Under One Roof

Around midnight.
The Xavier Institute, Salem Center.
Among other things, it is currently the temporary home of the mutant team known as X-Force.
Where for the past few nights, there has been something of an evening ritual. Although she's aware of the potential danger, she is somehow drawn to the situation. After all, she didn't get the name Boomer by being afraid to stir things up.
She knows that Cable, X-Force's hard-headed leader, would never approve. And Sam, her boyfriend, the newest X-Man known as Cannonball? He'd probably stop speaking to her altogether.
Nevertheless, she has once again brought a simple bowl of milk to a man many consider nothing more than a homicidal maniac.
This is the control station at the heart of the X-Men's Danger Room. With some added technological components obtained from the Shi'Ar alien race, from this very spot one can create any environment in the training center.
Except, someone has done a number on it.
"Uh-oh." Tabitha whispers, as she surveys the destruction of the control room. Then, upon looking down into the Danger Room itself, she screams,
"Caliban! Stop! Stop It NOW!!"
Even if Caliban could hear her, it wouldn't matter much. Rage is a terrible thing. And when it has been kept pent up for as long as it has in Caliban's heart, it is going to take a lot more than what Boomer has to bring him under control.

"Caliban has waited for tonight, Sabretooth. It's a night Sabretooth won't forget. Tonight Sabretooth DIES!" Caliban screams, as he slams the already bloody Sabretooth into the simulated forest floor. "Caliban doesn't understand why Sabretooth doesn't fight back. Sabretooth is a killer. Killed Caliban's friends. Maybe Sabretooth thinks he can trick Caliban. Wait for Caliban to get tired and then fight back." Caliban stomps Sabretooth's head deeper into the dirt. "Sabretooth can't trick Caliban. He can't. HE CAN'T!!" Caliban lifts the limp body up and delivers another blow which bring forth a new fountain of blood from Sabretooth.
The pity of it is...there is no trick. Ever since Wolverine's claws popped through Sabretooth's skull, Victor Creed has lost his killer instinct. But does that make the man any less guilty for the unspeakable crimes of his past?

"Oh God...oh God...oh God...I have to get in there." Tabitha mutters, as she tries to piece together enough wiring to open up the Danger Room. "But, I might as well be trying to put together a bicycle with what Caliban has left of this place. Maybe I can blow a hole..."

BOOM

"Caliban is going to kill you now!" Caliban draw back to deliver the killing blow, a blow which will decapitate Sabretooth, when the Danger Room changes around them. "Hey. Who turned out the lights? What is happening to Caliban? The room is changing...where..? Wait. Caliban knows this place. This was Caliban's home. What did you do, Sabretooth? How did you take Caliban to the Morlock Tunnels? WHY IS CALIBAN HERE?"
"Do you remember this, Caliban?" Cable telepathically asks.
"Caliban can hear Cable/Nathan in his head." Caliban replies. "Why is Cable/Nathan doing this? He knows what happened here. Caliban lost everything here. Caliban's friends...family...Sabretooth killed the Morlocks for no reason. But, Caliban has a reason to kill Sabretooth."
"Look at his eyes, Caliban." Cable continues to telepathically broadcast. "Can you see what's in his eyes? I can't tell you Sabretooth doesn't deserve to die. When he and the Marauders invaded the tunnels you were weak. You couldn't defend yourselves. Afterwards, Apocalypse changed you, made you powerful. But now, something has changed Sabretooth and made him so that he can't defend himself. Is this how you want it? Is this justice?"
"Cable/Nathan said it," Caliban screams, "Sabretooth deserves to die!"
"But not like this, Caliban." Cable projects stronger, and Caliban turns to stare up at his leader in the observation booth. For long moments there is silence.
Then, Caliban drops both his head and Sabretooth's limp body. "Caliban is sorry..."

