X-FORCE #12

Doctor's Orders

Previously in X-Force: Havok and his team traveled to Africa to capture the underground scientist known as The Genegineer. While in Mogadishu they were confronted by Ahab and his Hounds. In the proceeding battle Marrow, Pipeline, and Abyss were all injured. Emplate helped The Genegineer to escape from X-Force's grasp. Emma as result has laid out very clear goals for Havok and his team to achieve. But how else has she exerted control over the team?

Months Ago

Dr. Reyes stepped into Emma Frost's office and gently closed the door behind her. She was dressed in a plain white tee and slim fitting jeans. It was a rare off day for the Xavier Institute's resident doctor. The place was a long cry from her practice in Harlem, but she was still doing good work. Helping oppressed people had been her goal since the day her father died in front of her. Poor African-Americans and Hispanics along with mutants were some of The United States' most ignored people. It was her duty to do what she could to help her fellow man; a lesson that many in her country could stand to learn.

But looking at the dazzling Emma Frost it was hard to apply the word oppressed to her. She glowed from head to toe and managed to look good in things that would give any average woman stage fright. Cecelia found it hard to conceive of such a woman being romantically involved with Charles. First, he was old so—

"Please don't complete that thought," Emma Frost said as she brushed a few strands of hair out of her eye.

Cecelia shrugged. "Sorry. So is there a reason you called me here?"

"Logan has made me aware that you've decided to accept our offer and work with X-Force," Emma said as she poured herself a cup of tea from a porcelain pot. "I'm glad he was able to convince you."

"I don't like keeping secrets from everyone, but if this team is going to be in as much danger as Logan says then I didn't have much choice," Cecelia said.

"Yes, your medical expertise is really unmatched among our ranks. Even Hank, bless his soul, doesn't have as much raw surgical experience as you."

Cecelia's face was stone. "Can you get past flattery-ville and get to the point?"

Emma laughed. "Logan was right. You do have moxy. Then I guess I shouldn't try to indulge you. We need someone on the inside to watch Havok and we want it to be you."

Indignation cut to the core of what Cecelia felt at that moment. "I didn't agree to this team to be a spy. I'm a doctor. You have plenty of other X-Men you can give that task to!"

Frost continued on as if Cecelia's outcry had been a whisper in the wind. "That is precisely why we need you to do this for us. You're not an X-Man. At least not in the experienced sense. You really haven't dealt with the Sinisters, Apocalypses, and Onslaughts of our lives. You can see things with a pair of eyes more grounded in the mundane. There is no one else better than you who can gauge when someone is going over the edge."

Cecelia cut her eyes at the woman and projected quite a few profane thoughts the woman's way. Frost finally laughed and said, "Take it as a compliment darling. I do not think you're less of an X-Man than anyone else. My track record should be proof enough of that. And there is something I can give you in return."

After a few minutes of silence, Cecelia finally said, "Start talking."

=X=

The Present

Cecelia ducked Cable's Psimatar and ran her shoulder into his gut. As his body tumbled, Reyes used the momentum to flip off of him and square in front of Moonstar. By the time she had got her balance back an arrow was pointed square in her face.

"Your timing's off, but you're getting better at anticipating your opponent's moves," Moonstar said as she lowered the arrow.

"And I haven't nailed you with my Psimatar in almost two sessions. I think that's a record," Cable said as he stood to his feet.

Watching from afar was Nightcrawler who teleported closer to the three mutants and said, "Ja! Good show Cecelia. You're starting to get the stiffness out."

Cecelia smiled. "I've been hitting the gym. Though I guess that doesn't really matter."

"No it does," Cable said. "What your mind believes to be real is what it will project."

Cecelia huffed and leaned forward on her knees. "Guess I better start believing I can actually fight."

Danielle put a hand on her shoulder and said, "You're more than capable of being in the battlefield. You're able to hold your own now in one on one fights with me, Cable, Nightcrawler, and Logan. It's going to take quite a bit of time before you're able to take two of us on at the same time."

"Agreed," Cable said as he strapped his Psimatar to his back. "Your mutant ability affords you a defensive advantage many don't have."

"That is being advanced to offensive capabilities," Moonstar added. "As much as I don't like she knows how to get people to think of their powers in different ways."

