of a normal life to keep from dying!’
Suddenly, the Deadpools turn their attention to Siryn, ‘She knows too much!’ one of them shouts. ‘She knows nothing!’ another screams as they all begin to chase her. ‘They’re uncontrollable!’ Theresa tells herself as she runs from them as they wave their swords about yelling ‘Too much! Nothing! Too much! Nothing!’ over and over. Siryn finds herself backed up against the face-like door once more, when all of a sudden the Deadpools throw their swords at her, surrounding her. ‘That went well…’ Siryn mumbles.
Suddenly, a voice calls out ‘NUMBER NINE NUMBER NINE NUMBER NINE’, and entering the face-doors, Siryn finds herself in a padded cell - where Deadpool is curled up in a corner. ‘Deadpool?’ Siryn asks. ‘Terry?’ Deadpool replies. ‘Is this another one of his games?’ he asks. Going over to her friend, Siryn remarks that she was just about to ask the same thing, and asks Wade what went on here after she life. Head in his hands, Wade replies ‘Cant explain…just make it stop’. Holding up one of the swords, Theresa asks Wade what it is he is saying. ‘For once I’m not fooling around - you’ve gotta do it, Terry. You’ve gotta turn it off!’ Deadpool pleads.
Suddenly, two figures enter the padded cell - Doctor Weisman and Jeremy Stevens. Startled, Siryn spins around as Jeremy Stevens shouts ‘Well. It looks as though the inmates are running the asylum!’ Dr. Weisman addresses Siryn as “Ms. Rourke” and asks her if she has the strength of mind to do what needs to be done. Siryn holds the sword up to Jeremy’s neck and calling him a horrid little boy remarks that she remembers him now. ‘Ye have power as a psi, I’ll give ye that - but the game is over now. Deadpool leaves with me!’.
Dr. Weisman tells Siryn that, as she seems so certain of the power that the boy wields, what makes her think that he will let her. Siryn smirks and tells Dr. Weisman that she is correct, ‘I’ll have to remedy the situation’ she exclaims as she swings the sword and forces Dr. Weisman against the padded wall. ‘Ye’ve overplayed your hand - GAMESMASTER!’ she exclaims. Suddenly, the Gamesmaster floats out of Dr. Weisman’s body, ‘Well done, Theresa. You win. This round’ he remarks before the enigmatic omnipath vanishes - with the consequences of today’s victory weighing heavily on Siryn’s mind.
Jeremy Stevens hugs Dr. Weisman and tells her that he is sorry, but Dr. Weisman tells him that they each had a role in this and remarks that with Ms. Rourke, she fears for what would have become of them all. ‘Man you’re good’ Deadpool exclaims as he turns to Siryn. Theresa tells Wade to give himself credit. ‘I know ye to be a man who chose life over cancer’ she points out. ‘In some ways, ye’ve got to have courage to be as crazy as ye are’. Deadpool suddenly leans in to Siryn, ‘Then…you like me! You really, really like me!’ he exclaims as he kisses her. ‘DEADPOOL!’ Siryn snaps back.
‘Risque…’ Warpath whispers as he kisses Risque some more.
Shortly, outside the Weisman Institute, Siryn marches away from Deadpool who stands watching her and thinks to herself ‘That’s it? Deadpool goes back to work and we go back home? It was almost like Gamesmaster wanted us to come up here…so he could end the game’. Theresa decides, before she sees Shatterstar and flying over to him, asks him where he has been. ‘I coulda used your help inside!’ she exclaims. But as Shatterstar turns to her, Siryn sees that something is wrong, and lowers her tone as she asks him if he is okay.
‘No, I’m not “okay”. I doubt very much that I will be “okay” for a very long time’ Shatterstar replies. ‘Ye seem different’ Siryn replies, asking him what happened. Tears begin to fall from his eyes as Shatterstar replies ‘He…he’s played with my mind, Terry. Flooded it with images that seem so real! He told me that in truth, I am a human boy by the name of “Benjamin Russell”…that my entire life as Shatterstar is nothing more than an empty fiction…Gamesmaster’s sick fantasy!’. Shatterstar adds that he thinks the Gamesmaster was telling him the truth….


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In the Company of Strangers - part 2: The Best Laid Plans…
Caliban watches as his friends are in trouble – he knows he didn’t make the trouble, for he is a good person – someone else made this mess: Mr. Sinister. As Sinister begins to walk away, dragging Nate Grey a.k.a. the alternate dimension reject known as “X-Man”, the X-Forcer Domino walks up to him carrying a very big gun and tells him that the only way he is leaving here with Nate is over her dead body. The insidious Sinister tells Domino that if that is the price then he will be more than willing to pay it.
