PAYBACK

Part III: Haven

By Shawn Gauthier

X-Force’s secret headquarters now located in the new Damocles Foundation’s Building

The X-Force team, with the exception of Bobby, has gathered inside one of the Foundation’s hangar bays. The look on their faces is grim. They have all just learned, for the first time, that they had failed on one of their previous missions. Not only failed but were made fools of by the witch Selene. Obviously this does not sit well with them and as expected they are eager for some payback.

“I can’t believe that that witch Selene could control us like that!” exclaims a frustrated Tabitha for the umpteenth time.

“You should be more concerned with those we have failed, for it is the Externals that paid the price of our failure with their lives,” comments Shatterstar as he continues his meditation to honor the fallen.

“The Externals? What have the Externals ever done for us? Gideon killed Bobby’s father. Crule was always attacking us for no apparent reason and Absolom wasn’t that pleasant to deal with either,” screamed Tabitha as she gets in Shatterstar’s face.

“Calm down, Tabitha! We all want revenge on Selene for killing the Externals and for wiping the experience from our memories but fighting amongst ourselves isn’t going to help,” comments Rictor as he steps in between his two teammates.

“I can’t believe you two! Have you both gone soft? Sometimes I think the only one here who has the X-Force attitude is the new guy,” Tabitha turns her back on Rictor and Sunspot as she points towards Ulysses who has thus far remained silent.

“You have some real issues! Do you know that Tab?” accuses Shatterstar as Rictor pulls him aside to put some distance between the feuding friends.

Bobby sees all of this as he approaches from the other side of the hangar. He is amazed as he notices for the first time how things have changed. Rictor, the one time hot head of the team, was now playing the role of the peacekeeper. Shatterstar, who had thought of nothing else but battle was now more concerned for fallen comrades than the battle that lay ahead. Then there was Tabitha. She was the fun loving, easygoing, member of the team with her fashion clothes and bubble gum. Now, at times, she seemed to have completely changed. Where does Ulysses fit into the equation?

There was no doubt that this was not Cable’s nor Cannonball’s team anymore. It was now his team and Bobby was unsure how he felt about this.

“Well it’s about time. Where have you been lover?” asks Tabitha as she kisses him on the lips. “Are we ready to kick some Selene butt?”

“There has been a change of plans. We are not going after Selene today,” informs Bobby as he boards the plane.

“What?” exclaims his team in unison.

“I said we are not going after Selene, at least not yet. First we have some business to settle in a small town called Haven,” Bobby couldn’t help but smile at his teammates, shock and confusion.

Across the country in one of the nation’s many federal prisons, a sharp dressed man in a dark suit and tie awaits in the visiting room for a prisoner. His attire blends in with many of the other visitors in the room, all of which he assumes are lawyers. This man, however, is no lawyer. In truth he is a businessman, a specialist in the arts of negotiation.

A door on the other side of the glass wall opens and in walks his prisoner. A confused look crosses the prisoners face as the guard points to his visitor. The prisoner crosses the room and sits opposite the unfamiliar businessman.

“Do I know you?” he asks as he sits down.

“The businessman straightens his tie before he begins, “Are you Byron Calley a.k.a. Crucible and Burner?”

“That all depends on who’s asking,” retorts the prisoner now very interested in who this man was sitting across from him.

“Who I am is not as important as who I represent. If it makes you feel any better, however, you may call me Mr. TinMan. Tell me Mr. Calley, how would you like to be free from this prison?”

During the short flight Bobby explained the reasoning behind the change of plans. They were on their way to investigate a secret military base in the town called Haven. According to the news release, the base was recently attacked by an unknown, super powered entity. He then went on to explain that according to the few witnesses that the media managed to find, a large robot like machine had defended the base against the attack of a large blue being and what appeared to be middle-aged man with a glowing eye.

“Cable! Cable was attacking a secret government military base. Why?” asks Tabitha from her seat at the copilot’s chair. Bobby was at the controls of the plane. The rest of the team were standing directly behind them making for extremely close quarters in the cockpit.

“That is what we are going to find out,” answers Bobby. “Now if you will all kindly take your seats we are cleared to land.

The drive from the airport to Haven was silent. Nobody said a word but the same unspoken question was burning on all their minds. ‘Why would Cable attack a military base? Could it be that the government was once again making plans to attack and control its mutant population and if so what would that mean for X-Force? They were now on their own, no longer did they have the X-Men to run to.’ In addition, they all had a sinking feeling on who the mysterious blue mutant might be.

As the car pulled into the town called Haven it was clear that investigating this town was going to be difficult. Not because of the devastation but because of the crowd of media crews that had gathered on the outskirts of the town. A line of soldiers kept the newshounds from getting into the center of the town where the base was located. Unfortunately the soldiers and the news casters were not the only ones making their presence felt. A large group of protesters had also gathered in the town holding anti-mutant signs and chanting.

