“False Flag - Part 1”
Previously: Abigail Brand, newly crowned Director of the X.S.E., sent her elite team (X-Force) out to deal with a mutant criminal cartel calling itself The System. In the midst of infiltrating the group, X-Force rescued a captured Chemistra and found an amnesiac Maverick. Both were surprises to all parties involved, but they were ultimately able to put a dent in The System’s infrastructure despite not achieving a total victory. Back at the former Hulkbuster Base and former base of The Exiles, X-Force is trying to unwind and adjust to new settings…
=XF=
The Pool Hall
After having to hang around in someone’s vomit, Micromax needed this beer and he needed it with a friend. This friend came in a 6’3 package of chiseled muscle and well-tanned skin. From his shoulders to his waist, Snowball of The Harriers, was shaped a perfect V. His arms could crush windpipes just by flexing. Micromax could manufacture that kind body, but Snowball earned it.
Outside the two of them, the pool hall didn’t have many patrons tonight. Riddick from The Hammer Squad and Young Angel from The Bloodhounds were playing a round of pool. The dim lighting gave Riddick the advantage. Nopolski was the only bartender tonight and he was busy cleaning glasses. Micromax and Snowball sat secluded in the back, content in their conversation.
“So you really had to sift through some vomit huh? Sucks to be you,” Snowball said, running a hand through his stark white mullet. He removed the large cigar from his mouth before taking a swig of his beer.
“Tell me about it. How Venezuela go?”
Snowball snorted. “We knew Sunspot ran all the crime kings out of San Marco. Didn’t know how desperate they had got. Came at us with everything.”
“Surprised Sunspot could pull that off.”
“He had help, but that’s beside the point. No good bastards damn near took Rush’s leg off.”
“In liberal circles that might be applauded,” Micromax laughed. He was laughing alone.
Snowball’s eyes narrowed for a long few seconds and then he started to laugh, slapping Micromax on the back. “Good one! Not too sure Rush would appreciate it. Only lady who won’t let me go balls deep. I’ve had an easier time with lesbians.”
Micromax flinched. He couldn’t remember the last time he had sex. “So…the mission?”
“Oh yea that. So these poor bastards started mutating stray animals for muscle. I’m having to fight a bunch of sorry ass mutts. Sixteen of them big bastards. Tried to rip me a new one. Broke all their jaws.”
“Sounds bad.”
Snowball laughed. “Especially since the bastards had my legs tied up with some steel wire. Had to fight the damn mutts on my knees!”
Micromax felt like shrinking under the table. This guy fought giant dogs practically paralyzed and all he did was play around in some vomit. It made him feel damn small. “Want to get another drink?”
“Sure why not? Don’t have to be on this date for a few hours. I’m taking one of Brand’s assistants out to Phoenix. She’s got a set of legs on her.” Snowball talked like a man who already knew the evening was going to turn out exactly the way he wanted it to.
And he does it all with a mullet. Ugh, Micromax thought as he got up from their table to refill their glasses. Snowball made Micromax want more and he also made him understand that he was completely inadequate at getting it. Micromax would always be exactly who he was and there was no changing that.
“Fill them up. It’s going to be one of those days.”
=XF=
Lorien’s Barracks
“Where did you go?” Lorien asked. It had been burning in the back of his mind ever since they came across Chemistra. He was leaning against a corner while Chemistra stood on the other end of the roof with her arms folded across her chest. Her long, raven hair flowed down her back and over her shoulders, but her beauty had been sharpened by her time with The System. They turned her into a beautiful knife.
“You mean how did I get captured?” Chemistra asked, walking slowly around the room. She saw a picture of Lorien, herself and some of the former students with The Exiles. Only a brief smile came across her face. Lorien wanted to move closer towards her, but couldn’t bring his feet to do it.
Lorien shrugged instead. “More or less.”
“After things with Exodus fell apart, I went back home.” She said “home” like it might as well have been “prison”.
“And?” Lorien asked. He knew Megan long enough to know when she was leaving things out. Something happened between when they left The Exiles and when she was taken by The System. And whatever it was, she didn’t want to tell him.
“And I was captured! Why do you want my life story?” Chemistra’s rage boiled over, her powers lashing out beyond her control. Lorien’s bedroom dresser was reduced to a pile of rust and his box spring became boric acid. He saw the damage, but made no move toward her. A nerve had been touched.
“Megan, I’m just trying to understand.” He finally moved from his corner and tried to grab her shoulder. She recoiled from him, looking at him with venom he imagined she held for her captors. It must have shown on his face because she immediately softened her expression. Shaking her head, she turned away from him.
