The New Mutants # 89 - The Gift

The New Mutants had been searching for Wolfsbane.  They found her hiding in a dark corner sulking.  She had remained in her wolf form until Rictor managed to convince her to change to her transitional form.  However, she didn't talk until they began talking about her as if she couldn't hear them.  She was still upset by the news that Moira MacTaggert had demanded that she return to Muir Island. 

Cable pulled himself out of the East River in Manhattan and convinced on-lookers to 'help' Freedom Force when they climbed out the river.  Blob was angry with the civilians, and Crimson Commando ordered them to split up into two pairs.

Cannonball flew Boom-Boom and Sunspot across town to Tiffany's.  They'd decided to buy Wolfsbane a leaving present and Sunspot's father was going to foot the bill.  Rictor had chosen to stay behind and console Wolfsbane, which irritated Boom-Boom.  Inside Tiffany's Boom-Boom fell in love with a pair of diamond earrings, but threw them back when she saw the price tag.  She found a crystal wolf figurine in their price range and they left.  

Nearby, Blob and Pyro had managed to catch up on Cable.  He'd stopped to pick up a trenchcoat to hide his cybernetic arm, but it gave them the chance to ambush him in a side alley.  

Back onboard Ship, Wolfsbane was packing.  She explained to Warlock what a momento is, and showed him a feather from her first trip to Asgard.  Wolfsbane then grew sad that she didn't pick anything up on their second adventure in Asgard since she was too upset at losing Moonstar.  Rictor then gave her a rock which he'd picked up from Odin's destroyed bed chamber.  She was touched by the gesture, and moved that he clung on to sentimental items.  She began to confess how close she felt to Rictor in such a short space of time, but was interrupted by Moira MacTaggart's unexpected and unannounced arrival.

Meanwhile, Blob held Cable from behind while Pyro punched him.  Cable retaliated by giving Blob a backwards head-butt, smashing his teeth, and kicking Pyro.  Boom-Boom, Cannonball & Sunspot walked passed the alley and saw the fight.  Remembering their promise not to attack Freedom Force unless attacked first, they reasoned that Freedom Force had attacked Cable first.  Cannonball & Sunspot dived at Blob but he swatted them away.  Crimson Commando suddenly appeared pointing his gun at them, claiming to arrest the New Mutants for assaulting officers of the law.  

Wolfsbane asked Moira to wait for X-Factor and the other New Mutants to return before they left, but Moira claimed she could call to say good-bye from Scotland.  Rictor began to shout and ran off and Warlock followed him.  Rictor began to reveal his plan to Warlock as the elevator doors closed on them.  On the roof, Moira began to criticise Rictor's behaviour when he suddenly used his vibration powers on her helicopter.  It shook until it fell apart, leaving Moira in a furious mood.

Sunspot decked Commando.  From the ground he grabbed Boom-Boom's ankle making her trip.  Wolfsbane's present went flying through the air, but Cable caught it with his metallic hand.  He passed it back to Boom-Boom and used the same hand to shield himself from Commando's bullets.  Crimson Commando ran at Cable, but he punched him out.  Cable then commanded Cannonball to activate his blast field, which he did in time to deflect Silver Sabre's attack.  He told them that his bionic eye warned him of Sabre's attack.  Blob then surged forward, but Cable ordered Sunspot to hit him at his weak spot.  So Sunspot wrenched five foot of concrete from underneath Blob.  Sent flying backwards, Blob knocked the back of his head on the alley floor and fell unconscious.  News reporters appeared, so the New Mutants ran away.  Cable explained to them that Freedom Force didn't know the locations of Rusty or Skids.  He asked about Wolfsbane's present, so Boom-Boom explained Moira's decision to take her back to Scotland.  Cable then revealed that he'd known Moira in the past and that he might be able to help change her mind.

Moira had opened up a video call to Muir Island and explained to David Haller why she would be delayed.  Cable arrived as Wolfsbane explained to Rictor who Legion was.  Moira immediately recognised Cable and they began to discuss Wolfsbane's safety.  She was concerned for Wolfsbane's age, but he reasoned that nature had equipped her to fight her own battles.  Moira was intrigued and listened to Cable's proposition; to leave Wolfsbane with him to fight terrorists who were building a giant bomb.  Legion interfered with the conversation to say he agreed with Cable.  So Moira agreed to leave Wolfsbane in America with Cable and the New Mutants.  

Warlock appeared and revealed that he had masqueraded as Moira's helicopter to stall her, which she said she would remember.  Cannonball thought about how Cable's speech on responsibility had been similar to what he & Sunspot were saying earlier.  Wolfsbane thanked Cable, but he hoped that he wouldn't be the cause of her death.  Warlock enquired why Rictor wasn't happy that Wolfsbane was staying.  Rictor revealed that he recognised Cable, even though Cable didn't recognise him.