"You are just as fretful as ever Cannonball. You must forget the wounds, personal and emotional, I have afflicted upon you in the past. That was a long time ago and now with it being 2060 I believe I need to rebuild my stronghold on the world. You must join me Sam Guthrie as my newest Horseman of Death. As my Horsemen you and I could lay waste to this planet and rebuild it anew. You know as well as I that the Sentinels need to be halted," Apocalypse said.

"Why would I ever join you? You profoundly disgust me En Sabah Nur. I may hate the Sentinels, but not enough to join you" Cannonball said walking away from Apocalypse.

"A mutant leads the Sentinels, Guthrie. Did you know that? I figured as much. Do you truly believe you can escape from my grip Cannonball? What I want I get no matter the cost. I thought you would have learned this lesson by now," Apocalypse said. Cannonball ignored him and flew off into the air.

South Bronx (What's left of it)

Cannonball flew straight into an old warehouse. He was late for the meeting. This was his resistance and he was late for the meeting. When he got to where the meeting was being held he was met by a bunch of staring eyes.

"Hello Cannonball," one of his resistance members a vampire named Spark accosted.

"Alright I'm late. You don't have to tell me! I just had a talk with Apocalypse is all," Cannonball said.

"Apocalypse! You were actually talking to that creep," Scott ,a mutant tortured by En Sabah Nur, said.

"It wasn't a pleasant talk believe me. He actually asked me to become one of his Horsemen," Cannonball said laughing.

"What's next? The Sentinels are going to try and be nice to mutants," Frank the smart-ass of the group said.

"I think we should take what Apocalypse said seriously. What he wants he usually tries and gets forcefully," Tamara an Askani from the 40th century said.

"Yeah let's listen to the crazy chick who thinks she's from the future," Frank said furtively.

"I heard that Frank and Tamara is right. We should take Apocalypse's threat seriously. Spark where are Candra and Bill at?" Cannonball asked.

"Candra and Bill went on a reconnaissance mission. They should be back shortly. I'm surprised you didn't ask about Cat!" Spark said speaking of the rebellious member of Cannonball's resistance.

"I don't even worry about Cat anymore. She's a free spirit and since she is a External she thinks she can do whatever she wants," Cannonball said.

"You wouldn't be saying that if you knew that I have found the Vertex of Time," Cat said holding a green crystal in her hands.

"YOU WHAT?!" all the resistance members present said at once.

"Yep I found the Vertex of Time. The weapon that allows people to see how timelines would turn out if certain things happened differently," Cat said filled with pride.

"Don't forget that the weapon can send someone back into time," Cannonball said smiling.

"Yeah and with that we can nail the dude who created the Sentinels and destroy Apocalypse," Candra said walking in with the demon Bill.

"My sentiments exactly," Frank said.

"What information did you find?" Cannonball asked.

"Well, they did have some pretty disheveled information, but we were able to find some stuff. Like that the Sentinels are massing in Florida to attack the latest newly Sentinel free country, Brazil. That will leave four bases completely empty and it would be a perfect opportunity to stick our virus into their mainframe," Candra explained.

Cannonball smiled a deep, resplendent smile. This was definitely a big moment for his resistance. This whole gang reminded him a lot of X-Force, but he didn't have time to go down memory lane. "Candra, I am going to need you and Bill to go to one of those empty bases. The rest of us are going to attack those Sentinels in Florida," Cannonball said looking at the nervous faces of his comrades.

"Cannonball you will not be going anywhere until you serve me as my Horsemen," Apocalypse exclaimed crashing through the roof of the warehouse. Spike and Bill immediately jumped at Apocalypse and they were immediately terminated by a blast from Apocalypse.

Tamara out of pure rage and anger jumped up at Apocalypse. He blasted her away with a simple and clean blast. "Just three Externals now. All of them shall be my Horsemen," Apocalypse said to Cannonball and his friends.

The Next Day

"Cannonball I want you to meet Pestilence and War," Apocalypse said as Candra dressed as War and Cat dressed as Pestilence came around the corner.

