The New Mutants # 100 - The End Of The Beginning Part Three

Still hiding inside the ventilation system, Feral had watched the whole fight through a letterbox shaped hole.  She was impressed with the way that the team had worked together, and hoped that they would be able to help her against the Morlocks.  She crawled away before a pink light flashed inside the empty Danger Room.  There appeared a small group of the Imperial protectorate, and they went in search of the soldier.  

Meanwhile, the Morlocks also entered the underground complex.  Brute and Hump followed Masque as he searched for Feral.

In the recovery room, Shatterstar regained consciousness.  He began to explain that he had come to Earth in search of the X-Men in their assistance to overthrown Mojo V.  Cable claimed that they were better than the X-Men, and offered Shatterstar a place on the team.  Boom-Boom wasn't sure to whether believe him, but Cannonball saw a physical likeness with Longshot.  Shatterstar confessed that as he was engineered to be a fighter then he had no experience or need for social pleasantries.

Boom-Boom retreated to the kitchen to make snacks for Shatterstar.  There she found Feral who was helping herself to the contents of the kitchen cupboards.  Feral leapt to attack Boom-Boom was caught off guard by a time-bomb.  The noise brought Cannonball running to see what the problem was.  Seeing she was out-numbered, Feral lay on the floor begging for their help to protect her from Masque.

In the recovery room, James and Shatterstar exchanged compliments on each other's fighting.  Suddenly Shatterstar's costume began to beep alarms.  It was a proximity alert to warn him of the Imperial Protectorate.  Shatterstar warned Domino & James that the Protectorate were ten times stronger than he was.  Domino didn't wait before launching a kick at one of the soldiers.  Shatterstar and James soon followed her lead.  As they fought, Shatterstar informed them that the Protectorate were bred to fight until they die.  James made the comparison with his own people, added with the fact that they had died fighting.

Back in he kitchen, Cable was introduced to Feral.  He wasn't sure whether to believe her story, and suspected that she might be a plant working for Masque.  However, they were interrupted by a large explosion from the recovery room.  As they ran, they missed the appearance of the Morlocks behind them.

As Cable and the others ran to the recovery room they were ambushed by more imperial protectorate soldiers.  Feral leapt forward and drew blood with her claws.  Instantly Boom-Boom and Cannonball were reminded of Sabretooth & Wolverine's savagery.  Feral problaimed that the thick syrup inside the soldiers wasn't blood, so Cable realised that they had come in search of Shatterstar.  When they arrived in the recovery room, they found the others in battle as more Protectorate soldiers teleported in.  Shatterstar was grabbed from behind.  to free himself he took his sword and plunged it through his own abdomen and killed the protectorate soldier.  Cable thought he was crazy, but Shatterstar was merely doing whatever was necessary to win.

Masque took the chance to appear and demand Feral's return.  Cable warned them to leave, but Masque stepped forward.  Cable drew his gun and instantly shot Brute dead.  Turning towards Masque he gave the remaining Morlocks a second chance to leave.  

After they had all showered, Cable assembled the team in the debriefing room.  He formally introduced James Proudstar, Shatterstar & Feral in turn.  He then announced that they were going to leave the grounds of the old school.  Boom-Boom complained at the prospect of moving again, but Cable reminded them that Tolliver, the Morlocks and the Imperial Protectorate were likely to continually attacking them there.  He added that both X-Factor and the X-Men were unlikely to approve of their new direction; to use their powers to protect others using violence.  Cannonball then used the name X-Force, admitting it was a little crude but effective.  The New Mutants had officially disbanded.

Later that evening, Boom-Boom and Cannonball talked in the evening air above ground.  They considered all the friends they'd lost and how they were leaving it all behind.  Cannonball admitted that he wanted to stay with Cable to try and make a difference in the world.  Boom-Boom confessed she had similar feelings, but also that she wanted to stay with Cannonball.  Cannonball then told Boomer to trust him, which she swore she would with all her heart.  

a little while later, they all climbed aboard a hover car.  X-Force then left the estate of the old School for the Gifted to find a new home.

Prologue:  Stryfe walked through his hidden headquarters.  He was greeted Wildside who was babbling incessantly and Forearm who stood in stoic silence.  Wildside wasn't allowed to have all the password, as Stryfe didn't fully trust him.  Stryfe then called all of the Mutant Liberation Front to attendance.  

He announced that they had a new mission.  Rusty & Skids were dubious about the terrorist tactics, but Strobe told them to shut up.  Stryfe then sent Forearm, Reaper, Skids and Zero on a mission in Genosha and dismissed the others.  

Once he was alone, Stryfe removed his helmet.  He revealed that he had a scar across his right-eye and his left-eye flashed with power.  Stryfe's face was still covered in shadow, but it was clear that he was identical in appearance to Cable.

Note:  This issue is the official end of the New Mutants and the first appearance of X-Force.  It is also the first time that Boom-Boom's name is changed to Boomer.  The 'Prologue' at the end of the issue is also the first time to insinuate a connection between Stryfe and Cable.

Remember: That Domino does not appear in this issue.  She was replaced by the mutant shapeshifter known as Copycat.