“We need to be indiscreet here. Ulysses you will have to stay hidden in the car. The rest of you be sure to take your trackers with you. They will help us find Cable if he is still here or at least they will help us confirm his presence if he had been here earlier,” ordered Bobby.

“How do these things work?” asked Rictor as he began pushing various buttons trying to turn his tracker on. Not having any success he begins to bang the side of the unit.”

“It focuses on telepathic and telekinetic agitated ions in the molecular make up of materials,” answered Bobby taking Rictor’s tracking device and turning it on for him before giving it back.

“What? How does it do that?” asked Tabitha staring at the tracker in her hands.

“Listen! Are we going to sit here and discuss the reasoning behind these devices or are we going to use them?” Snapped Bobby not liking the fact that his team was questioning his ability.

“You don’t know how they work, do you?” Chimed in Shatterstar as he turned his tracker on.

“Sure I know how they work. It was my scientists at the Foundation that created these units. Don’t you think I know what is happening in my own company?” Bobby looked at the doubtful faces of his teammates. “Okay! So some of this equipment was used by Indigo to track down mutants before I took over the company. It was still my guys who improved upon the design allowing us to get a greater range.”

“Sure,” Rictor said in a sarcastic voice.

“Whatever you say boss,” kidded Shatterstar.

“That’s nice dear,” comforted Tabitha as she kissed him before getting out of the car.

“I practically made the adjustments myself,” pleaded Bobby at his teammates who were now standing outside of the car.

“Now, remember, we have to be discreet here so that…” but before Bobby can finish his thought he is mobbed by microphones and television cameras. The media was leaping at the chance to question the west coasts newest celebrity, the president of the new Damocles Foundation, Bobby Decosta.

“Mister DaCosta, a statement please?”

“…Are you here to defend the mutants attack on the base?”

“Was this attack a part of your new mutant program?”

“Discreet. Gotcha boss,” teased Tabitha as she led the rest of the team away from Bobby so that they could continue their investigation out from the eye of the media.

“Mister DaCosta, who do you support in the presidential campaign?”

“Is this an X-Files like conspiracy?”

“Is it true that you are secretly dating the female wrestler Chyna?”

Overwhelmed, Bobby sought the shelter of the car, closing the car door on all the questions.

“I’m glad Tabitha wasn’t here to hear that last question boss!” came a voice from behind Bobby. Bobby looked in the rearview mirror to see the form of Ulysses sitting in the back seat with a blanket over his head. He must have taken the blanket from the emergency roadside kit in the back of the car in order to hide from the media cameras that now surround the car.

“Me too, my friend. Hopefully it won’t be repeated again.”

Suddenly they both could hear one of the reporters outside yell, “Oh my god! Look in the backseat. It must be Chyna hiding under the blanket. It’s his girlfriend, Chyna, under the blanket!”

Bringing his hands up to cover his face, Bobby shook his head in disgust.

In Las Vegas’ downtown Metro hospital, two security guards stand outside the door of one of the hospital’s many surgical units. One guard continuously shifts his position and seems uncomfortable in his large and bulky uniform. That is because he is not really a guard and is more used to wearing spandex. He is none other than X-Force’s missing teammate, Warpath. The other guard standing beside Warpath is Jesse another former member of X-Force who is also wearing a security guard uniform that is two sizes too big for him.

The two mutants are standing guard to assure that no one disturbs the illegal operation occurring behind the door. Inside the surgical unit on the operating table is one of their teammates, Siryn. The two mutants along with Domino had come to Las Vegas to find Dr. Hines, the only doctor that could cure Siryn. This was because he was the same doctor that had performed the sick procedure that had cost Siryn her powers in the first place.

“Do you think she’s going to come through?” asks Jesse.

“I am sure that Domino is watching the doctor’s every move making sure that he does what is necessary,” answers Warpath trying to convince himself as much as Jesse.

“They’ve been in there an awful long time. Shouldn’t they have been out by now?” asks Jesse hiking up the pants of his uniform.

“I am sure that they will take as long as necessary. Now pay attention. It is our job to make sure that they have that time.” Jesse’s comments had obviously struck a nerve in Warpath.

“You obviously care for her very much,” continues Jesse as he becomes fascinated by the gun on his belt.

“Of course I do. Now shut up and stop playing with that gun,” warns Warpath.

“Sorry! I was just trying to be nice. I thought maybe we could be friends since we now have something in common.” At this Warpath looks puzzled at Jesse. “We are both currently concerned about the well-being of the one person who matters must to us. You for Siryn and me for my brother”

This last comment causes Warpath to think about how he and the rest of X-Force has treated Jesse over the past couple of months. Warpath is also forced to remember the feelings he felt when he lost his own brother. It was obvious that Jesse most be going through something similar.

