“Exodus and his Exiles are no threat to your operation Genesis. In fact, a few of his students might actually be potential recruits,” Bishop reported pulling out a disc that he laid out on the pristine steel table in front of them.

“That’s all the information I managed to get from the Exiles’ computer. It contains most of the information about their dealings with the Onset entity and Sinister,” Shard reported. She felt dirty using people who had been her former friends, but this was for the betterment of humanity in the end. Sometimes dirty things had to be done in order to achieve the greater good. It didn’t make her like it any better though. Not in the slightest.

“I’ll look over this information. The both of you did a wonderful job. You two have earned your place in the strike team, X-Force. Though I would like to ask about our last recruit…”

“I don’t even know why you want her on the team sir. The only thing valuable about her is her abilities, but she is far too much a loose cannon. She can’t be trusted,” Bishop warned.

“There are some who have probably said that about you before Bishop. Remember when the Alpha/Omega split first happened amongst the X-Men? I’m sure you were called a loose cannon,” Genesis reminded. He understood Bishop’s reservations, but he also knew Bishop to be soldier. The man from the future was well adept at following orders.

Pushing up his sunglasses a bit Bishop nodded, “I’ll talk to her, but I don’t know how much good I’ll do.”

“That’s why I want Shard to do the talking. Not you,” Genesis explained.

“Sir me and that woman don’t exactly have the best of history. I may know her better than my brother, but I doubt I’d be anymore effective than he would,” Shard implored not wanting to have to spend any time alone with that woman.

“Know this Shard. You WILL get Raven Darkholme on this team! Is that clear?” Genesis asked.

Shard and Bishop both tightened up at Genesis’ authoritarian tone and said in unison, “Yes sir!”

Mystique descended from the sky and landed on a ragged bench in the park that had long stopped being used as a place to rest tired feet. Quickly she changed from the form of the black raven into the shape of her daughter, Rogue, when she had been young. Moving towards a pond she stared at the reflection.

She missed Rogue very much and the two of them hadn’t seen each other for a good bit. Though they were on rocky terms she still cared for her daughter and looking at a younger version of her made Raven reminisce. The two of them had so much promise back them. It seemed like they’re futures were bright and nothing could stand in their way. Then along came Ms. Marvel and that damned Xavier.

These events had been ran over in Raven’s mind a dozen times over, but she couldn’t help it. Despite all she might be and might become she was still a mother and a mother cared for her children. And right now she felt like she would give anything to take back all the hurt she’s caused her three children; Nightcrawler, Rogue, and Graydon. In so many ways she had failed all three of them.

Self-loathing continued to fill her as she thought on the fact she actually turned down Sinister in seeing her siblings. She had been afraid. Afraid of what Sinister might have done to them and afraid that she would have to acknowledge she had never really been alone in this world.

“Raven we need to talk,” Shard said walking up behind the shapeshifter. Mystique quickly jumped up to her feet surprised at her former X-Factor teammate’s sudden appearance.

“About what do we need to talk about exactly?” Mystique asked suspicious of Shard’s motives.

“I’ve got an offer and you damn well better listen.”

Bishop knocked on the door sheepishly awaiting the occupant of the apartment to answer. Slowly the magahony door creaked open and Pamela’s head poked out of it. She smiled a bit and opened the door wide enough for Bishop to see that was still in her pajamas.

“Would this a good time for us to talk?” Bishop asked.

“Actually…yea. Come on in,” Pamela replied letting Bishop walk in and closing the door behind him, “I was wondering where you had been at. I tried calling your office like five times.”

“I was on business in New Mexico,” Bishop said.

“Quite the traveler huh?” Pamela asked grabbing her coffee cup and sitting down in her loveseat. Seeing Bishop was still standing up she laughed, “Go ahead and sit down!”

“I didn’t want to seem rude,” Bishop said taking a seat in the couch across from Pamela. Sitting down he banged his head on the table that was behind him. Grabbing his head he fought back the urge to cuss.

Grinning like the Cheshire cat Pamela said, “Gotta be a little careful there. I like my tables set up high.”

“So I see,” Bishop muttered still holding the back of his head.

“Umm…so what did you want to talk about?” Pamela asked taking a sip of her coffee. She had to push her hair out of the way to keep it from getting in the cup.

“I’m going to be leaving Chicago very shortly. I just wanted to tell you beforehand,” Bishop said without the slightest bit of emotion. It was what he had been doing his whole life. Fighting back emotion. He did care for Pamela in some way, but he couldn’t let emotions stop him from doing what had to be done.

“Oh…well, this is sudden. I honestly don’t know what to say. Why?” Pamela asked not sure what she was feeling at the moment. Something about this big lug had her sprung, but she hadn’t really let him know that. What right did she have to put some guilt on him just before he left? And besides maybe she was better off without him in her life. He just seemed to attract trouble.

“I have a better opportunity I need to pursue. And besides I think you’ll be better off without me around. I’ve done nothing, but bring trouble to you. You deserve to live a normal life,” Bishop explained trying to alleviate his own feelings. Looking at Pamela’s beautiful pecan colored skin he can’t help, but to feel that he might want a normal life. Could he ever have one of those though? Was it even possible for someone like him to have a normal life? He came from a world that was on the brink of hell. Nothing normal could come out of an environment like that. Would he even make a good dad?

Pamela jumped up from her seat at that moment, spilling a bit of coffee on her clothes, “Who are you to decide who I need Luther? I’ll do and be with who I damn well please.”

Leaping forward she locked Bishop in a passionate kiss that set her senses on fire. After a few moments she pushed herself away and locked at Bishop with eyes on the brink of tears, “Goodbye Luther. Take care of yourself and don’t think too much on me. Live”

“Goodbye Pamela,” Bishop said walking out of the door and closing it behind him. Pamela crumpled on her couch and began to sob. Trying to ignore the woman’s cries as best as possible Bishop thought on the next person he had to see before he left.

“Give me a report soldiers,” Genesis ordered from the screen where his image was projected across. This was the way he communicated with most of his operatives and until he could construct himself a suitable cybernetic unit to harness him he would continue to do so.

“Mystique has agreed to join X-Force. In exchange though we have to erase any and all files other government agencies besides for our own might have on her. Also we have to promise not to use any kind of inhibitors on her. She also asks we keep tabs on Destiny’s grandson, Trevor Chase. She’s not entirely trusting of the boy,” Shard reported. The former XSE had been surprised at Mystique actually making demands for her to join the X-Force strike team, but the woman had always had plenty of audacity.

“And I’m trusting of the child either. All of her requests are reasonable. I’ll honor them, but I would like her to disclose any and all information she may have on the Hellfire Club,” Genesis replied hoping to make some kind of leap on taking down the HFC with the help of Raven.

“She’s already done that,” Shard said holding out a CD-RW disc and laying it down on the table. The item dematerialized to reappear at S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ.

“Excellent. Now what about you Bishop? Have you wrapped up all your affairs here in Chicago?”

“Yes, Genesis I have,” Bishop said a little more than somber. Shard picked up on this, but decided to say nothing about it. At least not at the moment anyway.

Genesis picked up on it too, but he honestly could care less. His plans were much more important than the love affair of a future gunslinger and a bartender. Pretending not to have detected even the slightest bit of emotion Genesis said, “Good. I’d like to formally welcome you two to X-Force. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s top mutant operative team.”

“Thank you sir,” Bishop and Shard said in unison.

-Troy Bengal