Under The Gun

In a safehouse for the terrorist organization known as The Mutant Liberation Front located in Caracas, Venezuela. The man known as Stryfe speaks to his android servitor, Zero.
"They look at me and laugh, Zero. Let them. It's all working to perfection. They look at me and see someone who claims to be the pre-eminent mutant terrorist of his time. They look and laugh, because they think they see a failure. My safehouses have been uncovered, my missions undone. Cable and his little X-Force cannon fodder have insinuated themselves into our operations time and time again. And they all laugh, thinking me inimportant in the greater scheme of things. How little they know. Of what has been...And what is to come..." Stryfe said, as he turned on a moniter screen that lights up with the faces of his enemies. "Look at them all, Zero. These self-proclaimed movers and shakers of the mutant movement on this pathetic little planet. Gideon. Money is his manner. More the fool he. Cable. So inherently noble. So destined to fail. Bishop and Fitzroy. What's the saying 'A stitch in time?' Poor fools, these two. They are but minor threads in the greater tapestry of existence. Xavier and Magneto. Yin and Yang. Order and Chaos. Never to learn that they could do so much more together than apart, if only each would make sacrifices of ego. So many players in the game. All thinking themselves the chessman in control of the pieces on the board. A shame that they don't realize how truly limited their perspectives are. How sadly lacking their plans are. Let them think me laughable. A failure. A minor pawn. Too late, will they realize that only someone who has tried and failed--Time and again--Knows the dirty road that lies ahead. Let them laugh, Zero. Because my greatest failure is still to come. And all the players in the game will see it happen. And think my role in the matter concluded. And when all is said and done--When the dust is settled on the battle-field--That's when we both know who will be laughing last. Don't we, Zero? Oh, yes, we do indeed..." Stryfe said with an evil smile that would make the Devil green with envy.

In Manhattan, underneath the city streets, lie the Morlock Tunnels. The mutant known as The Toad has come seeking new recruits for his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Toad has already recruited Sauron, The Blob, Pyro and Phantazia into his organization and is now speaking to Masque, the leader of The Morlocks, in hopes of an alliance.
"Wed your Morlocks to my Brotherhood in a marriage of mutual ambitions. Your ranks are depleted. Your army thinned by attrition and casualty. But, still, you have the fires of hatred burning inside you! Look at my ranks--Some you know. Some you will get to know--Blob, Pyro, Sauron and Phantazia--Look at the amount of sheer power that I have gathered in so short a time!" Toad told him.
"I have certain aces up my sleeve as well, Toynbee. There are still Morlocks aplenty in the shadowed catacombs of this underground. And they all have their own hatreds--Their own reasons for tunnel-diving." Masque replied.
"I am certain it takes a special breed, indeed...To run and hide." Toad said.
"Don't you dare laugh at us, you Toad! Who do you think you are? By what right do you percieve yourself as superior?" Masque asked him.
"By right of action, Masque!" Thornn shouted. As she stepped forward the others made out a beautiful feline mutant, covered with fur and with claws and a tail, similar in many ways to Feral. She spoke again, "The Toad knows you cannot see the light by lurking in the shadows! He knows the only way for mutants such as we to earn their rightful due is through force of action! And he'll have Thornn on his side for that! And I say the rest of we Morlocks want to taste some blood as well. Starting now! And starting with Masque's biggest mistake as leader of the Morlocks. We want the escaped one killed. We want Feral!"
"It would appear that Thornn speaks for my clan, Toynbee." Masque said.
Indeed, it does. Quite provocatively, I might add." Toad said, with a lecherous smile. "Very well, then. In respect to our newly forged alliance...The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants will perform an act of charity on behalf of our Morlock partners...We'll take X-Force down for you...And we'll make it a very bloody affair for good measure!"

In upstate New York--Inside the secret Adirondack Mountain headquarters of the mutant band known as X-Force...Cable and Domino share a quite moment in the hot-tub in their bedroom.
"I'm getting too old for these kinds of workouts." Dom said, as she ran her foot up Nathan's leg.
"You flatter me." Nathan replied, as he leaned forward and kissed her. "Did you go over that ordnance allotment I ordered?" He asked as he nibbled at her ear.
"Hmmmm....Yep, it all checks out...Uhmmm...Cable...What would the kids think if they knew you were getting most of your hardware from A.I.M.?" Dom asked him softly.
"Frankly, Domino, I don't much care. I don't see how the ethics of where you're buying your guns from can come into play. It is the height of hypocrisy. Advanced Idea Mechanics creates weapons that are as close to anything I'm accustomed to as I'm likely to find...Here and now, that is." He told her.
"I know it and you know it--But they might not. Speaking of which--Have you given any further thought to telling them the truth about your past? I mean, at least, Sam and Boom-Boom?" Dom asked.
Cable rose and got out of the hot-tub, the mood shattered, and grabbed a towel to wrap around himself. "I had...Really...But both of them have been acting too--I don't know--Self-righteous. I don't think they're ready to know, yet." He told her.
"You're going to have to come clean sooner or later, Nate. We both know that. Why put it off? Why are you so afraid of telling them the truth?" Dom asked, refusing to give up.
"Afraid? I'm not--I--I'll tell them when I think they're ready. Let's drop it, okay?" He said.
"Drop what?" Dom asked, with that impish grin that always got to him.
"Thank you." He said, returning the smile.

