The New Mutants # 90 - To Hunt the Hunter

Cable had led the New Mutants to the demolished site of Xavier's School for the Gifted.  Cyclops had suggested that they lie low from the authorities in the underground complex.  Banshee and Forge had previously used the facilities there and left the systems activated for them (Uncanny X-Men #264).  Rictor & Boom-Boom couldn't believe that there used to be a mansion, so the others explained how it had been their home.  Once underground, Cannonball, Sunspot & Wolfsbane gave the others a guided tour of the living quarters, medical facilities, gymnasiums and library.  There was everything they needed to survive.  Cable then commanded them to design their own school timetables and costumes that carried a team theme but emphasised their individual personalities.  They were also warned to stay away from the entrance to the Morlock tunnels as they'd heard of dangerous stray Morlocks.  The tour ended in the Danger Room, but Rictor and Boom-Boo were less than impressed with a big empty room.

Caliban found Samson's dead body floating face down in the sewer water.  Sabretooth could hear Caliban following him through the tunnels and prepared to strike.

Cannonball finished his new uniform design, but Rictor refused to make one as he was still resistant to Cable's leadership.  Boom-Boom demanded to know why he'd been such a pain since Cable's arrival.  He only revealed that he knew Cable from a long time ago, but refused to give further details claiming that it was too personal.  Warlock burst into the room to announce their first Danger Room training session with Cable.  The others were excited, but Rictor refused to go along until Wolfsbane begged him. He attended the training session, but didn't change out of his leather clothes while the others wore spandex.  Cable activated the Danger Room and suddenly they were on an asteroid field being attacked by Tie-Fighters and aliens in helmets.  The others let loose with their powers, but when Rictor used his powers against the aliens they splintered & multiplied.  They surrounded Rictor and he began to have flashbacks to his father's death.  Rictor immediately crumpled up and begged for the sequence to stop.  The others tried to comfort him and Cable showed concern for Rictor's well-being,  but he snapped at them all and ran off.  He had made up his mind to go into the Morlock tunnels to defeat Masque and prove that he didn't need Cable's training.  Cable couldn't understand Rictor's behvaiour, and resisted the urge to order him back in case it made the situation worse.

Later on, Boom-Boom, Cannonball & Sunspot tried on their new uniforms.  Wolfsbane ran into the room to inform them that Rictor was missing.  They ran to find Cable who was wearing the Cerebro helmet.  He'd been trying to locate the Mutant Liberation Front, but removed the helmet when he received the news about Rictor.  Wolfsbane revealed that he'd gone into the Morlock tunnels, so Cable ordered them all to follow him.

Rictor had made his way through the tunnels and soon found Samson's corpse.  That was when Caliban found him.  He warned Rictor to go back to the surface, but Rictor didn't recognise Caliban and tried to attack him with his powers.  It didn't phase Caliban and it was when he spoke in the third person that Rictor finally recognised him.  He briefly tried to reach out to Caliban out of friendship, but Sabretooth chose that moment to attack, slashing Rictor across the torso.  Caliban taunted Sabretooth into attacking him instead.  Rictor freaked out.  He was unable to stand let alone run away, and he was scared that either Sabretooth or Caliban would turn on him.

Cable loaded his guns and prepared to lead the New Mutants into the tunnels.  Boom-Boom was surprised he didn't tell them to stay behind, but Cable acknowledged that there was strength in numbers even if they weren't as experienced as he was.  He then commanded Sunspot to power up, and Wolfsbane shifted into her full-wolf form for sharper senses.  Cable then led the New Mutants into the Morlock tunnels to rescue Rictor.