“Then understand this; I will find The System and I will kill every last one of them.”
“And I’ll help you do it, but we do it right.” Lorien spoke with complete conviction. He was no cowering fool when it came to killing and Megan deserved it.
“You’re asking me to wait. Exodus never waited. He always struck first,” Chemistra said. The name Exodus brought up a mountain of memories between the two of them. Exodus’ influence over their lives just couldn’t be swept under the rug.
“Where did that get us? Exodus brought the house down around us!” Lorien said, for the first time raising his voice. He remembered the endless battles that had come to their door because Exodus never knew when to leave well enough alone. It was like the man could not tolerate the idea of a peaceful existence. One enemy after the other had come their way.
“Looks like it’s still standing to me,” Chemistra said, her eyes looking up and around at the X.S.E. base that had once been a different kind of home for them.
“Exodus taught us a lot. Him, Shiro, Peter, Alex and Clarice. The rest too, but we’re on our own now.” Lorien said, trying to reach out for her again, but she stepped back. He sighed and put his hands into his pockets. “I have to go. Brand has me and Agni chasing some fugitive down.”
Chemistra moved to the doorway. “Then go.”
=XF=
Simulation Room
“X-Force is becoming a bit of a risk don’t you think?” Forge asked. Next to him was Abigail Brand, friend and Director of X.S.E.
“This from the man who put Sabretooth and Mystique on his team,” Brand said, looking at Maverick from the safety of the simulation room’s observation deck. She had put out a contest for someone to actually give this place a proper name.
“True enough. But this is bigger than one team. X.S.E. is the first true mutant police. Maverick back amongst our ranks is a hard pill to swallow.” Forge watched Maverick move through the spinning buzz saws attached to robotic arms with the ease a ballerina touched her toes. The mental damage may had been there, but the physical had not been touched. Forge’s experiences with Sabretooth taught him how dangerous that could be.
Abigail laughed. “You must not remember who we have on The Harriers? Or The Bloodhounds or--
“They’re not the premier team. X-Force is,” Forge said. His time as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. showed him how quickly things could fall apart. Abigail had grown to become someone that he didn’t want to see that happen to.
“Maverick is one of the best. And if he gets out of line, Shard is there to take him down. Or don’t you trust one of your own?” Abigail asked, knowing the relationship that existed between Forge and Shard. She looked up to him as if he were her own Father and in a way, Forge was probably the closest thing she ever had to one.
“I know what she’s made of, but she shouldn’t have to have that responsibility,” Forge said, true to his fatherly role. He had come to see Shard as something of a surrogate and maybe she had forced those feelings on him, but it felt good to have someone in his life he believed in him that much. And he was going to protect her as much as she would allow. Shard had all the stubbornness of her brother.
Abigail gave another dry laugh. “She knew what she was signing up for. Same as you.”
“Just be careful Brand.”
The simulation had given Maverick a gun and now he was blowing apart the buzz saws like they were water balloons. His aim wasn’t off either. Forge wanted to know just how much had been left behind of the man who had saw fit to betray his team once before.
=XF=
Chemistra had no idea how much she wished Exodus, Colossus, Domino, Polaris and the others were the ones roaming these halls until she talked with Lorien. It was like he had completely lost sight of all The Exiles had taught them. They made mutants like her into survivors when the world would have just trampled over them otherwise. If not for The Exiles, she would not have survived The System.
“Megan! Wait up!” Shard said from behind the young woman, doing a light jog to catch up to her. Shard was in one of those rare instances when she was out of uniform. She had on a strapless black shirt and a worn pair of jeans. “I wanted to see if you found your barracks yet.”
“Haven’t really looked. Didn’t see a reason to rush.”
Shard frowned. “Not planning on staying?”
“I don’t have any clothes but what Brand gave to me and they’re a size too big. It’s not like I came in here with much to stuff into a room. I rather walk around,” Chemistra said, turning a corner towards where Torrent and Harmony’s rooms use to be. Her mind tried to imagine what they were doing. “This use to be my home.”
“I know. I imagine that this probably isn’t easy seeing what we’ve done with it.”
“Where can I get in a good workout?” Chemistra asked.
“We have a gym down--
Chemistra shook her head. “No, I mean a real fight. Danger Room style.”
“Out of the question,” Shard said. “You haven’t been here long and need to get settled in. Fighting is the last thing that should be on your mind right now, Megan.”
