The Eve of Forever

Twelve hours later. Four thousand feet above Westchester County, New York...The stillness of the air is shattered by the mechanically discombobulated PACRAT. X-Force's own Personnel-Assault-Craft for Recon/Aquatic/Terrain.
On it's latest mission, it has been trashed. Needless to say, it has seen it's better days.
Inside, it isn't much better. Caliban, whose mutant ability to track other mutants is not being used at the moment, (He's holding up the main support beam). James Proudstar, codename: Warpath, is undoubtedly the strongest member of the team, (But, after Eleven hours in the same position, he is learning about his limits). At the stick, is Cable, the team leader. The one person who is always in control, (Or so he likes to think).
"Caliban said he liked to travel with Cable/Nathan. Now Caliban isn't so sure." Caliban groans.
"Cable, we've got to find a way to land this pile of junk pretty darn quick." James adds, straining to keep the fuselage from caving in on them.
"Zip it. Both of you." Cable orders. "The plan never was to patch this bucket of bolts together enough to get us out of Siberia only to crash it into Xavier's Institute for Higher Learning! Now quiet down while I communicate telepathically with sunspot."
"Okay, Bobby, it's now or never."
"I'm on it, Sir." Sunspot replies through the link. "Don't worry, Cable. I will not let you down!" Sunspot releases his hold on the left wing of the PACRAT and flies underneath it. And without Sunspot holding up the wing...the craft immediately destabilizes!
"Cable, any last minute instructions?" James shouts.
"Sure!" Cable yells. "Grab hold of whatever you can and pray it doesn't break off!"

While underneath the pitching craft, Sunspot sets his mind to the task at hand.
"After all that happened with Reignfire, and the way I messed up with Mimic...Cable is still willing to put the team's lives...his own life...in my hands. I don't know if I'm even worthy of that trust...but I'm going to give it my all. Use my powers like never before..."
"That's the spirit, Bobby." Cable telepathically tells him.
"Cable? We're still psi-linked?" Bobby asks.
"Just concentrate on getting the job done." Cable tells him.

While inside...
"Caliban is getting hot, Cable/Nathan." Caliban complains.
"A few seconds more..." Cable mutters, as Bobby continues to race in circles beneath the craft to create a powerful enough updraft to slow their descent.

KERRRAAASSSHHH

"I'm exhausted, but...I got 'em down!" Bobby exhales, deeply. "My friends? Cable!"
"Caliban is here, Sunspot." Cal' yells, exiting the craft.
"You did it, Bobby!" James yells, giving Bobby a thumbs up. "We're safe at home."
"Okay, I want the three of you to report to the medi-lab and get checked out." Cable telepathically orders. "I don't care if you feel fine, I want McCoy to tell me you're all okay."
"Man, he doesn't let up, does he?" James gripes.
"One thing's for sure." Bobby adds, smiling. "There's no point in arguing with him."

The medi-lab. The patient's name is Shatterstar. Injured on a recent mission, he's been in sick bay much too long to suit him. James, Cal' and Bobby sneak up to the sleeping young man and gather around his bed.
"Hey, 'Star." James says, You gonna live or what?"
'Star leaps into the air before the second word is out of James' mouth, landing twelve feet away and facing his teammates.
"Of course, I am going to live!" 'Star tells them. "If that mad Dr. McCoy would only release me, I would be gladly fighting at your side."
"Has Siryn returned yet?" James asks.
"I do not know." 'Star replies. "The only other person I have seen is Dr. McCoy."
"What're you saying?" Bobby asks. "Boomer hasn't visited you?"
"I assumed she was with you." 'Star tells them. "While I have been poked, prodded and had my temperature taken in the oddest places."
"Now," Hank McCoy smiles a toothy grin from ear to ear at the quartet. "What can I do for you boys?"
"Who? Us? We don't' need anything, Guys, Do We?" James mumbles.
*SIGH* "Good afternoon, Dr. McCoy." 'Star offers.

