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MV1 #77 JUNE Year 4

One has seen his lover killed. One grew up on the streets, and knows full well the pain of solitude. One was taken from his simple, peaceful life in the ocean and changed - not necessarily for the better. And one has seen the future, and knows it to be lacking. They are heroes who will address the crime that too many others will not. They may not know legal from illegal, but they know right from wrong. They are X-FORCE!

"The Gathering"

What Has Gone Before: The Sleeper is here. Multiple Man is here. We know what's up with Caliban. Garrison Kane is doing something sneaky. Tabitha was in a nudie mag. And who knows what's coming next? Well, other than me, your faithful writer?

The reporters had been pretty cool at first. It was nice, stepping out on the global stage. Tabitha still missed it, sort of... but then the... the magazine came out.

The reporters ceased to be cool, and became sharks, scenting blood.

The others, of course, had been supportive - except for that guy Croyd, who Serendipity had brought. He just looked at her and said he'd've bought an issue, too.

But Croyd was key, right? Serendipity said he was, said he was the key to stopping Apocalypse. Not that she knew what En Sabah Nur's latest scheme was. She just knew it was bad. The visions told her.

Tabitha "Meltdown" Smith -- So Apocalypse is back in town. Well, sucks to be him. Cable trained us to fight him, trained us to shut him down. And even if me and Shatterstar are the only ones left who trained under Cable... it'll be enough. It'll have to be.

Jamie "Multiple Man" Madrox -- Wow. I didn't expect this sort of thing to happen so soon... I just came to look out for Tabitha. Look at her, though... she's gotten tougher. Older. I guess we all have.

Ben "Shatterstar" Russell -- Again, combat. Glory? Or a curse? Why do I fight? Once it was for the cheering crowds... then it was for justice, and right. Now, it is for revenge. Pah! Away with such mewling thoughts! I am a warrior born! And besides... fighting is all I've ever been good at...

Croyd "The Sleeper" Crenson -- This isn't even my world. Look at these people... crazy, all of 'em... I wonder what's going on back home... hope Maybe I ought to look for a real job, or something... work with Ackroyd and those PI aces... Too much thinking. Better take a few reds.

"Bill" -- Always 'save the world'. Couldn't save Gomi. Father, master, creator. Miss him so. Fight. He made me better, made me able to fight. Now gonna save th' world. For him. In his memory. In his name. Find a way to help people like him. Have to.

"Serendipity" -- Where do they come from, the visions, the Dreamtime, all of it? Is it really true, what I remember, that I was made, created? Who is Adam Warlock, and why were they trying to make another being like him? Why did they fail? I know they considered me a failure... what am I?

It was Shatterstar's console, so he was the one to announce, "We have an... incoming message, it would seem."

Meltdown - "From who?"

The reply - "Unknown."

Madrox - "Let's hear it."

So they did.

"X-Force. My name is Garrison Kane. Some of you know me. Some of you don't. It doesn't matter. For the past several months I've been investigating the creature called Apocalypse. I think his latest little plan might have some bearing on your situations. Come to these coordinates and we'll talk."

Tabitha looked at 'Star. "Where's he want us?"

"The same place we're already going. The place Serendipity told us to go."

"Then it looks like we're gonna meet Mister Kane again. Hooray for us."

Garrison Kane's voice emerges from all directions. Hidden speakers. "Don't move. I need t'make sure she's not inside any of you."

Suitable confusion ensues in the few minutes it takes Kane to emerge from the woodline. He is, as is his custom, abrupt and to the point.

"Short version. There's this critter, jumps from mind to mind, body to body, possesses people. It calls itself the Bodysnatcher." Croyd nodded, frowning. "She's currently possessing Caliban."

That was a show-stopper. "So we get her the fuck out!" That, from meltdown. Never tactful, was she.

Kane shook his head. "For that, we'll need t'capture Caliban. And since he's in the middle of Apocalypse's stronghold..."

Shatterstar was adamant. "We go. Caliban is a companion, and a friend. We get him out, and safe."

Kane nodded. "Then come with me. Oh, and expect another friend to show up.

And with that cryptic comment, he was gone.

Jane was new to SCN - just been hired last week. But already she'd gotten a niche. She was SCN's new 'mutant beat' reporter.

"While X-Force has been understandably absent from the global stage of late, given the rather revealing pictures of Tabitha "Meltdown" Smith in last month's Suave magazine. And while rumors have been circulating regarding another member of the team, Shatterstar - supposedly, he was involved in a same-sex relationship for several months, perhaps over a year - the group of young mutants seems to be suffering no loss of popularity."

Switch camera angles, Jane pivots. "In fact, the latest SCN/USA Today polls show that X-Force is growing still more popular. Their approval ratings are at an astounding 87 percent - the highest approval rating for any group of mutants, by far, in history. The group appears to be still more popular with younger voters - among respondents 25 and younger, their approval rating is a phenomenal 92 percent!"

Switch to recorded feed of a kid, can't be older than nineteen. Short hair stuffed under a wool cap. Sunglasses. Tattoos.

"Dude, X-Force is, like, real, y'know? Like, none of that caped crusader stuff. They're, like, someone I can relate to. An' that Meltdown chick's a hottie!"

It was almost enough to make a girl claustrophobic.

Meltdown thought this, among other things, along the slow, quiet trek through the poorly lit tunnels. They all thought a lot of things. People generally do, in situations such as this.

It was in such a thoughtful state that the small band was attacked.

Quiet - no, mute - warriors, all clad in purple, each horrendously misshapen in some way. Some used force blasts or other obvious mutant abilities. Some used energy weapons. All seemed intent on killing X-Force.

It's a fight scene, folks. Use your imagination.All it's doing is setting the scene for the dramatic entrance.

Which dramatic entrance? Why, this one!

A miracle happened.

A streak of blue and gold, and the attacker was gone, slammed into the wall with bone-crushing force, and a yell could be heard. "You get away from her!" A familiar voice, a familiar accent.

And Cannonball stood where the attacker had stood, and offered Tabitha a hand up. "Hey there, beautiful... looked like y'needed a hand."

And for just a moment, everything was well with Tabitha Smith's world.