“I’m a fighter Shard. That’s what I do. It’s why The System came after me.”
Shard put a hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “What was done to you won’t change you unless you allow it.”
=XF=
Brand’s Office
“Agent Pierce. Let’s try and get this assessment over with,” Abigail said. After hearing Forge’s reservations, the last thing she wanted to hear was more. And especially not in an official capacity from S.H.I.E.L.D., but command came with its oversight. Particularly when running the world’s first global mutant police unit.
“No need to be so warm.” Pierce sat down in front of Brand, wild hair and strong eyes meeting her own. He looked every bit the rebel that Brand heard he was and couldn’t imagine why he was the one being sent in to evaluate her tactical units. Still, Fury didn’t do anything without a good reason. He either trusted Pierce to do the job or he was meant to convey some unspoken message.
“Look, I accept the oversight. Doesn’t mean I rather not have it.”
“And I rather not administrate, but we do our jobs,” Pierce said. He crossed his legs in the black chair and slid a manila folder across the desk to Brand. Tugging at the collar of his neck, he only stopped once Brand picked up the folder.
“Where do you want to start?”
“Your team evals,” Pierce said, sitting his hands flat on her desk. Brand could appreciate the fact that he didn’t want to be here. He had tried at least a dozen different positions to get comfortable.
“What about them? I know how to value my assets.”
“On the whole, I agree with you. The Bloodhounds are tailor fit for tracking. The Harriers definitely can be counted on for your “gray area” missions. The Royals are an infiltration unit I’m jealous of and the same for The Hammer Squad when it comes to siege tactics.”
“So the problem is with X-Force?” Brand asked, wanting to reach across the table and slap him. She was beginning to have her fill of hearing about how X-Force wasn’t working.
“I have serious doubts about them being your premier squad,” Pierce said. He spoke with confidence, but he tempered his tone like a man who knew a yelling session lurked around the corner. Brand wanted so badly to live up to expectations, but it wouldn’t be setting much of an example for her people if she did.
“Let’s hear it.” She couldn’t imagine a desert being drier.
“Brand if you don’t want to take this seriously then I can just go,” Pierce said, getting out of his seat and reaching for the manila folder.
She held up a hand and motioned him to sit back down. Sighing, she took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Sorry Pierce. This whole endeavor has been criticized so much I can’t tell when it’s sincere.”
“Apology accepted,” Pierce said. “Don’t get me wrong. X-Force has potential but there are some major kinks.”
“The kids?” Brand asked. It was the only weak link she would admit to.
Pierce leaned back in his chair and sat his hands across his chest. “They had Exodus as a mentor! You can’t blame me there.”
Brand knew that would be his next point. The former terrorist was still a hot topic amongst circles in the know. There had been a debate about even using his former base for fear of him retaliating. “Exodus, despite a lot of bad choices, has started to make good ones. I respect what he did with those kids.”
“Lorien maybe, but you can’t tell me that Chemistra isn’t a loose cannon waiting to happen,” Pierce said.
“She might be but the same could have been said about the two of us early in our careers.” Brand started to flip through the manila folder, reading each of his evaluations. “And Chemistra’s issues stem from what The System did, not Exodus.”
“Fair enough, but Maverick is more than that.”
“He’s lethal. And like Xavier kept Wolverine on a leash, I’m doing the same.”
=XF=
Temecula, California
The air was dry and hot, making Hallowpoint abandon his normal trench coat and instead turning to a weather-adapting black bodysuit he had brought in Madripoor. Keeping his body at an even temperature had made his work in the compound here easy. Removing the evidence off of his body was something that he hoped would be as simple. The anti-mutant bigots that filled the compound scattered like frightened macaws at his coming, making his work both easy and messy.
He had been a Special Forces sniper for Colombia, CIA trained, so taking out these loud, unimportant people was easy work. Easier than his recent bout with two of Force Works’ very own. Blink and Moonstar had nearly cost him his life on more than one occasion in their fight and he was the one supposed to be killing them. He walked away with his head on his shoulders, but it made him lay low for a while. Easier jobs that carried less risk were his mode of action. Yes, it entailed less money, but what was the point of a lot of money if you couldn’t spend it?
He was holstering his gun when he heard a shrub rustle. His weapon was pointed in the direction of the disturbance, but a metal claw was across his face before he could react.
Hallowpoint fell to the ground on the back of his head with a thud. Standing over him was the metallic form of Gryphon with a twisted smile.
NEXT ISSUE: Anti-mutant groups are under attack! How does X-Force choose to respond to it?