"Did he...?" Tabitha asks, as she and Cable enter the Danger Room.
"Tell her, Caliban." Cable says, placing his hand on Caliban's shoulder.
"Caliban did not kill Sabretooth." Caliban almost whispers. "But someday, when he's not so helpless...nothing will stop Caliban from finishing this." Caliban turns to face Cable, "Cable/Nathan won't make Caliban go away now, will he?"
"No." Cable replies. "But, I am going to make you clean up the mess you made outta the control room."
"Man, he really beat the crap out of you." Tabitha says, inspecting Creed's near comatose body.
"And you, young lady!" Cable turns to face Tabitha.
"What'd I do?" Tabitha grins innocently.
"This business of bringing milk to Sabretooth at night stops now!" Cable orders. "Got it?"
*ULP* "Got it." Tabitha replies meekly.

The next day. Cable and Charles Xavier, the founder of the outlaw group of mutants known as the X-Men, and one of the world's foremost authorities on Homo Superiors, find that even the most seasoned professionals can still marvel at a young mutant exploring his extraordinary power.
"How long has Sunspot been up there?" Charles asks, as they observe Roberto in flight.
"Three. Three and a half hours." Cable replies.
"Is he showing any signs of fatigue?" Charles asks.
"Actually, I think Bobby's getting stronger." Cable tells him.
"That's...surprising." Charles states. "And you don't find any of his newfound power disturbing?"
"Trust me, Xavier." Cable smiles down at him. "We've got it under control."
"Do you still intend to work more with the team telepathically?" Charles asks, as the two make there way back into the mansion.
"Intend to and I already am." Cable replies.
"I hope you don't think I'm interfering--"
"Now why would I think that?" Cable asks, grinning.
"Cable, I appreciate our differences in the past...but even you must admit that there is value in experience." Charles tells him.
"You point being?" Cable asks.
"Just to remind you that I worked with Jean for years...and she's still not comfortable with entering someone's mind without their consent." Charles explains.
"And I...appreciate what you're saying." Cable tells him. "But more and more I realize that I've got to make use of all my powers. In ways I've even yet to explore. After all, how can I expect my team to give their all...when maybe, in the past, I haven't. Xavier, you of all people, can understand that."
"...I only want you to recognize the dangers involved in the path you've chosen." Charles explains. "Maybe...you could work with Jean some more...?"

Elsewhere in the mansion, Doctor Henry McCoy, the X-Man known as the Beast, can, as usual, be found in the medi-lab. His current undertaking, a full physical study of the recently injured Shatterstar.
"It's somewhat curious that in all the time you've been with X-Force, no one has run a complete diagnostic check on you." Hank says, all the while checking the various scanners.
"For what?" 'Star asks. "I feel fine. I always feel fine. Where I come from, seeing a Physician is a sign of weakness."
"Hmmm...yes...where you say you come from..." Hank replies absently.
"I'm shipping out, McCoy." Cable says as he enters the medi-lab. "I need a simple 'yes' or 'no' as to whether or not I can take 'Star."
"Cable! Get me out of here, please." 'Star implores him.
"I am working with a presumably alien biology, hollow bones, no white corpuscles, the closest reference I have is our former teammate Longshot." Hank explains. "And you want a simple 'yes' or 'no'?"
"Trust me. I'm fit as a cello." 'Star tells them.
"Uh-huh." Cable replies. "McCoy, you make the call."
"If you can manage without him, I'd like a few days to run some tests." Hank tells him.
"A few days?!" 'Star yells.
"Look at it this way, 'Star." Cable smiles down at the young man. "You'll have plenty of time to rethink how you got into this mess in the first place. Namely, by not listening to me."