Outside, Siryn watched as Warpath and Shatterstar trained. She was so intent on watching them spar that she never sensed anyone near her until Pyro's arm locked around her throat, choking off any scream.
"Ironic, eh? Quietly sneaking up on the woman who screams and shouts?" Pyro said.
Warpath and Shatterstar turned and readied for battle as Blob and Toad approached. Warpath explained to Shatterstar who their attackers were. "Blob and Pyro. Former Freedom Force. The fat one is immovable, enhanced strength. The twerp holding Terry is pyro-kinetic, controls fire."
"Understood. Either's good for me." Shatterstar said, smiling at the prospect of real combat.
"How did you find us?" Theresa manages to gasp out.
"The Morlocks are well informed among the mutant underground. They knew of your taking Trask's former base as your own." Toad told her.
"You'd be surprised, Lassie. They even knew you were a part o' the parcel!" Pyro added, as he tightened his hold.
"Really--? Then I'm surprised they didn't tell you that I eat losers like you with a pint o' Guinness everyday." Siryn said as she neatly flipped Pyro over her shoulder. "Take 'Em Down!" She shouted, as she took to the air.
Before he could move to attack, Shatterstar was also taken to the air. By Sauron, the half Pterodactyl half man.
"Warpath neglected to inform me about you, Creature." Shatterstar said as they soared ever higher.
"Allow me then, Childling, to properly introduce myself. I am Sauron! And I am the harbinger of your dying breath!"
"Do not consider, for a moment, Sauron, that our current altitude will prevent me from cutting you to shreds!" Shatterstar said.
"Then you are a fool, Shatterstar. For surely, it would be the death of you!" Sauron told him.
"Try me, Creature, and you will find that an arena warrior, born and bred can be as cold-blooded as any lizard!" Shatterstar said, as he stabbed Sauron through the neck with his double-bladed sword.

AARRYYEEEE!!

Meanwhile, Masque, Thornn and Phantazia made their way towards the entrance to X-Force's headquarters.
"I've found the hatch." Masque said. "Can you over-ride their systems, Phantazia?" He asked.
"Naturally." Phantazia replied.
"Dark in here." Masque said, as they opened the hatch and entered. "Good thing the three of us can see easily enough. But why not make things easier, eh?" Masque threw the light switch and the threesome found themselves in X-Force's hanger. "Fascinating. We're in the Hangar Deck. Look at some of these aircraft. How does that pig get the money for this kind of technology?" Masque asked, as he looked at some of the amazing craft that Cable had supplied to X-Force.
"And where does he get the tech itself? Look at some of this stuff!" Phantazia said.
"Fan out. Let's start planting the plastique. Set the timers to give us all enough time to clear out." Thornn told them.

POOM! POOM! POOM!

Outside, Warpath continued to pummel Blob with blows that would fell a bull elephant, while Pyro had managed to grab hold of Theresa just before she downed him with a sonic scream. Before she could make another move, however, Toad leaped up and wrapped his legs around her waist.
"Don't be daft, Toad--You're nothing!" Theresa told him.
"Make the mistake so many before you have, Woman--But the man you face is no longer the suffering sycophant of lesser beings! There have been some improvements in Mortimer Toynbee, both philosophically--And biologically!" He told her as a thich green fluid came from his hands and he smeared it on her mouth and throat.
"What the--? A resin--Comin' from your hands--?" Theresa said in shock.
"A secretion, which will seal your lips! And now, Dear Child--" Toad never finished his thought, as he fell forward on his face.
Shatterstar stood over Toad's body, holding the still smoking plasma rifle. "I trust you take no offense at my intervention in your battle, Siryn? On my world, A warrior who requires assistance is often considered lacking in honor. I have found that here, however, teamwork is preferable." He told her.
"It is. You're beginning to adapt, and I am thankful for it. Toad's downed. Now what?" She asked.
"The flying lizard." Shatterstar replied.
"Sauron? Where's he headed?" Theresa asked.
"I'm uncertain. But he is the reason I abandoned my comrades to obtain this weaponry. So, shall we put it to good use?" Shatterstar asked with a smile.
"Mind if I join you?" Warpath said, as he approached. "Blob tumbled into a ravine. It's going to take a few months for that Lard-Butt to climb back out."
"I have Sauron now." Siryn said. "He's headed toward a vent access." And the trio set out in pursuit.

