Jack Paris and Tracy Raymond get out of their sleek, black Porsche, and walk into a disclosed building located on the south end of Manhattan. They approach an elevator, and proceed to go to the bottom floor. When they reach the bottom level, they are met with the sound of computers blaring, and CIA agents rustling papers and yelling into telephones.

For weeks, these two agents have been posing as NYPD officers, getting deliberately entangled with events orchestrated by Deathglare... and inevitably the one mutant outlaw known as Cable.* Raymond and Paris walk down the aisle formed by the maze of work desks and into a large office. Paris knocks on the door.

(* Check the earlier issues of Cable -- Brad)

A voice over the intercom speaks, {Come in.}

Paris and Raymond enter and sit down in two plush leather seats. The man turns around in his swivel chair to face them. He is Carl Denti, a CIA agent specializing in superhuman activity. "What have you gotten so far?"

"Not much," Paris says gruffly. "All we've found out is that Cable's alias is Nathan. We're not too sure about his last name... frankly, it doesn't matter."

"He uses some kind of lance that has a plasma-firing feature. Interesting weapon... usually, he used guns. Big ones," Tracy Raymond says.

"He hangs around with Daredevil, a vigilante," Paris informs.

Denti rubs his temples. "Daredevil isn't my turf. I can't prove that he's a superhuman, even if he is one, he hasn't displayed any kind of dangerous abilities. Our focus is Cable. He's a terrorist and a powerful mutant. He has uncharted psionic abilities. We're not sure on the limits of those powers, but I'm sure he could use them in militaristic ways if he could."

"He formed a freedom force team of young mutants awhile back,"* Raymond brings up.

(* She means X-Force -- Info-Giver Brad)

"He also has an advanced, cybernetic arm. He could have some weapons concealed in that thing, too," Denti says.

"The question is, what are his motives?" Paris asks. "He almost wiped out his own merc team, Six Pack. What leader does that?"

"A sick one," Denti says. "Cable's killed a lot of people... some of them were assignments issued by the American Government... some were in cold blood. He's somehow allied himself with heroes so that he won't be immediately accused."

"He's also done some moderately heroic deeds, like helping the heroes against Onslaught," Raymond says.

"Yes, but he also allied himself with Apocalypse during that time," Paris shouts.

"Then there's the Stryfe theory," Raymond suggests. "Some think that Stryfe was really Cable in disguise. And as Stryfe, Cable pulled all those terrorist attacks with the MLF, while Cable rode in with his mutant army and stopped his own plans. But he was really planning for a sneak attack where X-Force and the MLF would dupe the world and join forces... causing some tension."

"It's possible," Paris says while twirling a pen. "Some agents have discovered that the Legacy Virus' cure was supposedly found by Cable... doesn't that sound a little fishy? An incurable epidemic... and suddenly, there's a cure?"

Denti slaps the top of his desk with both hands, "We need to find out as soon as possible if Cable is part of some sort of conspiracy... whether it's to assassinate the President or he's some sort of Communist extremist trying to take revenge on the United States... we need to know!" Denti pauses, "Because when we do, I'm sending in the X-Cutioner to capture, possibly kill, Cable."

"Yes, sir," Raymond and Paris say in unison as they exit the office.

The Sub-Safehouse...

Rachel Summers smiles as she holds Cable's psimatar. "I remember the first psimatar Blaquesmith designed. It was a branch with a whole bunch of wires hanging everywhere! It was a riot!" Rachel says. Cable can't help but laugh. "But he improved it... obviously."

"Oh shush now, it wasn't that bad," Blaquesmith says with a smile. Irene Merryweather sits on the couch, with a headset on, listening to the current conversation on tape. In a little while, as always, Irene will go to her room and pound away on the laptop. She was destined to be Cable's chronicler. Why? Who knows? Perhaps the Fates wanted the world to know of its hero.

"Anyway," Rachel begins, "from our perspective in the future, Nathan Summers was killed by the techno-organic virus. And the Celestial Ship was destroyed as well."

"But when you sent an Askani into the past to save me, you were an old woman... why did you wait so long?" Cable asks.

Rachel shrugs.

Cable asks another question, "And why didn't Blaquesmith show up until after Slym and Redd returned to their real bodies?"

Blaquesmith and Rachel exchange a glance. "Should we tell him?" Blaquesmith asks the Mother Askani.

Rachel nods and sighs, "This won't be easy, Nathan..."

Cable gets a worried look on his face, "Is it really serious? It's not that big of a deal... is it?"

Rachel explains, "Since Askani tradition says that only agents of the same sex can train each other, Blaquesmith voluntarily banished himself from the Askani until you were brought to the future."

"Well... that's not so bad," Cable declares.

"You're not understanding the full angle of it, Nathan," Blaquesmith says. "While in my exile, Rachel died... and Sanctity took full leadership of the Askani... I was meant to be the next in line for leader. The Askani didn't flourish under Sanctity. The Askani were to be made easily accessible to you, but Sanctity drove them into hiding, away from you."

"Well, why didn't you come back sooner?" Cable asks.

"The truth? I was learning the wonders of Celestial technology. Professor had previously given me a microchip containing lots of history. In effect, I was studying. I was planning your mission."

"To defeat Apocalypse?" Cable asks.

"Yes, but as it turns out, Professor knew nothing of the Calling," Blaquesmith says.

"So why am I here? Why am I still of some importance? There are forces out there, universal forces that are afraid of me... or envious of me..." Cable can't seem to piece it all together. The unknown factor is driving him crazy. "Rachel, you said the Phoenix knew of my power? What did it say, exactly?"

Rachel rubs her temples, "It's hard to remember exactly what it said... it's like trying to remember a dream... but to summarize, you are the godsend, the only mutant capable of drawing from a force more powerful than the Phoenix. You were meant for some cosmic battle against... Lord knows who."