Previously: Abigail Brand, newly crowned Director of the X.S.E., sent her elite team (X-Force) out to deal with a mutant criminal cartel calling itself The System. In the midst of infiltrating the group, X-Force rescued a captured Chemistra and found an amnesiac Maverick. Both were surprises to all parties involved, but they were ultimately able to put a dent in The System’s infrastructure despite not achieving a total victory. Back at the former Hulkbuster Base and former base of The Exiles, X-Force is trying to unwind and adjust to new settings…
=XF=
The Pool Hall
After having to hang around in someone’s vomit, Micromax needed this beer and he needed it with a friend. This friend came in a 6’3 package of chiseled muscle and well-tanned skin. From his shoulders to his waist, Snowball of The Harriers, was shaped a perfect V. His arms could crush windpipes just by flexing. Micromax could manufacture that kind body, but Snowball earned it.
Outside the two of them, the pool hall didn’t have many patrons tonight. Riddick from The Hammer Squad and Young Angel from The Bloodhounds were playing a round of pool. The dim lighting gave Riddick the advantage. Nopolski was the only bartender tonight and he was busy cleaning glasses. Micromax and Snowball sat secluded in the back, content in their conversation.
“So you really had to sift through some vomit huh? Sucks to be you,” Snowball said, running a hand through his stark white mullet. He removed the large cigar from his mouth before taking a swig of his beer.
“Tell me about it. How Venezuela go?”
Snowball snorted. “We knew Sunspot ran all the crime kings out of San Marco. Didn’t know how desperate they had got. Came at us with everything.”
“Surprised Sunspot could pull that off.”
“He had help, but that’s beside the point. No good bastards damn near took Rush’s leg off.”
“In liberal circles that might be applauded,” Micromax laughed. He was laughing alone.
Snowball’s eyes narrowed for a long few seconds and then he started to laugh, slapping Micromax on the back. “Good one! Not too sure Rush would appreciate it. Only lady who won’t let me go balls deep. I’ve had an easier time with lesbians.”
Micromax flinched. He couldn’t remember the last time he had sex. “So…the mission?”
“Oh yea that. So these poor bastards started mutating stray animals for muscle. I’m having to fight a bunch of sorry ass mutts. Sixteen of them big bastards. Tried to rip me a new one. Broke all their jaws.”
“Sounds bad.”
Snowball laughed. “Especially since the bastards had my legs tied up with some steel wire. Had to fight the damn mutts on my knees!”
Micromax felt like shrinking under the table. This guy fought giant dogs practically paralyzed and all he did was play around in some vomit. It made him feel damn small. “Want to get another drink?”
“Sure why not? Don’t have to be on this date for a few hours. I’m taking one of Brand’s assistants out to Phoenix. She’s got a set of legs on her.” Snowball talked like a man who already knew the evening was going to turn out exactly the way he wanted it to.
And he does it all with a mullet. Ugh, Micromax thought as he got up from their table to refill their glasses. Snowball made Micromax want more and he also made him understand that he was completely inadequate at getting it. Micromax would always be exactly who he was and there was no changing that.
“Fill them up. It’s going to be one of those days.”
=XF=
Lorien’s Barracks
“Where did you go?” Lorien asked. It had been burning in the back of his mind ever since they came across Chemistra. He was leaning against a corner while Chemistra stood on the other end of the roof with her arms folded across her chest. Her long, raven hair flowed down her back and over her shoulders, but her beauty had been sharpened by her time with The System. They turned her into a beautiful knife.
“You mean how did I get captured?” Chemistra asked, walking slowly around the room. She saw a picture of Lorien, herself and some of the former students with The Exiles. Only a brief smile came across her face. Lorien wanted to move closer towards her, but couldn’t bring his feet to do it.
Lorien shrugged instead. “More or less.”
“After things with Exodus fell apart, I went back home.” She said “home” like it might as well have been “prison”.
“And?” Lorien asked. He knew Megan long enough to know when she was leaving things out. Something happened between when they left The Exiles and when she was taken by The System. And whatever it was, she didn’t want to tell him.
“And I was captured! Why do you want my life story?” Chemistra’s rage boiled over, her powers lashing out beyond her control. Lorien’s bedroom dresser was reduced to a pile of rust and his box spring became boric acid. He saw the damage, but made no move toward her. A nerve had been touched.
“Megan, I’m just trying to understand.” He finally moved from his corner and tried to grab her shoulder. She recoiled from him, looking at him with venom he imagined she held for her captors. It must have shown on his face because she immediately softened her expression. Shaking her head, she turned away from him.
