Cannonball...Moonstar...Sunspot...Pridewalker...Bedlam.
Mutants. Homo sapien superior...the next stage in human evolution. Hated and feared by a world they have sworn to protect. They are the strangest heroes of all...
The Unpredictable
Chicago, Illinois. Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
He was a man on a mission. He went to that hospital in search of one man.
He asked a nurse here, a desk clerk there, all hoping to find one piece of information.
"I'm sorry, Mister DaCosta," the clerk said, "but there is no one named Richter here."
"He's got to be here!" Bobby exclaimed. "He suffered a gunshot wound...had surgery...he wasn't expected to be released this soon..."
"I don't know what to tell you," the clerk shrugged. "All I know is that he's not here."
Bobby sighed, turned around and left. Moments later, he had covered his body in black flame and taken off to the sky as the solar-powered Sunspot.
This is insane. I'm on a wild goose chase. First, Tabitha was arrested. Then, she was missing. We found her at the Weisman Institute, but she refused to come with us. Nate Grey, a telepath, pegged her as having had her brain messed with by another telepath. X-Force refused to help me find a way to save her...so I went off on my own.
I had no idea things would be this difficult. First, the CEO of my own company, DaCosta International, refused to help. Then Sledge, a man who'd do anything to have someone owe him a favor, refused. And now, I've decided to track down some former members of X-Force, and they've disappeared.
Theresa's not at the motel she was staying at...Rictor's not in the hospital. I'm out of my league here. I should find Cable. I know he'd help.
Sure, I know Sam made this whole big deal about X-Force being separate from him, but this isn't X-Force. This is me, asking him for a favor. Tabitha was one of the founding members of X-Force...his second recruit at that. She's almost been like a daughter to him, and he a father to her. If only I knew where he was these days...
I'll go to New York. Contact the X-Men...maybe try the Avengers of Fantastic Four. There's got to be someone willing to help me.
And at an incredible speed, Sunspot flew across the sky, heading east. He left a black streak of solar energy as he went. A streak of energy that someone else began to use...
...To follow him.
Oodnadatta, Australia.
Crazyhorse Tavern.
James Proudstar had taken what was soon becoming his 'regular chair' at his favorite bar. To most people, the phrase 'favorite bar' would seem quite stupid to someone who doesn't drink alcohol. But to the mutant codenamed Pridewalker, the Tavern was just a place where he could relax and have a talk with who was soon becoming his favorite bartender.
"Milk?" Maya Lopez asked from behind the counter.
James nodded, not even trying to hide the grin spreading across his face. Sure, he never expected to move to Australia, and he never expected to be willing to forget about his recent women troubles, but he had to admit: There was something about Maya.
It wasn't that she was native american...he'd met plenty native americans. Part of his interest could be that she was deaf...yet could read lips so well that she functioned like any normal perso--
Normal person? And when have I known anything Normal in my life? Would normal be seeing your brother go off to fight for a holy war that he didn't even believe in? Would normal be developing mutant powers and using them for wrong? Or finding your whole family slaughtered? Or running around in spandex with a group of mutants calling themselves X-Force?
The cool glass of milk slid across the wood bar to James.
"Thanks," Jimmy nodded.
"Anytime," Maya nodded back, letting a smile creep upon her lips as well.
"So..." James said.
"Don't tell me," Maya grinned, "What's a girl like you doing in a place like Oodnadatta?"
"I love saying that name," James laughed. "But your question is a good one."
"Well, if you must know, Crazyhorse was my father's old boxing nickname. His brother-in-law opened this bar, but he fell on hard times. My father used his boxing winnings to save my uncle, but...well, they've both moved on since then. But, needless to say, they renamed the bar after my father. I took over because, well...someone had to. I've grown to love it here. Even the town name."
"Interesting story," James nodded.
"So, what's yours?" she asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," he smiled.
"Try me."
"Well, I was born in America...but circumstances lead to me doing a lot of traveling. Boy is that an understatement. I've been from one end of the world to the other, and even into outer space and the moon. And now, I've moved into the area with a group of friends."