Nightcrawler, with a pleased look still on his face, said, "Well, it is nearly our time. Same place tomorrow night?"

Cecelia wiped the sweat from her brow. "You know it."

The images of the three mutants melted away and Cecelia awoke from her slumber. She had been sleeping on the floor ever since arriving on Muir Island because of how much she was sweating. Whatever happened to her when she was mentally training with Danielle, Nathan, Kurt, and Logan happened to her in the real world. Every drop of sweat and bruise was realized by her body.

Rising up from the sleeping bag she had on the floor, Cecelia gripped her aching side and said, "I do this again because?"

=X=

Dr. Reyes looked at Marrow seated on the patient's bed and said, "I know you're going to be stubborn and do what you want to do anyway, but I think you need to take it easy for at least two more days."

"I feel fine healer," Marrow said. "Why should I stay here?"

"Because as remarkable as your skeletal structure is, you still need to let it heal completely. You suffered some major skeletal trauma in Somali. So while most of the major damage is repaired there are still dozens of tiny fractures throughout your skeleton which could become something major. I believe the only reason you haven't entirely healed by now is that you taxed your powers too much in Mogadishu."

Marrow smirked. "Concern for me? How sweet healer."

"I know that you don't mean that, but I do Marrow. Take it easy or you risk injuring yourself all over again. Sit down with Abyss and watch whatever it is that you do."

"It's called Robot Boy."

"Sure, whatever," Dr. Reyes said as she looked over Pipeline's diagnostics. "I just need you to take it easy."

Reyes had never had the friendliest relationship with Marrow, but she had respect for the young woman and all that she had been through. Reyes couldn't say that she would be much different from Marrowi if the same things had happened to her. There were just some things that irrevocably changed a person no matter who they were. Having your family slaughtered before your eyes happened to be among those things.

Cecelia felt a great swell of sympathy for the young woman, but she had no intention of showing it. Marrow did not work off of pity and resented anyway who sent it her way. The only way to befriend her was to never take her tragic past into account when dealing with her.

"How is Abyss?" Marrow asked.

"Thankfully, his skin isn't anything like a normal man's. Because of his tensile nature, electricity doesn't hurt him quite as negatively as other people. He should be up and about in a couple of days," Cecelia said trying to hold back a smile. The way Marrow asked about Abyss was the same way she use to ask about Cannonball.

"I'll leave to your work then healer," Marrow said as she hopped off of her bed and walked out of the room.

Cecelia revealed her grin as soon as she was gone. It would be good for Marrow to have a crush. Hopefully, it would calm her down.

=X=

Eastern SHIELD Helicarrier, The Horus

G.W. Bridge finally found himself in a position of power and he did not intend to fail. He had always played second fiddle to Nick Fury, but Bridge desired to lead. It wasn't that he didn't respect Fury because the man had done amazing work over the years. Bridge just wanted his chance to do the same thing. It seemed like he was never going to get that opportunity as long as he stayed at SHIELD, but now that had completely changed.

One Helicarrier was simply not enough in the ever changing global landscape and the decision was made to have a second Helicarrier patrol the world. G.W. was given control of The Horus and his jurisdiction was The Eastern Hemisphere. It was a higher position that came with a host of new responsibilities. Bridge felt like he had been given access to a buffet.

He wasn't necessarily a fan of the bureaucracy, but he felt that it was best he was positioned as the SHIELD leader in the Eastern Hemisphere, especially when it came to the African continent. The people of Africa needed to see a face like theirs being in charge of their safety. So he could deal with the paper work and politics to get results.

Seated at the head of his Briefing Room, a large communications screen was behind his desk and in front of him were his fifty top agents. The Helicarrier housed far more than that, but these fifty were his message carriers. Whatever was said in this room would be disseminated by these fine officers. Another perk of this assignment was that Bridge had been able to pick every agent that was on The Horus. Everyone he had, he had because he wanted them.

"Ok ladies and gentleman, lets get this party rolling," Bridge said as a detailed map layout of Mogadishu appeared on the screen behind him. "Seems we had ourselves a bit of rumbling in Somalia a couple of days ago. I need details people."

"We were able to pull a few names out of the melee," Agent 59, Darick Roberson, said. "Ahab, Nova, and Genegineer. We did some cross referencing and we pulled up information on what the names could mean."