Back inside,
"I can only disrupt the mechanics in Cable's weaponry for so long." Phantazia told her teammates.
"We're outnumbered. Where're the others?" Thornn asked.
"They'll get here when they get here. A Morlock, as you should well know, Thronn, only deals with life in the present tense. And presently, things look pretty tense!" Masque replied.
"The floating one is jamming my ordinance. Time for sweat and bad breath." Cable told his team. "It's you and me, Feral--Take point--I'm flanking!" Cable ordered, as he killed the lights to stack the odds in his favor.
"Hey, Sis--Let's make like a scene out of Dynasty and have a cat-fight!" Feral said, as she leaped upon Thornn.
"You're an idiot, Maria--You always have been!" Thornn told her.
"And I've always beaten the tar out of you too, Little Sister!" Feral replied with a hiss.
"I'm on Cable!" Phantazia said, as she approached Cable.
"Lady, I don't know who--Or what--You are--And I do so hate to be uninformed about the people I'm going to sanction--But in this case, I'll make an exception! Sam, direct assualt! She's at Mark 9:45--Follow my flare in!" Cable ordered, as he popped a flare in Phantazia'a face.
"On It!! Let's see what happens if I try to expand my Blast-Field inside o' her!" Sam said, as he flew inside her billowing cape.
"I don't think you're going to get the chance, Cannonball! Not once I've disrupted your entire body's bio-electric field!" Phantazia replied.
Sam was repeled as if he had ran into an adamantium wall.
"That should throw some kinks into his "Blast-Field" for the next ten minutes or so!" Phantazia said with a wicked grin.
"Sam--Get clear--Go airborne! X-Force--BUG OUT--We're taking this topside!" Cable ordered.
"Wait-a-minute! I can't see anything--Where's Sam?" Tabitha screamed.
"Forget about him, for now! Lay down some plasma bursts--Give us some cover! Feral--Double-Time!!" Cable shouted.
Feral, however, had already been taken out by her sister, Thornn. Cable and the others made for the hatch to the outdoors, where they would have more room to manuver. Sam recovered, slightly and took the point. When he reached the hatch, he found the exit blocked by Sauron.
"Sauron up ahead. My Blast-Field keeps kickin' in an' out--What did Phantazia do to me? Should I go into this fight if I ain't invulnerable? Suck it up, Guthrie! Concentrate an' hope your field holds up..." Sam thought to himself as he poured on the speed and rushed towards Sauron.
"SAM NOOO!!" Cable ordered, as he rounded the corner and saw what was happening.
"A final, fatal, mistake, Paper-Skin! My taloned wings can cleave your flesh and bone to the core of your worthless being!" Sauron said, as he stabbed Sam through the chest.

AAAGGHHHRRRRHHH!!!

In the Medi-Lab, Cable had lain Sam on one of the tables.
"Sam--Come On--You're supposed to be a High Lord! Dying is supposed to be the start of living for you! You're something special, Sam. That's why I've been here all along. That's why you healed so quickly from Feral's gut-shot. That's why you've always had so much trouble using your kinetic blasting powers. All because you're a "High Lord" and your life doesn't begin until it ends! Wake Up Already!! Oath!!" Cable swore.
"I was wrong earlier, Cable, you do expect the mammal to come back to life?! Tell me why? Tell me what makes that child so special?" Sauron said from above.
"Big Mistake following me in here, Sauron." Cable said, as he drew his guns and blasted away at Sauron. He continued to blast away until Sauron was literally cut in half by the plasma blasts.
"What kind of animal are you?" Thornn screamed, as she leaped on Cable's back and began go claw him.
"Funny question coming from you, Thornn. And the answer should be obvious--Especially to you--I'm the kind of animal that'll do whatever it takes--To survive the fight!" Cable said, as he flipped Thornn over his shoulder and landed a right-cross on her chin that knocked her twenty feet across the Medi-Lab.
"What the heck happened?" Tabitha asked, as she entered and saw Sauron's bloody body.
"Sauron got in the way of my gun." Cable told her.
"And Thornn?" Domino asked, as she, too, entered the Medi-Lab.
"Her face got in the way of my fist." Cable answered.
"Not a smart move. She alive?" Dom asked.
"Sure. A walking bruise, but alive." Cable told her.
"And the lizard, on the other hand, is toast." Dom said, seeing Sauron's body.
"What about Sam?" Tabitha asked.
"I'm sorry, Tabitha--I thought..." Cable began.
"You owe us more than pain and misery now, Cable--You owe us blood!!" Masque said, as he and Phantazia entered the Medi-Lab.
"Masque--The only thing I owe you is a painless death!" Cable told him in a voice that stopped him cold.
"Unless you'd prefer to be smart, for a change, and surrender!" Warpath said, as he, Shatterstar and Siryn entered, the now crowded, Medi-Lab.
"I'm out of here. Ciao." Phantazia said and disappeared in a cloud of glowing dust.
"Very well, then. Neither a victory, nor a loss. Once again, we part with matters between us unsettled." Masque said.
"No, Masque. I told you last time we met, that if you kept pushing your luck, you were as good as dead. If I'm anything I'm a man of my word. Shatterstar--Put him out of our misery!" Cable ordered.
"Masque--Since you were never an honorable opponent--You do not deserve an honorable death!" Shatterstar said, as he ran his sword through Masque's heart.
"Shatterstar! Cable! What are you doing?!" Warpath asked in shock.
"Making sure Masque and The Morlocks never bother us again. After what this stupid fight has cost us--Do any of you have a real problem with that?" Cable asked.
"Uhm...Guys...What the heck's goin' on--?" Sam asked, as he rose up and looked down at his bloody clothes.