“No. I am sorry, my friend. Since you joined our merry band we have been anything but welcoming to you. I apologize for this. You are indeed a friend,” says Warpath resting his hand of Jesse’s shoulder.

“Thanks. That means a lot to me right now.”

Using their trackers, it isn’t long before Tabitha and the rest of X-Force find their first clue to Cable’s presence in a parking lot. Though it is not the sign that they would of expected. They find themselves standing outside an antiquated, run down, motor home.

“According to the tracker somebody has used telekinetic powers matching Cable’s on this vehicle,” confirms Tabitha as she circles it.

“To do what? Turn it inside out? This set of wheels is seriously ugly,” kids Rictor.

“Surely Cable would not use such a run down piece of machinery as this,” states Shatterstar.

“Let’s find out,” Tabitha immediately begins to use her abilities to gain access to the inside of the motor home. To everybody’s surprise, however, she does not use her mutant powers, opting instead to use one of her more questionable abilities. She picks the lock.

“Neat trick. I’m sure Professor X would be proud,” Rictor jokes as Tabitha manages to pop the lock on the passenger side door.

“When did you turn into such a boy scout?” asks Tabitha as she climbs inside the vehicle at the same time as she pulls out her tracker. The tracker leads her straight to the car’s ignition. “Why would somebody use TK to start a car?”

“Maybe so they could climb through the secret hole in the floor back here,” answers Shatterstar. Tabitha turns to see that he had used his swords to rip apart the to reveal a secret door. Opening the door they see a manhole cover underneath.

“Eureka!” exclaimed Rictor.

In the tank of one of New York’s major police precincts, two city detectives are grilling their only suspect to a gruesome murder.

There was no doubt that the crime was as bizarre as it was tragic. A whole busload of children who were on a class trip was killed under mysterious circumstances. The police had hoped that the autopsies would provide them with the answer to how the children died. The answer, however, only lead to more questions. Apparently the children had all drowned. How could a busload of children drown on the side of the highway?

According to witnesses the bus was driving down the highway without any problems until it suddenly swerved out of control. Within seconds concerned commuters boarded the bus to discover the dead children. None of the witnesses reported any signs of water or things being wet on the bus.

“For the last time young lady tell us what happened!” screams Detective Murtawe as he looms over the girl. The young girl is the only surviving child from the drowned class. She was found passed out among the dead bodies of her classmates. “How is it that you survived on that bus when none of the others did?”

“Easy!” warns Murtaw’s partner, Detective Hightower. “Obviously this sweet young girl had nothing to do with this tragedy. She’s a victim like the rest only she must be extremely lucky.”

“Does this good cop, bad cop routine ever really work?” asks a man in a business suit as he enters the room.

“Hey! You can’t come in here!” both of the detectives scream at the man as he takes a seat at the table opening his briefcase.

“She is my client so I have a right to be here,” answers the man.

“Your client? How could she be your client when we haven’t even released her name or allowed her to make a phone call?” asks Detective Hightower.

“Plus I honestly doubt that such a young girl has a lawyer, such as yourself, constantly on call,” chimes in his partner.

“I didn’t say that I was a lawyer. All I said was that she is my client.”

“If you are not a lawyer then what is your connection to the girl?” asked Murtawe.

“I am here to represent her guardians.”

“Guardians? According to our records she has no guardians. Both of her parents were killed in a freak boating accident. She’s been the responsibility of the state ever since.”

“Not anymore!” answers the man.

“Who do you represent? Who is this guardian?” asks one of the detectives.

“Gentleman. I have had a long day so allow me to get straight to the point. I am leaving here with the girl now and there is nothing you can do about it.”

“That’s what you think!” Both detectives leap at the man and attempt to pin each of his arms behind his back. To their surprise that cannot even budge either of his appendages. “What are you?” one of them ask.

At that moment the detectives’ captain comes in the room and sees his men struggling with the new comer. “Stop it! Stop struggling with that man right now. This man has total rights to the girl. There is nothing we can do about it. The orders came from the top.”

“What?” asked both detectives.

“You heard me. You are to let her go. She is now the responsibility of that man” said the captain pointing at the stiff in the suit.

“No hard feelings gentlemen.” Says the man extending his hand. A still determined Murtawe takes the man’s hand and squeezes as hard as he can. In response the man squeezes back almost crushing all of Murtawe’s knuckles. Murtawe falls to his knees in pain.

“Son of a @$#%! What are you?” screams Murtawe.

“I am the TinMan.”

END OF VOLUME ONE