Cable #31

Nate Grey's powers are exploding out of control, and only Cable can stop him in time! But after learning Nate's dark secrets…will he even want to?

Continued from X-Man #14. Cable and Nate Grey push each other to the limit. Blaquesmith wants Cable to eliminate the "anomaly," but Cable wants to help the boy. It isn't until Nate exceeds what his body can hold that the fight ends and Cable is given the choice to kill Nate or help him restore his body. Cable chooses the latter. Blaquesmith reveals in this issue the role he plays as Cable's executioner if things ever get out of hand.

Note: This issue contains part two of a brief history of Cable.

Error: The scene with Psylocke references Uncanny X-Men #331 as the issue in which she is injured by Sabretooth. It actually occurred in #328.

Synopsis

With Exodus out of the picture, Cable and Nate Grey are able to focus their attacks on each other. Blaquesmith does his best to convince Cable to kill Nate, but Cable adamantly refuses. Blaquesmith, with no other option, reveals that he has been granted the responsibility and the ability to kill Cable if he ever gets out of hand; this power can only be used once and is turned on Nate. Nate unleashes a massive psionic attack at Blaquesmith, which reverberates across the globe. Its effects are felt by any psi-sensitive mutant, including Holocaust, Psylocke, Jean Grey, and Professor Xavier.

Blaquesmith's gambit appears to have failed, so Cable attacks physically. This works at first, but Nate recovers and continues his psionic attacks. Cable tries a new trick and "steps between moments", or teleports himself behind Nate. The two continue sparring and Cable determines to push Nate as far he can go. This works, as Nate's power grows beyond the bounds of his body. He crashes to the earth.

Cable determines to save the boy, but Blaquesmith reappears and urges Cable to kill Nate. Cable refuses and instead enters Nate's tattered mind. He is able to convince Nate to allow Cable to help repair Nate's mind. The strain on Cable is incredible, as his diverted attention allows the techno-organic virus to run unchecked. In the end, Nate is saved and Cable is taken away in Blaquesmith's ship.

Blaquesmith laments that Cable seems to be deviating from his mission. Worse yet, Cable may not be able to fully recover from his altercation with Nate Grey. Cable is suddenly awakened by Domino, who alerts him that X-Force is in danger. Cable has Blaquesmith fly him to New York.