"Into the area? It's Oodnadatta or the Simpson desert."
"Right," James said, trying to think up something believable. Then, his hyper-attentive hearing kicked into high gear. Something was definitely wrong.
"What is it?"
"Er, nothing. Could you excuse me for a second?"
"Okay..."
James turned around and walked out the bar. Raising his loose shirt, he tugged on his belt. We may be a little unorganized these days, but we've still got our belts that Cable gave us...
He pushed the 'X' on his belt buckle, which began flashing. The signal was sent.
An abandoned town north of Oodnadatta, current base of X-Force.
Jesse Aaronson grunted as he blocked each kick or punch Dani attempted to deliver. He knew she was moving slower than she would in a real fight, but the thrill for Jesse was knowing that so far, he was keeping up with her.
Danielle Moonstar was pleased with his progress. When he joined X-Force, he had very little combat experience, other than what his brother telepathically forced him to do. His powers of disrupting anything mechanical definitely weren't an offensive weapon in a typical fight. Sure, if they were to go up against Sentinels, he'd be set...but luckily for mutants everywhere, Sentinel fights were scarce.
Another block, another counter...Jesse moved swiftly, constantly on the defensive.
The one lesson I've failed to teach him...is that to win, you've got to take the offensive.
Dani dropped to do a sweep kick.
Jesse was fast, and he jumped into the air to dodge. Unfortunately for him, she wasn't planning a sweep kick.
Using her right arm for support, she pushed off the ground and kicked Jesse in the stomach. He fell.
"Oww," he moaned. "What was that for?"
"A good defense is the best offense," Dani said. "If you take advantage of an offered situation. You couldn't have kept that up forever...constantly blocking was bound to make you tire and slow. There were a few times that I know I left myself open for a hit...many opportunities missed."
"I'm still new at this, though," Jesse said in his defense.
"I know," Dani nodded. "That's why we're working every day. You're getting better...but even Avengers can get killed in a battle. You want to be prepared."
"Can we call it a day for now? I'm all sweaty, and I really want to shower and head into town."
"Got a date?" Dani asked.
"Yeah, I wish. No, actually, there's a couple local bands playing...a little battle of the bands. I was gonna go check it out. I'd invite you, but I figured you'd have to drag Sam with...and something tells me if it's not country, he won't hear it."
"We're not joined at the hip," Dani said. "I can go places without him."
"Really?" Jesse said. "That's cool. But if I were you, I'd keep a better eye on him. After all, he and Michelle are gettin' pretty friendly."
"Teammates should be friends," Dani said. "Now get outta here and shower."
Across town.
Nate Grey sat in the middle of the air, "indian style", eyes closed.
Michelle Irwin watched him. When she concentrated, she could even see the telekinetic energies swirling around him. She was still getting used to her powers and their full extents.
As X-Man and Siphon, they were X-Force's newest recruits. He was far more advanced in the use of his powers than she, but neither seemed to mind.
"How long's he been like that?" Sam Guthrie asked as he walked up beside Michelle. He, too, was a mutant, and X-Force's current co-leader. Besides being an external, one of a handful of immortal mutants, he also had the ability to propel himself forward at incredible speeds and was protected by an invulnerable blast field.
"Two hours," she answered.
"Ah woulda never figured him to have that kinda patience or concentration," Sam said. "How long you been watchin' him?"
"Two hours."
"Ah wouldn't o' figured you'd be up to waste your time for so long."
"Actually, mate...I've been trainin'. Nate was tryin' to get me to use my powers in different ways...to pick and choose what I want to siphon energy away from. And to do that, I realized I'd have to have more concentration and be able to identify energy sources. I've been watching him...and the telekinetic energies flying around him."
"You can see his telekinetics?"
"Yup...as easily as I can see Dani's arrows or the fire trail you leave when you blast off. It's really cool, seeing things like this..."
"Ah bet."
"Uh, Sam?"
"Hmm?"
"I know you like me an' all," she said, "But I don't think that blinking down there is natural."
