The New Mutants # 87 - A Show of Power

In Asgard, Balder held a huge bankquet in the New Mutants' honour.  Wolfsbane was sad that she would have to leave Prince Hrimhari again.  The festivities were interrupted by the arrival of an ice fairy carrying a scroll and a vial.  Immediately Boom-Boom & Warlock recognised the work of Tiwaz, and Balder read the scroll.  It informed them that vial was for Queen Karnilla.  When she opened it, the vial released vapours that transformed her kindgom of living statues into flesh & bone once more.  Balder then gave the New Mutants a map that showed them the way through the Negative Zone to Earth.  The New Mutants celebrated with fireworks and Wolfsbane hugged Moonstar.  However, Moonstar broke the sad news that she was going to stay in Asgard to make amends for what she had done.

Rusty & Skids were kept in the same hospital room of a maximum security prison.  From her hospital bed Skids watched the news.  She grew angry at the news of their arrest and the lies Crimson Commando fed the media.  Changing channel Skids was surprised to hear the announcement of the Mutant Liberation Front that demanded their release.  As she gasped, Mystique entered the room and demanded to know more about the Mutant Liberation Front.  Mystique revealed that Rusty had been kept sedated to prevent him from using his fire powers.  Skids protested their innocence, and was aware that both she and Rusty would be killed to protect Freedom Force's secrets.

Back on Asgard, Warlock had transformed into a giant flying viking ship.  Boom-Boom bade farewell to the Warriors Three, Eitri made his goodbyes with Cannonball and Wolfsbane asked Hrimhari to accompany them.  The New Mutants then parted ways with Moonstar.  Rictor comforted Wolfsbane, and even Boom-Boom began to cry.  They all boarded Warlock and left Asgard and the broken Rainbow Bridge behind them.  Warlock then set course for the Whirlpool to the Dimension of the Mindless Ones.

Stryfe greeted the Mutant Liberation Front as they returned to base.  He grabbed Wildside by the throat and threw him across the room as a lesson for messing up on their mission.  He then grounded Wildside and Thumbelina while sending the rest of the team on their latest mission.

The Mutant Liberation Front teleported outside the maximum security prison.  Tempo used her power over time to speed them up when the guards opened fire.  Unbeknownst to all of them, the mysterious man with the cybernetic arm watched them from a safe distance.

Warlock continued to sail through dimensions.  They came under attack from mysterious lights and cycloptic muscle-bound Mindless Ones.  Using their powers the New Mutants fought them off long enough for Warlock to enter the portal home.

Meanwhile, the Mutant Liberation Front had forced their entry into the prison.  They had killed the guard who opposed them.  Tempo dropped her accelerated time over the team, giving the mysterious man an opening.  He blasted Tempo and help the others at bay.  Reaper dived at him and managed to paralyse the fine motor control in the stranger's body.  However, he still managed to swing the weight of his arm around to knock Reaper unconscious.  Strobe leapt at the stranger, but he caught her around the throat with his cybernetic arm.  She then used her own thermal powers to melt his arm.  He fell to the floor, unable to move.

The New Mutants had arrived back in New York.  They could see the Statue of Liberty, but there were no signs of Rusty, Skids or Freedom Force.  They felt like Knights of the Round Table, and couldn't wait to go home, even though there were no signs of X-Factor or Ship.

Back in Washington, the Mutant Liberation Front burnt a hole in the floor, right above the medical room that Rusty & Skids were being held in.  Armed guards opened fire and shot Rusty through the shoulder.  Strobe stood in front of them both causing the bullets to melt before they hit them.  Strobe asked Skids to join them.  At first Skids was hesitant, but realising that if they stayed they'd be instantly killed she decided to take Rusty with her and join the Mutant Liberation Front.  Zero (who was unable to teleport to places he'd never been before) had followed them inside and then provided a teleportation portal back to their base.

The New Mutants still flew on Warlock over the bay near the Statue of Liberty.  From there they saw Ship's arrival back in New York, and how he appeared to be falling out of control.

Meanwhile, the mysterious man with the cybernetic arm lay in a cell with doctors examining him and guards standing by just in case.  He was angry with himself for being beaten by a bunch of kids.  He was worried that it was too late to save Rusty & Skids from Stryfe.

Note:  The mysterious man with the cybernetic arm is Cable, but he is not referred to by name in this issue.

Additional Note:  During the events in this story, the New Mutants have another adventure.  They team up with Namorita and SURF in New Mutants Annual #5.  That adventure seems to happen between their arrival and when they observe Ship falling into the city.  Wolfsbane refers to that adventure at the start of the next issue.