With her several unconscious teammates behind her, Domino charges her high-tech gun and tells Sinister that he caught them by surprise, but declares that he is not going up against a bunch of kids anymore. Domino reminds Sinister that the last time they ran into each other he treated her like she was nothing, and declares that it is now time for a little payback. Sinister tells Domino to put down her absurd weapon and boasts that none of Cable’s whelps can help her now.
Caliban recalls how he and his friends were supposed to stop Onslaught from taking Nate Grey, but Onslaught did not come, Sinister came instead. Caliban does not understand that Onslaught is Charles Xavier, the man whose house, a mansion in Westchester, where they are all currently located. Caliban remembers how he used to live in the sewers, and likes the mansion better. Caliban knows why he likes Professor X – because he helps mutants, because they all have powers, sometimes scary ones.
Sinister grins wickedly and asks Domino if she doesn’t find it somewhat ironic that she of all people would stand against him. Caliban feels like his head is on fire, something is happening to him, something bad. As he begins to drop from the ceiling, Domino sees him and calls to him, warning him that he is in the line of fire. Sinister thinks Domino is trying to trick him and tells her she cannot expect him to turn around, when Caliban drops down on him, causing him to scream as Caliban’s mighty claws shred through his back.
Domino manages to stop herself from firing the gun, for Caliban’s actions were unexpected. Caliban growls as he faces Sinister, who exclaims ‘The Hound shows his true colors!’ before announcing that he sees now allowing him to escape the slaughter of his fellow Morlocks was an error on his part. Observing Caliban, Sinister is fascinated at how there is more than just rage at work and notes that it has all the hand prints of his ancient foe, Apocalypse. Sinister recalls that when Caliban was genetically altered by Apocalypse, the ancient mutant implanted some sort of fail-safe device against him.
Caliban lunges at Sinister, who declares as he holds Caliban back that it is time to find out how well “the Eternal One” played his hand. Domino watches in astonishment as Caliban actually holds his own against Mr. Sinister, knowing that Caliban has never hinted at that kind of power to them before. It is a horrible thing to lose control, to have your humanity stripped away, so that all that is left is an engine of destruction. A cold merciless, unstoppable killing machine, where once was a gentle soul.
Blood flies all over the place as Caliban claws at Sinister and Tabitha Smith a.k.a. Meltdown, who has known Caliban the longest out of anyone else in the room and watching him go wild, she knows that the appeal of cutting loose has been lurking within her for sometime. Up until now, she has found her power almost intoxicating, but as each member of the team regains consciousness, they all share the same thought – at one time or another, mutants can lose control of their powers. And they wonder “Could this happen to me?”
Bobby DaCosta a.k.a. Sunspot, Shatterstar and their sort-of-ally X-Man gather around Domino and Meltdown, as Domino informs them that Caliban has brought them some time, but it is still their responsibility to keep Onslaught away from Nate Grey. Domino remarks that they should be grateful that when Cable built this arsenal down here – over Xavier’s jurisdiction she adds –that he did it with a back-up plan, and as she hits the “self-destruct” button, she tells the kids to brace themselves and shouts ‘Fire in the hole!’
The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning is located in Salem Center, Westchester, New York, and over the years the mansion has gone from being a home to a school to a headquarters, of both the Uncanny X-Men and recently the Unpredictable X-Force. It has been tormented from the outside by deadly super villains and most recently preyed upon by Xavier himself, at the hand of Onslaught. Yet, through Xavier’s strength of will, they have always, always, always rebuilt.
However, as the fireball lights up the night sky, there is a certain air of sadness. For this is one time those who have followed the dream of Charles Xavier, that humans and mutants would one day live in harmony, worry it will not survive this nightmare.
At that moment, elsewhere, a motorcycle speeds towards the mansion, its driver, James “Warpath” Proudstar and his companion, Gloria Dolores Munoz, better known as “Risque” see the explosion after hearing about the news of what is happening in New York – the Sentinels and the destruction – they were in Florida together. James tells Risque that he never thought anything this bad to happen. Both James and Gloria are about to learn that one cannot run away from one’s problems, for they only get worse.
James remarks that he was counting on the mansion being safe, that everyone was safe. Gloria sees the concern in her friend’s face, but nevertheless, she tells him that she has a bad feeling about this. James glances back at her and asks her what it is that she is always saying to him – “What’s life without a little Risque?” James jumps off the motorcycle and tells Risque that he is going inside. Risque starts to say something, but James cuts her off and tells her that he appreciates her coming along and everything that they have shared, but he had no idea they would be coming back to this.
