X-Force #25

Fabian Nicieza - writer
Greg Capullo - pencils

Prologue: Somewhere in Heaven, a man comes to the realization that the good shepherd watches over his flock instead of leading them to slaughter. He decides he will invite Charles Xavier's students to join in his vision.

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The team returns from their eradication of Rusty and Skids, who are still brainwashed, and Feral detects an intruder. They split up to track down the trespasser only to be taken out one by one by a shadowy figure with a big gun. His last target is to find Sam, but Cannonball finds him first, knocking him into weapons rack. Sam orders the mystery man out of the shadows and out steps Cable, back from his supposed death ! Not everyone is happy to see him though. Sunspot and Rictor still hold grudges and Sam still does not trust him. Cable resolves the conflicts one by one. Apparently while he was "lost in the time stream," he learned that Stryfe was responsible for Rictor's father's death and Gideon had killed Roberto's dad. He then opens up to Sam more about lies he told and the reasons for doing so, and they end up hugging. (How sweet) Later, another security breach is registered and the team moves outside to investigate. Shatterstar, Warpath, Rictor and Feral, who were outside already, witness the landing of Exodus who announces he has come seeking Samuel Guthrie and Roberto DaCosta on the name of his "Overlord." They merely think of attacking, and for this Exodus removes three of them with one psionic burst. Warpath still stands, but is soon dealt with in like manner. When the others arrive, Exodus makes it clear that he has not come to fight and by the condition of their friends, they are glad to oblige. He invites same to come to a mutant haven under "the harbinger of the magnetic storm." Sam agrees under the condition that, Boomer, Rictor, Rusty and Skids are also invited since they were also members of the New Mutants. During his plea he places a tracer on Cable's shoulder alerting him to his strategy. If they refused to go they would not learn what is going on, so he bargained for a larger team and insured his backup. Cable applauds his work and they prepare to follow. In space, Exodus welcomes the mutants to Avalon. They are unimpressed until a robed figure steps forward and speaks. Sam immediately recognizes it is (you guessed it) Magneto ! He cures Rusty and Skids of Stryfe's brainwashing by manipulating the iron in their blood somehow. For this, they pledge allegiance to Magneto and his dream of existence away from persecution. Further behind in a space IPAC, Cable and the team follow Sam's signal to discover Graymalkin. Magneto has stolen her and rebuilt it to be his home. Inside, Magneto is alerted to Cable's approach and Sam confesses he led them here. Even Magneto congratulates his savvy, but it does not quench his anger. Cable decides, since his station has been compromised, he will blow it up after rescuing Professor's programming. First he overrides Graymalkin's bodyslide controls to his command, but Exodus again senses their plans and diverts the team from them. Cable however slips away and runs across Sam. He tells Sam his plans and Sam convinces him not to do it because they cannot take away peace from so many. Cable bodyslides the team back aboard the IPAC and continues to retrieve Professor. When he has secured Professor, Magneto arrives in armor to protect his newly christened Avalon. They exchange mixed ideals and Cable comes up firing at Magneto. In defense, he slaps Cable, who of course is half metal, away with the wave of his hand. In anger, he begins to pull Cable's body apart limb by limb. As cable lies in a TechoOrganic and bionic heap upon the floor, he is barely able to give the command transporting him to safety. Back at Avalon, Exodus says to Magneto that Cable was nearly the challenge that was expected. Magneto is quick to remind him that he may have won the physical battle, but the philosophical battle was won by Cable, because he has lost some of his intended flock. Magneto then pledges to make his offer to the X-Men in direct defiance of Xavier.