The communication screen flashed to show a picture of Dr. David Moreau of Genosha and Agent 59 continued. "The Genegineer was the top dog back when Genosha was enslaving their mutant population. From all reports he's dead, but I think we all know how that works."

"There is also Dr. Sasha Ryan who was supposed to have been Moreau's successor," Agent 682, Isabella "Izzy" Dirk said.

"Then we find this Dr. Ryan and ask her exactly why the name of the Genegineer is popping up so far away from home. Any knowledge of her current location?" Bridge asked interested in what old Genoshan politics was doing popping up again.

Agent 59 nodded. The light flickered off his bald brown head from time to time, but Bridge wasn't going to make a joke about it now. "She's working in Switzerland with Frost Biological Solutions."

Bridge's eyebrow perked up. "Frost? As in Emma?"

Roberson shook his head. "No, her older brother Christian runs this company. It is in no way affiliated with Emma."

"If he's anything like his sister then we need to watch him, but that's for another day. Just find Dr. Ryan and see what you can dig up. I think I'm going to pay Ms. Frost a visit."

=X=

"Emma's a big girl. She can take care of herself," Wolverine said as he ducked a kick from Cecelia and dodged to the right.

The doctor kicked up dust when her foot rushed back to the ground to help her maintain her balance. "Xavier's going to find out about Emma's operation eventually. It won't be bonita."

Logan sucked his teeth and yanked his head back from a right hook. Cecelia was starting to move fast. "Everyone gives her all the credit."

Cecelia found something enduring about the furry, little man. He was full of energy and life no matter the circumstances even if he was a bit grim. "She's a woman. Don't we always get the credit for doing deceptive things?"

Logan snickered. "A feminist eh?"

Cecelia flipped backwards when Logan made a charge for her and struck him in the jaw. He was going easy on her. No way would she have ever landed that blow. Unless, he was distracted. "Something bothering you?"

Logan laughed hoarsely. "Not that obvious am I?"

"Pretty much," Cecelia said folding her arms across her chest. She didn't intend to leave this little psychic jam session until Logan told her what it was that had him off his game. The training that he along with Nathan, Kurt, and Dani had been providing was making her into a combat capable mutant. But she wasn't that good.

"I'm not so sure that we should have you spying on Alex for us," Logan said.

At that point, Emma's astral image appeared between the two mutants. "And why not? Tell me you haven't lost your stomach for this?"

"You know it's not that Frost. I just don't think we should be hindering the cohesion of X-Force. Having a spy in the midst will not make Alex happy. Besides I think we need to trust him."

Emma groaned and flipped back her hair. A needless act considering she had no real corporeal form. "You are letting your friendship with the man blind you to the needs of this team. We can't have him running around autonomously with no one to answer to. He's already starting making his own moves without even consulting us."

"Emma's right," Cecelia chimed in. "Havok is a different man from the one I think you use to know Logan. He needs to be watched and I'm a big girl. Just like Emma, I can take care of myself."

"I have no doubts abut that Doc," Logan said. "I've been around enough firecrackers like you to know that."

Feeling victorious, Emma gave her pristine "Valley Girl" smile and said, "Then that's settled. We'll continue on our chosen course."

Logan still looked upset about the situation. "Alex is a good man. He's been through a lot. We shouldn't paint him as some loose cannon."

"What I saw in his mind suggests otherwise Logan," Emma said as her astral form continued to float between the two mutants. "Havok is a changed man and he needs to be watched."

Cecelia herself had never spent a great deal of time with Havok before she joined up with X-Force so she had little idea of how he use to be. What she saw now though was a man determined to complete his mission, but Reyes wasn't sure if that mission matched up with Emma and Logan's mission. It seemed like Havok had his own goals that he was working towards.

"I think Alex has his own set of plans in mind," Cecelia said. "So Emma is right to want to watch him."

Logan still didn't seem like he was buying it. "I'll need more than your word before I accept that darling. Alex is a good man."

"When good men have to stare Hell in the face it changes them," Emma said. "And Havok is no exception."

Next Issue: The team continues to track down those that Adel is dealing with leading them right to Gentech and AIM. Who is Sledge and what does he have to do with Havok?