“Then understand this; I will find The System and I will kill every last one of them.”
“And I’ll help you do it, but we do it right.” Lorien spoke with complete conviction. He was no cowering fool when it came to killing and Megan deserved it.
“You’re asking me to wait. Exodus never waited. He always struck first,” Chemistra said. The name Exodus brought up a mountain of memories between the two of them. Exodus’ influence over their lives just couldn’t be swept under the rug.
“Where did that get us? Exodus brought the house down around us!” Lorien said, for the first time raising his voice. He remembered the endless battles that had come to their door because Exodus never knew when to leave well enough alone. It was like the man could not tolerate the idea of a peaceful existence. One enemy after the other had come their way.
“Looks like it’s still standing to me,” Chemistra said, her eyes looking up and around at the X.S.E. base that had once been a different kind of home for them.
“Exodus taught us a lot. Him, Shiro, Peter, Alex and Clarice. The rest too, but we’re on our own now.” Lorien said, trying to reach out for her again, but she stepped back. He sighed and put his hands into his pockets. “I have to go. Brand has me and Agni chasing some fugitive down.”
Chemistra moved to the doorway. “Then go.”
=XF=
Simulation Room
“X-Force is becoming a bit of a risk don’t you think?” Forge asked. Next to him was Abigail Brand, friend and Director of X.S.E.
“This from the man who put Sabretooth and Mystique on his team,” Brand said, looking at Maverick from the safety of the simulation room’s observation deck. She had put out a contest for someone to actually give this place a proper name.
“True enough. But this is bigger than one team. X.S.E. is the first true mutant police. Maverick back amongst our ranks is a hard pill to swallow.” Forge watched Maverick move through the spinning buzz saws attached to robotic arms with the ease a ballerina touched her toes. The mental damage may had been there, but the physical had not been touched. Forge’s experiences with Sabretooth taught him how dangerous that could be.
Abigail laughed. “You must not remember who we have on The Harriers? Or The Bloodhounds or--
“They’re not the premier team. X-Force is,” Forge said. His time as the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. showed him how quickly things could fall apart. Abigail had grown to become someone that he didn’t want to see that happen to.
“Maverick is one of the best. And if he gets out of line, Shard is there to take him down. Or don’t you trust one of your own?” Abigail asked, knowing the relationship that existed between Forge and Shard. She looked up to him as if he were her own Father and in a way, Forge was probably the closest thing she ever had to one.
“I know what she’s made of, but she shouldn’t have to have that responsibility,” Forge said, true to his fatherly role. He had come to see Shard as something of a surrogate and maybe she had forced those feelings on him, but it felt good to have someone in his life he believed in him that much. And he was going to protect her as much as she would allow. Shard had all the stubbornness of her brother.
Abigail gave another dry laugh. “She knew what she was signing up for. Same as you.”
“Just be careful Brand.”
The simulation had given Maverick a gun and now he was blowing apart the buzz saws like they were water balloons. His aim wasn’t off either. Forge wanted to know just how much had been left behind of the man who had saw fit to betray his team once before.
=XF=
Chemistra had no idea how much she wished Exodus, Colossus, Domino, Polaris and the others were the ones roaming these halls until she talked with Lorien. It was like he had completely lost sight of all The Exiles had taught them. They made mutants like her into survivors when the world would have just trampled over them otherwise. If not for The Exiles, she would not have survived The System.
“Megan! Wait up!” Shard said from behind the young woman, doing a light jog to catch up to her. Shard was in one of those rare instances when she was out of uniform. She had on a strapless black shirt and a worn pair of jeans. “I wanted to see if you found your barracks yet.”
“Haven’t really looked. Didn’t see a reason to rush.”
Shard frowned. “Not planning on staying?”
“I don’t have any clothes but what Brand gave to me and they’re a size too big. It’s not like I came in here with much to stuff into a room. I rather walk around,” Chemistra said, turning a corner towards where Torrent and Harmony’s rooms use to be. Her mind tried to imagine what they were doing. “This use to be my home.”
“I know. I imagine that this probably isn’t easy seeing what we’ve done with it.”
“Where can I get in a good workout?” Chemistra asked.
“We have a gym down--
Chemistra shook her head. “No, I mean a real fight. Danger Room style.”
“Out of the question,” Shard said. “You haven’t been here long and need to get settled in. Fighting is the last thing that should be on your mind right now, Megan.”