"What?" Sam asked. He looked down and noticed the 'X' belt he had started wearing was blinking. He pressed the button in response. "Come on, Ah got these belts rigged to the comm room...they'll tell us what's up where."
"Don't bother," Nate said, lowering to the ground. "I just found out...it's James in Oodnadatta. He needs us, fast."
Oodnadatta. [[I love saying that name =D - Paul]]
"Rawr!" it yelled as it tossed a car at James. It was a four armed monster with raging red hair, two bold green eyes, and a purple spandex costume.
James had moved swiftly, changing into his old Warpath costume (which, with some modifications, he hoped would soon become his new Pridewalker costume). He then set out to stop the monster that had appeared out of nowhere, but to no avail.
He caught the car in mid air and tossed it safely onto the ground. "Listen, buddy! I don't know what you're problem is...but you have got to switch to decafe."
"Rawr!" the monster yelled.
"Guess reasoning with you won't work if you don't speak english," James sighed. He charged forward, utilizing his incredible speed and strength and began pummeling his new foe.
Very soon after, he delivered a punch from one hand that sent him flying almost an entire block. As he landed, a glowing circle tore into the air and X-Force piled out.
Sam, Dani, and Jesse had managed to wear costumes. Siphon was only able to wrap a handkerchief around her mouth and chin and a headband above her eyes.
"Hey James," Sam said.
"Hey," he said, standing. "Nice costume, Siphon."
"Thanks," she said, rolling her eyes.
"What's the situation?" Dani asked.
"That four-armed bully is smashing up the town," James said, pointing.
"Like that needed explaining," Nate said. "Well, what're we waiting for? Let's hit it!"
Nate charged forward and began pummeling the creature with his telekinesis.
Sam sighed. "Ah was sad to hear Bobby left, but Ah actually thought we might get by without a hothead for a while."
"Fat chance," Dani grinned. "Let's go help him before he gets his butt handed to him."
Sam rocketed forward and smashed into the monster.
Siphon followed him up with an energy blast from her eyes.
Dani completed the attack with a psionic arrow.
James charged forward and kicked the guy with both feet in the chin.
Jesse hung back and watched, deciding it safer to play damage control and keep civilians out of the way.
"Rawr!" the guy yelled. He smashed his arms into the ground, causing a mini earthquake.
"Hey, it's like having Ric back," James said.
"He's almost as thickheaded, too," Dani said. "Shrugged off my arrow like it was nothing."
"Let's see him shrug this off!" Michelle yelled. She opened her eyes as wide as she could and hit the creature head on with the full force of her energy beams.
It pulled back and away.
"You set it up," Nate grinned, "I take it down."
A full force telekinetic whammy hit the creature, and it did indeed go down.
"Good job, you two," Sam said.
"Anybody else hear clapping?" Dani asked.
"Hey guys," Jesse said. "We got an audience."
A rather large group of townspeople had gathered and were then clapping for the heroes of the day.
"Well, I'll be," Sam said.
"Bet this never happened to the X-Men," Dani grinned.
"Now this is what I signed up for," Jesse grinned.
James grinned too. Then his eyes, though protected by a mask, met up with the eyes of another. Maya Lopez. And she was grinning right back.
"Sam?" James asked.
"Yeah?"
"I think I'm gonna like it here."
New York, New York.
Roberto DaCosta landed in an alley, making sure no one had seen him enter. In a matter of moments, he had powered down and was his normal Brazilian playboy self.
"You should have given up like you were told," a voice said.
"Who?" Bobby spun around, once again covering himself in black flame with just a thought.
"Me."
It was like looking into a mirror. Bobby recognized who instantly.
"It...it can't be!"
"But it is," the figure grinned. "I'm back, Bobby. And this time, we play for keeps..."
NEXT: As if this hasn't whetted your appetite enough! Between this issue and issue 118, there will be a three month gap in storytelling! so when you read the next issue, stuff'll be different...the roster'll be different...maybe you'll find some different relationships, too! But there's one thing you can be sure of...the surprise villain that Bobby just faced...will rock the New Marvel's world. Big time. Don't miss it!