"Even if you turn us all into Horsemen you are still one short," Cannonball said that being some sort of condolence to him.

"Actually Cannonball I got my hands on some of Sinister's old files and I made my Famine. I think you know her," Apocalypse said. Out of the shadows came Boomer dressed as Famine.

"You scumbag! You make me sick to the core of my being," Cannonball yelled.

"Hate is such a lovely thing wouldn't you say so Cannonball?" Apocalypse said.

"Hate for you has kept me going for years you insolent piece of infallible cur," Mr. Sinister exclaimed blasting Apocalypse in the back. A clone of Riptide fought against War. Clones of Harpoon and Vertigo tackled Pestilence and a clone of Sabertooth ripped apart Famine. Meanwhile a clone of Toad was freeing Cannonball from his shackles.

"Sinister I had thought you were long dead," Cannonball said.

"Just one of my many clones," Sinister said smiling. Cannonball didn't return the smile, but he did leave with Sinister and his clones.

Three Weeks Later

"Sinister we have to attack that base in California!" Cannonball exclaimed.

"I refuse to waste my clones to save some worthless humans trapped in a base," Sinister said.

"Then I'll go by myself," Cannonball said walking out of the door.

"Wait Sam. You don't have to dash away so quickly. I will send some of my more simpler and easier to make creations to handle the job," Sinister said.

"Could it be that Nathaniel Essex actually cares for someone?" Cannonball said.

"Never little boy. You should know me better than that," Mr. Sinister said.

"Yeah I should know you better," Cannonball snickered.

Four Months Later

Cannonball stood on the edge of the rooftop over looking the view of the desiccated city. This place had once been known as Sin City, but now it stood as only a base for the production of Sentinels. The vicious robots that dominated most of the world. Sam was leading one of the few resistances to topple the Sentinels in the United States. It was in good ol America where the largest contingent of Sentinels called home. That's why Cannonball's task was all the harder to do.

"Are you pretty sure the Ebony Blade is in there?" Cannonball said a clone of Vertigo.

"Positive Guthrie. And with the metal from the Ebony Blade the genetic soldiers of Sinister will be amped to a much higher degree. The only problem is the-"

"Sentinels! Dead ahead!" a Riptide clone yelled as he could see four Sentinels in the distance. They were probably returning back to base.

"Susanna. Put your invisible field around us!" Cannonball yelled to the new recruit to the resistance. The black woman concentrated as all of the resistance members disappeared out of sight.

"How long is she going to have to hold this?" Paul, another new member, asked Cannonball. He was anxious to get this mission over with and get back home. He was about to risk his life over a freakin sword. He couldn't believe that he got himself into this mess.

"Til the coast is clear Paul. And I think it'll be just that in a couple of minutes."

"Susanna's pretty inexperienced in using her powers for long periods of time. Are you sure she'll hold?" Paul inquired. He knew Susanna pretty well and she rarely used her powers for periods longer than a minute. She never had to with her big brother, Bradley, around. The guy was strong as they came and he could move at speeds that would leave most people dizzy. Unfortunately, Sentinels killed him last year.

"Trust me Paul. Just trust me."

Four Hours Later

"Why were you here mutant?" a robotic voice asked a chained up and naked Cannonball.

"Screw you," Sam spat.

"We know you must have come for the Ebony Blade. Who sent you and perhaps we'll let you live."

Cannonball laughed hysterically, "Come now Sentinel. You know as well as I that you can't kill me. You've killed everyone else who was with me because they're not like me. They're not External!"

"You will not be saved Cannonball. I hope you realize that," a voice said from behind Cannonball. Out of the shadows stepped a man Sam never thought he would see again. His name was Robert DaCosta and he led the Sentinels.

Earth 616

"At least this one is a little simpler from the last one," Supreme Evolutionary said.

"I'm assuming the elder Samuel is the one who has the piece," Deathbird said.

"You would be right Deathbird my dear. Just one more piece to find and then we'll find those who will gather the Celestial Puzzle for us."

Deathbird nodded in agreement.