Proudstar starts to tells Gloria that he knows this is none of her business, but getting off the motorcycle, Risque walks over to James and putting her arms around him she tells him that he doesn’t understand then, for she didn’t put her life on hold just to have a little fun, and that he better get used to the fact that his business is also her business. James smiles, agrees and as Risque hugs him he looks at her, stunned by what a difference this is from the indifference Siryn has shown him all the time. Suddenly, James’ thoughts turn to the young woman whom he has liked very much for a long time, his friend and teammate Theresa Rourke Cassidy a.k.a. “Siryn” and wonders if she has been hurt in the explosion.
Inside, Sinister bursts through the debris that was covering him and admits that he may have underestimated the “children”. But he knows that from what he has learned from the monstrous Sugar Man and from the memories of Bishop, Nate Grey represents the culmination of Sinister’s entire life’s work. Sinister remembers that it was he alone who saw to it that Cable was born as a safeguard against Apocalypse, but in turn Apocalypse perverted that plan with giving Cable the Techno-Organic virus. Sinister narrows his eyes, for he knows that Nate Grey has no such weaknesses, so by right, by will, and by the end of the night: ‘Nate Grey will be mine!’
Elsewhere in the mansion, Domino leads Sunspot and X-Man, declaring that at least they are alive and still with X-Man. Nate tells Domino that she has guts, he will give her that, but wants to know how she knew they would survive the explosion. Domino replies that she didn’t, but that sometimes things have a habit of going her way. Sunspot is furious by this and asks Domino why she jeopardized all of their lives, just because the three of them made it. Domino cuts him off before Bobby can finish what he wants to say and tells him that she does not have time for his famous arrogance right now, that she did what she had to do given the circumstance.
Bobby starts to say ‘Cable wouldn't –’ but Domino cuts him off, telling him not to go there, as he will only be disappointed. Nate informs Domino and Sunspot that Sinister has managed to shut down his powers so he doesn’t think he will be of any use to Onslaught now and suggests that he should turn himself over to Sinister and takes his chances with him. ‘Not a chance’ exclaims Domino, who declares that just as Sinister shut him down, they may be able to start him up again.
Meanwhile, below the mansion Caliban finds himself in a sewer system and declares that he does not understand, for he remembers “Patch Eye” yelling something, but now he is all alone. Coming up behind him, Meltdown reveals her presence and tells Caliban that he put on some show upstairs. Caliban tells Tabby that he was not “putting on a show”, and admits that he was out of control. Meltdown tells him not to get all wimpy as he did a good thing. Caliban asks what would happen if he does it again, and someone he likes gets hurt.
Meltdown frowns as she watches Caliban, and realizes by the tone of his voice that he is really scared. She thinks she should just let him work it out the hard way, everything he is feeling, she has been there and done that. Perhaps because she thinks no one can see her, or maybe because when you strip everything away from her, there is still a scared little girl somewhere inside Tabitha Smith as well, she hugs Caliban. For despite all her bravado, she knows what Caliban is looking for...because for years it is nothing less than what she herself has yearend for. She tells him he will not hurt anybody, and that no one will hurt them either.
Soon, Domino, Sunspot and X-Man are walking through the mansion, and Domino declares that she doesn’t pretend to know about genetic mutation, for they know Sinister practically wrote the book on it, but she wants to know why, if Sinister has the ability to shut down Nate, then why hasn’t he done it to Cable? Nate replies ‘Don’t ask me, Cable and I aren’t the same person’ and declares that their recent encounter proved that.
‘Not that anyone is asking me’ says Sunspot before suggesting the reason Sinister has not shut down Cable yet is because of the Techno-Organic virus in his bloodstream, which was another way that Apocalypse saw to it that Sinister could not get to Cable. Domino isn't so sure, she thinks it could be something else, something that has to do with Cable’s teachings, for she has seen it herself, that Cable has some kind of protective aura.
Nate tells Domino and Bobby that they may as well pack it in then, because the biggest difference between he and Cable, is that he doesn’t know anything about Askani. Bobby agrees, but declares that somehow, he knows. Domino tells the others that they will have to risk a little psionic surgery then, and asks Nate if he has one psi-probe left with him. He replies ‘Just’ to which Domino says ‘Confidence. Love that in a man’.
Nate puts a hand on Bobby’s head and warns him that although he is one of the world’s most powerful telepaths, ‘when it comes to skill…’ To quote Cable, Sunspot says “We learn by doing” before asking Domino what will happen to him should Nate remove the Askani teachings in him – will he revert to Reignfire’s persona? Domino tells him that they will cross that bridge when they come to, and pray that after Onslaught there is still a bridge to cross.