Cable exits the medi-lab to find Boomer waiting for him in the hall.
"What's your story?" Cable asks, stopping in front of the girl and crossing his arms.
"Well, it's just, that I sorta overheard you excusing Shatterstar from duty...'cause he wasn't up to snuff." Tabitha puts her hands behind her back and shuffles her feet. "And...you see...it's like this...I've been feelin' kinda' under the weather...I think it's the flu."
"The flu." Cable repeats. "You look fine to me."
"No really." *KOFF* *KOFF* "My head aches, I'm dizzy. I'm sure I'm running a fever." Tabitha droops her shoulders and adds, "I could infect the whole team."
"Maybe I should just poke around in your head telepathically and see if you're telling the truth." Cable tells her, pausing a moment before adding, "Or...I could take you at your word. Plus, where we're headed won't help your...flu. So you're excused." Cable turns and takes a few steps, stops and turns back. "Give Sam our best."
"I will!" Tabitha replies, then nearly chokes on her gum. "I mean...when I'm feelin' better." She turns and beats a hasty retreat, thinking, "You know, Cable, sometimes you can be the biggest jerk...and sometimes, you're all right."

Within the hour, the rest of the team is ready to board their recently recovered Personal Assault Carrier for Recon/Aquatic/Terrain. Better known as the PACRAT.
"Caliban likes working for Cable/Nathan." Caliban says. "Gets to travel a lot."
"Packed and ready, Cable." James tells him.
"Looks like this mission is just guys, Men." Cable informs them. "Hope you've all heard some new jokes."
"Cable, I feel as if I could fly the whole way there myself." Sunspot says.
"That won't be necessary." Cable tells him. "Just get on board."
"I hope we're gonna get a chance to kick some butt!" Sunspot says, boarding the PACRAT.
"Strictly recon, Bobby." Cable tells him, as he fires up the engines. "I want to be in and out and back for dinner."

Later.
"Here's how it unfolds, Gang." Cable informs them. "We've just entered Russian air space. Specifically, the Siberian region. I'm keeping the PACRAT low to avoid radar detection. Even with the new regime, we'd have a heck of a time explaining what we're doing here."
"Which brings up the obvious question." James states. "What are we doing here? You never had us 'running errands' for Professor X before, why the change?"
"This is part of what I've been meeting with Xavier about." Cable explains. "And it's in everybody's best interest. Now, keep your eyes peeled for this one particular tracking station. It went off-line about twenty-one hours ago. And we want to know why."

"Smoke!" James says, minutes later. "On the horizon, Cable."
"Okay, I want everybody ready." Cable orders, bringing the PACRAT in for a landing. "There's no telling how much damage they've sustained."
"Caliban senses something, Cable/Nathan." Caliban says. "Like a mutant, but not."
"Cal' I need you to focus in on it for me." Cable tells him.
"Caliban will try, but it makes Caliban's head hurt." Caliban replies.
"Looks like they set off a nuke down there!" James notes, looking at the massive crater.
"Negative." Cable replies. "I'm getting no radioactive readings whatsoever. But something took this place out in a mean way..."

It isn't so much the rawness of the destruction that leaves them speechless. As much as how the blackness of the crater stands out against the naked, white snow. Bringing only one horrible thought to mind. Who or what could have caused this kind of destruction?

"We stay psi-linked from this point on." Cable telepathically communicates to them. "Be on the lookout for survivors. Warpath, watch my back. I'm taking point. Caliban, I want you to find that creature. Sunspot, give me aerial support. You are not to land for ANY reason, understood?"
"But--" Bobby starts to object.
"I'll take that as a 'Yes, Sir.'" Cable telepathically interrupts him. "Okay, we've got two men dead here. I want the rest of you to stay back." Cable advances deeper into the zone of destruction, coming upon a third man. "This one's alive...barely." Cable kneels beside the man and speaks aloud, in perfect, un-accented Russian. "It's going to be all right. We're friends. Friends of Charles Xavier."
"Xavier?" The dying man asks. "We trusted Charles Xavier and look what happened!"
"What?" Cable asks. "What happened here?"
"WHY DID YOU COME?" A voice screams from behind Cable. "I only wanted to be left alone. Why couldn't you just LEAVE ME ALONE?!!"
"I don't believe it." Cable states, upon recognizing the screamer. A heavily muscled man with feathered wings, and power surging from his eyes. "The Mimic!"

Our Journey Continues With
To Battle The Mimic

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