Later, Another traveller lands on the lawn at the Xavier Institute. Only this time, it with grace and confidence. Theresa Cassidy. Siryn has come home.
"'Lo, Jimmy." Theresa greets James, as she enters the mansion, just as he was heading upstairs.
"Theresa, you're all right!" James shouts, runs and grabs Theresa up and hugs her tightly, spinning her around and around in his joy.
"Of course I'm all right, Jimmy." Theresa laughs with him. "How are all the others? Bobby and such?"
"Fine, Fine." James tells her. "Theresa, you don't know how I've...we've missed you."
"I've missed ye too, Jimmy." Theresa smiles at him, motioning him to put her down. "All o' ye. But, right now I've got to talk wit' Cable."
"He's in with Xavier, but--" James begins.
"I'll catch up with ye later, then, 'kay?" Theresa turns and heads for Xavier's study.
"Sure." James shoulders droop. "Good to see you, too..."

"All I'm saying, Xavier, is that someone was one step ahead of us, the whole time we were in Siberia." Cable says, through gritted teeth. "We lost the Mimic entirely. And since you sent us on the mission, I was wondering if you knew anything about it."
"I'm not sure I like the tenor of your question, Nathan." Xavier replies, calmly, steepling his fingers before him. "The men who worked at that tracking station were valuable allies of the Mutant Underground. If someone is on to that system..."
"Professor. Cable." Theresa greets them, as she enters the study. "I apologize for interrupting, but I just got back. And I know ye'll both want to hear what I have to report. As ye know, I've been...staying at the Weisman Institute...observing. Doctor Weisman sends her regards to ye, Professor, and apologizes fer bein' negligent with her reports."
"I'm relieved to find that my old colleague is well." Xavier replies.
"These are the most up to date listings of patients and Dr. Weisman's findings." Theresa produces a stack of discs and lays them on Xavier's desk. "And I might add, she's quite a remarkable woman."
"Theresa, congratulations on a job well done." Cable hugs her tightly. "I certainly picked the right person to replace Sam as X-Force's Deputy Leader."
"Actually, Cable, it was pretty much as we planned. I wish all our missions went as smoothly." Theresa beams back at him.

{What Cable doesn't know is that Theresa was captured and held prisoner at the Weisman Institute. The Merc known as Deadpool broke in to free her, after which the two of them were again captured by the being now in control of the Weisman Institute, the Gamesmaster, the vastly powerful omnipath last seen during the "Child's Play" mission when X-Force and The New Warriors clashed with contestants in the Gamesmaster's "Younghunt"
Deadpool is still held prisoner, while Siryn was set free with the appropriate memories done away with and new ones installed by the Gamesmaster.}

Later, outside...
Bobby DaCosta, sits by the lake, thinking, "Jeopardized the entire mission. Acted impulsively. Recklessly. Cable risked his life freeing me from Reignfire...and how do I repay him?"
"Bobby." Cable telepathically breaks into the young man's thoughts. "Speaking as an expert...you worry too much." Cable steps up to stand beside Bobby, looks down at the young man's reflection in the lake, and speaks. "Yes, you disobeyed a direct order in Siberia. You made a mistake. Learn from it. Besides, you earned some bonus points for saving the PACRAT."
"I will try even harder next time, Sir!" Bobby beams up at him. Cable gives his shoulder a firm clasp and turns to leave, when Bobby adds, "�𮶬 ���\�."
"������ ����" Cable replies without thinking. "Wait a second!" Cable turns back towards Bobby. "Where did you learn that language?!"
"What?" Bobby asks, "I just said 'Thanks' in english."
Cable telepathically scans the boy's thoughts and sees that he has no recollection of just what he said, other than the 'english' version of 'thanks.' "Doesn't make sense." Cable thinks, as he walks away. "I swear I just heard him speak in Askani'!

Next:
Where's Domino?
What's up with Bobby?
Who's gonna save Deadpool?
And how's Cable gonna be able to think about all of this when he must deal with the return of...

Aliya Dayspring

Find out in

To Meet One's Destiny

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