“I’m a fighter Shard. That’s what I do. It’s why The System came after me.”
Shard put a hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “What was done to you won’t change you unless you allow it.”
=XF=
Brand’s Office
“Agent Pierce. Let’s try and get this assessment over with,” Abigail said. After hearing Forge’s reservations, the last thing she wanted to hear was more. And especially not in an official capacity from S.H.I.E.L.D., but command came with its oversight. Particularly when running the world’s first global mutant police unit.
“No need to be so warm.” Pierce sat down in front of Brand, wild hair and strong eyes meeting her own. He looked every bit the rebel that Brand heard he was and couldn’t imagine why he was the one being sent in to evaluate her tactical units. Still, Fury didn’t do anything without a good reason. He either trusted Pierce to do the job or he was meant to convey some unspoken message.
“Look, I accept the oversight. Doesn’t mean I rather not have it.”
“And I rather not administrate, but we do our jobs,” Pierce said. He crossed his legs in the black chair and slid a manila folder across the desk to Brand. Tugging at the collar of his neck, he only stopped once Brand picked up the folder.
“Where do you want to start?”
“Your team evals,” Pierce said, sitting his hands flat on her desk. Brand could appreciate the fact that he didn’t want to be here. He had tried at least a dozen different positions to get comfortable.
“What about them? I know how to value my assets.”
“On the whole, I agree with you. The Bloodhounds are tailor fit for tracking. The Harriers definitely can be counted on for your “gray area” missions. The Royals are an infiltration unit I’m jealous of and the same for The Hammer Squad when it comes to siege tactics.”
“So the problem is with X-Force?” Brand asked, wanting to reach across the table and slap him. She was beginning to have her fill of hearing about how X-Force wasn’t working.
“I have serious doubts about them being your premier squad,” Pierce said. He spoke with confidence, but he tempered his tone like a man who knew a yelling session lurked around the corner. Brand wanted so badly to live up to expectations, but it wouldn’t be setting much of an example for her people if she did.
“Let’s hear it.” She couldn’t imagine a desert being drier.
“Brand if you don’t want to take this seriously then I can just go,” Pierce said, getting out of his seat and reaching for the manila folder.
She held up a hand and motioned him to sit back down. Sighing, she took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Sorry Pierce. This whole endeavor has been criticized so much I can’t tell when it’s sincere.”
“Apology accepted,” Pierce said. “Don’t get me wrong. X-Force has potential but there are some major kinks.”
“The kids?” Brand asked. It was the only weak link she would admit to.
Pierce leaned back in his chair and sat his hands across his chest. “They had Exodus as a mentor! You can’t blame me there.”
Brand knew that would be his next point. The former terrorist was still a hot topic amongst circles in the know. There had been a debate about even using his former base for fear of him retaliating. “Exodus, despite a lot of bad choices, has started to make good ones. I respect what he did with those kids.”
“Lorien maybe, but you can’t tell me that Chemistra isn’t a loose cannon waiting to happen,” Pierce said.
“She might be but the same could have been said about the two of us early in our careers.” Brand started to flip through the manila folder, reading each of his evaluations. “And Chemistra’s issues stem from what The System did, not Exodus.”
“Fair enough, but Maverick is more than that.”
“He’s lethal. And like Xavier kept Wolverine on a leash, I’m doing the same.”
=XF=
Temecula, California
The air was dry and hot, making Hallowpoint abandon his normal trench coat and instead turning to a weather-adapting black bodysuit he had brought in Madripoor. Keeping his body at an even temperature had made his work in the compound here easy. Removing the evidence off of his body was something that he hoped would be as simple. The anti-mutant bigots that filled the compound scattered like frightened macaws at his coming, making his work both easy and messy.
He had been a Special Forces sniper for Colombia, CIA trained, so taking out these loud, unimportant people was easy work. Easier than his recent bout with two of Force Works’ very own. Blink and Moonstar had nearly cost him his life on more than one occasion in their fight and he was the one supposed to be killing them. He walked away with his head on his shoulders, but it made him lay low for a while. Easier jobs that carried less risk were his mode of action. Yes, it entailed less money, but what was the point of a lot of money if you couldn’t spend it?
He was holstering his gun when he heard a shrub rustle. His weapon was pointed in the direction of the disturbance, but a metal claw was across his face before he could react.
Hallowpoint fell to the ground on the back of his head with a thud. Standing over him was the metallic form of Gryphon with a twisted smile.
NEXT ISSUE: Anti-mutant groups are under attack! How does X-Force choose to respond to it?