X-Force #37

Fabian Nicieza - Writer
Tony Daniel - Artist

Opens with Saul (an External) meeting Apocalypse in the middle of the twelth century. Apocalypse and come searching for Saul to meet another immortal like himself. Saul then to Apocalypse to an alien fortress where Apocalypse tries to kill Saul. Returns to the present where Cannonball, Boomer, Saul, Gideon, and Absalom are talking around a campfire on Sam's farm. The Externals want Sam to join them. Sam is the sign of hope for them. Absalom gets angry at Gideon for treating Sam so nice and in turn we learn of Absalom's origin. Absalom was a thief and a killer and in 1889 in Wyoming Absalom was getting hanged for murder. This is when his powers first manifested. The towns people then shot Absalom to death. Two days later Absalom woke up in his coffin reborn. Cuts to Cable and Domino discusses the need for a new base of operations. Cuts again to NYPD 44th precinct where Detective Hidalgo is talking on the phone about trying the two Callansantos sisters (Thornn and Feral) for the murder of their family (concludes in X-Force 41). Back at the campfire we learn of Gideon's origin. Gideon was a deckhand on the Pinta as Columbus was sailing to the New World. Infected with scurvy, Gideon was sent to the hold to die. Gideon did die but was reborn and saw that the New World was for the taking and became rich and powerful. Absalom grows even angrier and tells Sam of how Burke saw Sam as the "architect of salvation" before he died. Then the legacy virus starts to run rampant through Absalom's body. But instead of dieing he lives. Sam then tells Gideon if the Externals change their ways he will help them when the need arose. They then part their ways.

Written by Peter Enger