"Deathglare?" Cable inquires.

"No...," Rachel says.

"Nagruha was his real name," Cable says.

"No, it's not him," Rachel says. "I think the Phoenix was trying to allude to the Celestials."

"ALL of them?" Cable asks.

"Quite possibly," Rachel says. "Humans are capable of manipulating the Destiny Force. Mutants are going in that direction, but not quite at the top. You're the only mutant who can get to the top, Nathan. That's why Deathglare, Apocalypse, and the Celestials either wanted your power or wanted it destroyed. That's why I couldn't have you cured of the techno-virus. I figured if somehow you were powered down, you wouldn't be a target. Plus, the Celestial Ship was downloaded into your techno-organic parts. If you were cured, the Ship would've been destroyed, and you would have later died from your fullest potential at the ripe age of 10."

Irene presses stop on her portable tape recorder and puts the headset around her neck. She swallows hard and looks at Nathan, who is somewhat shocked at this revelation.

"Come on, Cable... with all that power... think of what you can do... now that you know what you're capable of... let's do a little damage!!!!" Cable's darkside taunts.

Cable gets off the couch and goes into his room, and begins to pack a duffle bag full of clothes. "Nathan, please! I was trying to help you!" Rachel yells. "Don't get mad, please?"

"I'm not mad," Nathan says calmly. It's obvious he's trying to hold back his emotions. He slams down the duffle bag. "Did that bastard, Sinister, know all about this?"

Rachel ponders, "I'd imagine he knew you'd be powerful... but... not on a cosmic scale. All he was trying to prove was that a Summers-Grey offspring was possibly the perfect mutant, capable of immeasurable power... Sinister isn't to blame for your turbulent life. That's the handy work of Higher Powers."

Cable picks up the duffle bag and heads for the middle of the living room where this conversation on his history took place. He stares down Rachel, Irene, and Blaquesmith. "I'm sorry, but I can't stay here anymore... not for a while... I need to do some soul-searching..."

"Nathan--" Blaquesmith says.

"No. Don't even try to persuade me to stay here. If you're worried about my duties, tell the Avengers, the Richards Clan, the X-Men, all of them--to work overtime. I'll be damned if I don't deserve a break after what I've been through!" *

(* Check M2K's Cable #1-2001 Annual, as well as every Cable appearance before the Magneto War in Marvel Comics -- Brad)

Cable bodyslides to the surface and proceeds to take a cab...

Not too far away, Raymond and Paris watch Cable's every move from their Porsche. "Did you see that? He can teleport," Raymond says with awe.

"Where's he going? We better follow him," Paris says as he shifts gears, pursuing the taxi.

Four hours later...

"Where is he now?" Irene asks Rachel, who is trying to locate her brother through their unique rapport.

Rachel is meditating in Askani fashion, cross-legged and hovering upside down. Her fingertips are pressing gently on her temples. Her forehead is glowing slightly with a slight yellow energy. "Nothing. I can't sense him," Rachel says as she rotates her body upright, then stands up straight.

"We have to get him back," Blaquesmith informs. "There's no telling what he may do. His actions are being influenced by raw emotions. That could prove to be dangerous!"

"Don't you have anything here that can track him, Blaquesmith?" Irene asks.

Blaquesmith shamefully shakes his head, "I could build something, but that may take too long."

Rachel picks up Cable's psimatar, "Maybe not. Can you recalibrate the bodyslide program to span a larger radius, Blaquesmith?"

"Yes, it will take a few keystrokes, but why, Rachel?"

"Our friends in Salem Center may have the tracking device we need -- Cerebro," Rachel responds.

"Understood," Blaquesmith says as he walks over to the console and begins pounding away. He looks back at Rachel and gives her a wristwatch which links her to the computer. "The bodyslide program's trajectory should be modified."

Rachel smiles, "Good. Computer, bodyslide by one, Xavier Estate."

*ZZZPPP*

"What happens if Cable does something he'll regret?" Irene asks. "Has he ever lashed out like this?"

Blaquesmith shakes his head, "This has never happened, child. I fear for him now... more than ever."

Irene shakes the tape recorder, "I'm... I'm gonna type another entry... just to get my mind off some things."

"Alright, Irene. I'll be in my lab."

Meanwhile...

A young couple in love walks the streets of Brooklyn, passionately holding each other's hand.

"Oh look! A shooting star, hon!" the female yells, pointing towards the night sky.

"Make a wish, shnookums!" the male (oy, shamefully) remarks.

The two kiss, but the "shooting star" they wished upon probably won't turn puppets into real boys; the flaming mass continues to plummet towards the ground.

The couple release themselves from their embrace and look at the sky as it seems brighter than usual at night. "OH MY GOD! RUN!!!!"

The two run as fast as they can, as the sound of metal against asphalt explode behind them. The force of the explosion knocks them over. The look behind them and see a transport of some sort. The hatch opens, revealing a large, gray creature.

The creature yells, "[People of Earth! I am--oh, whoops!]" He switches on his universal translator. "People of Earth! I am Boroh, Intergalactic Champion of the Universe! Send me your best warriors for the ultimate challenge -- a fight with me to the finish!"

The man runs up to the brute and shouts, "You better be in for one hell of a fight! Earth has millions of heroes that will fight you to the--"

*CRUNCH*

The man falls over, with his neck twisted a little too far... well, a lot too far backwards. Boroh smiles and laughs. The woman screams and runs away frantically.

"This shall be fun!"

NEXT ISSUE: We catch up with Cable as he hitchhikes across the country! Meanwhile, Boroh's first Universal Champion title match is against the one and only Rogue with Rachel in her corner! Move over, WWF!