Suddenly, in a burst of telekinetic energy, the psionic image of Blaquesmith appears. For in all things that involve the Askani, the quasi-religion that Cable was tutored in the future, his often-unwelcome teacher and mentor has a mysterious hand. Speaking Askani, the psionic image of Blaquesmith results in a backlash that knocks both Sunspot and Nate Grey out.
Elsewhere in the mansion, Siryn has stumbled across Mr. Sinister, and uses her sonic scream against him. His image blurs and he tells Siryn she made an admirable effort, but for one who can manipulate his own genetic material, like he just did, her effort was woefully inadequate. Grabbing Siryn by throat, Sinister tells her he will delight in telling her father how she died when he sees him next.
But before Sinister can kill Siryn, Shatterstar leaps at him with his swords and boasting that the only blood shed tonight will be Sinister’s. Gritting his teeth, the annoyed Sinister tells Shatterstar that if he had the slightest inkling of the true power he wields he might actually make good on his boast, before swatting Shatterstar back. As Shatterstar lies on the floor, Sinister tells him that at any other time it might be intriguing to see what he would do with that knowledge.
Between Sinister’s gnawing scientific curiosity and his overwhelming ego, he does not notice the blur that approaches him – the oncoming Warpath! James pummels Sinister back from Siryn, declaring that he prays they got here in time. Calling to Risque, he shouts ‘Now!’ and Gloria turns to some machinery in the room, while thinking ‘That’s Sinister himself!’ and how she knew she might run into some of the Legendary Ones, but not this soon. Risque has the mutant power to implode inorganic materials, and while keeping it’s mass she can hurl it with awesome consequences – and does so against Sinister, knocking him to the ground again with the machinery.
As he is knocked back, Sinister is surprised that he does not know her: ‘That girl. A mutant, who is unknown to me?! Fascinating!’ James helps Theresa up and as she asks him if it is really he, he replies that he is back and brought help. ‘The ignorance of youth!’ declares Sinister as he gets up after Risque knocked him down, he tells them they obviously think they are fighting for some just cause, when they really have no idea of the stakes that are in play. ‘Apocalypse is alive!’ he bellows and declares that once again this planet ‘teeters on the sheer cliff, which would have it toppling into his gaping maw’.
As X-Man enters the room, Sinister declares that he must have this creation, to which Nate tells him that what he wants and what he gets are not on the same menu, before striking the villain with his powers. Risque asks Warpath who he is, to which James replies that he doesn’t know, but supposes he could be their last hope.
Attacking Sinister, Nate informs him that he knew someone like him once, someone who took away everything he had. As Sinister is “bathed” in X-Man’s power, he realizes he is being attacked psionically, telekinetically and physically all simultaneously. ‘his power, glorious, everything I have dreamed of!’ Referring back to his home dimension, the Age of Apocalypse, Nate reveals that his friends and father died, all in the name of Apocalypse, and while this Sinister may not be the same man, he has the same warped plans. ‘I killed that man, Sinister, and I wont think twice about doing it again!’
Sinister is blasted back, but holds a hand up to Nate, asking him to stop, he admits that he has no doubt Nate could slay him, ‘but taking that as a given, hear what I have to say’. As everyone gathers around, Proudstar holds onto Siryn, which does not impress Risque, and Domino tells Sinister ‘No dice’ before reminding Nate that Sinister is a liar and a manipulator, she tells him he is staying with them, and Sinister is leaving.
Sinister grins wickedly as he asks X-Man if this woman speaks for him and tells him that he must realize that his new friends are the hatchlings of Xavier. ‘So?’ Nate asks, frowning. Sinister asks him if he wasn’t the only one who saw Xavier as a danger and whether or not anyone else in the room sided with him before Onslaught was revealed. Nate informs Sinister that he will stand with them any day before he stands with him. Sinister declares that he seeks only to prevent Apocalypse of Onslaught from swallowing the world whole.
Sinister invites Nate to tear his mind asunder to prove otherwise, and as Nate starts to use his powers, Domino steps up and tells him not to. But Nate doesn’t listen to her, he tells her that he knows what is up and that Sinister cannot hide the truth from him. ‘I’ll rip it out of his head!’ Sinister smirks as he tells Nate to dig deep, deeper…. But as Nate Grey telepathically darts into the labyrinth of Sinister’s mind, it is too late when he realizes he has fallen into a perfectly orchestrated trap.
For one brief second, Sinister rechannels his psionic energy and sends it back at his enemies…tenfold. Sunspot; Warpath; Siryn; Shatterstar; Risque; Domino and X-Man all fall. ‘The end’ Sinister announces as he stands amongst the fallen heroes. He picks up Nate Grey and as he takes his leave, he declares ‘Now, we can begin’.