The Safehouse.

"NATHAN!!" Irene and Blaquesmith collectively shout in joy as the Askani'son limps over to greet the greatest confidants he's ever had. His costume is torn and burnt in many places, and he has some wounds on his face and left leg and on his chest, but all in all, he is alive.

Cable smiles as he hugs Irene and swells with pride when Blaquesmith tells him he's proud of him. Suddenly, Rachel, wearing one of Irene's outfits (just a black shirt with khakis pants), runs up to Cable and hugs him as well. "I'm so proud of you, brother!" she says as she squeezes tightly around Cable's sore shoulders.

"Thanks, but I'm really not to thank--" Cable spurts out.

"Oh, come on!" Irene protests. "Everyone's ecstatic about this!"

"Yes, but no one really knows what happened," Cable says. "I faced Deathglare one on one..."

"But the Avengers were there to meet up with you and congratulate you," Irene says.

"Yeah, and now the press thinks they stopped Deathglare," Cable says. "Maybe it's better that way. The public doesn't need to know what he truly was."

"But, you have to do something--" Irene was about to say.

"No... I can't be in the public's eye... I can't..." Cable sternly says.

"Nathan, perhaps this could ease the mutant-human relations," Rachel suggests.

"Yes, but when everyone finds out how powerful I really am, they'll get scared." Cable stares at the Mother Askani, the woman who basically made him what he was. "I could somehow hold back the techno-virus with sheer will... and I destroyed Deathglare with my full potential..."

Rachel looks at the floor offhandedly. Blaquesmith looks at her. "What?" he asks.

"You mean you didn't even know?" Cable asks his mentor.

Blaquesmith shakes his head. Rachel speaks up, "Before I switched places with Brian Braddock in the timestream, where I would eventually wind up in the far future,* the Phoenix Force told me that you were quite powerful... and that you could potentially destroy yourself with your own energy... when you arrived in the 40th Century, I debated with other Askani officials and we concluded that Apocalypse's warped transmode virus would actually keep you alive."

(* Check Excalibur #75, and the X-Men: Phoenix Mini #1-3 -- Brad)

"Why was I cloned?" Cable asks.

"A mere backup. The clone was engineered to be slightly weaker -- although as we've seen, it was still quite powerful... and evil," Rachel says.

"Yeah, just like yourself!" Cable's subconscious taunts him.

Cable peers into his sister's green eyes. "What's my purpose? Am I a modern-day Christ or what?"

Rachel tries to calm her brother, "Nathan--"

"I just want an answer, obviously you know more than any of us. The Powers-That-Be organized my forging into a hero... Aéulgo's alluded to that," Cable says. "Have you ever wondered how or why you ended up in that future under Apocalypse's rule? Braddock was trapped in the timestream, not in our future... you were lured there..."

Rachel sighs, "Let's just cool it, Nathan. I think you need to relax. You've been through a lot. We'll talk about this later. Tomorrow."

The next morning.

After a hot shower, the putting on of fresh clothes, and a few bandages, Cable bodyslides to the surface and takes a walk on the Manhattan streets. Everyone he sees seems to be upbeat, more than usual. That's saying a lot for New Yorkers.

Cable can't help but notice that there are no police sirens blaring in the distance. Cable shrugs and smiles to himself. A quick telepathic scan for hostile thoughts turns up nothing. Come on...this can't be right..., Cable thinks to himself.

A young Hispanic boy runs into Cable and drops what he was carrying. "O-oops!" the young boy says as he quivers in the shadow of the brute.

Cable smiles and picks up the boy's backpack. "Here ya go, kid."

The boy seems scared to take it, but eventually nabs it and runs for the hills. "You're welcome," Cable mutters softly.

Cable gets on the subway and goes to Central Park for a little R and R. People actually didn't try to pull anything during the subway ride. Cable was actually wanting a crime to take place so that he could do something.

This is kind of depressing. Not a single thing for me to prevent or save.

Cable walks a little ways more, then finally parks it on a bench. Some pigeons descend and begin to nibble on anything they can find. One actually has the {censored} to land on Cable's head! Cable slowly flicks the annoyance away with his finger, causing it to {censored} on his head.

Cable telekinetically repels the guano off of his hair and back at the bird, making it squawk and fly away. You're lucky I'm in a good mood...Damn it, this sucks! Where's the action?!

Later.

The battle has been going on for hours. Cable's almost out for the count. The battle has fatigued him. All that stands between him and victory is... twenty-five cents?

"Sonofa!" Cable growls as he punches the side of the Mortal Kombat arcade machine.

"Dude, you've been at this forever," a little kid with a backwards hat sneers. "And I keep beatin' you every time!"

"The... the damn joystick's broken on my side! Look! Hey, you got a quarter?! I need a quarter, quick! My time's almost run out!" Cable shouts frantically.

"Sorry man," the kid says, trying not to laugh.

"...come on, Kenny!"

Cable's thoughts are suddenly shifted towards that voice. Stacey?!? Cable weeds through the various ankle-biters towards the sound of his lost love's voice. It's like an elegant song to him. Sure enough, Stacey Kramer was holding her younger brother, Kenny's, hand as they tried to get out of the arcade and back onto the streets. Apparently, Aéulgo kept his word.*

(* Which was discussed in Cable #10 -- Brad)

Cable cups his hands around his mouth, trying to amplify his voice, "STACEY!!!" Too bad kids make a lot of commotion. Stacey and Kenny continue to walk away. Cable weeds through more preteens and comes to the open street, with no sign of Stacey or Kenny.

After a telepathic scan, Cable finds out where they are. Cable begins running for the corner, where there's a large crowd waiting for the walk-signal to flash. Cable just happens to spot Stacey. When he finally reaches her, he is too afraid to talk to her. What if she blames me for her getting killed?*

(* Way back in my first issue of Cable -- Nostalgic Brad)

Luckily, it's Kenny who breaks the silence barrier. "Nathan!!!" he shouts joyfully. Stacey swings around, alarmed. When she sees Cable's face, she gasps.

She quickly grabs Kenny's hand and begins to run towards the other side of the street with the rest of the crowd. "Come on, Kenny."

"Stacey, wait!" Cable shouts, trying to catch up to her.

"Get away from us, you sicko! Don't make me call the cops, you stalker!" Stacey yells.

"But that's Nathan, Stacey, doncha 'member?" Kenny pleads.

"I don't know any Nathan, let's go, Kenny!" Stacey shouts as she hurriedly crosses the rest of the street and proceeds to her apartment. Cable stops at the other side of the street as he sees Stacey run away from him, out of his life... again. His heart sinks.

"She doesn't remember me, does she, Aéulgo?" Cable asks.

"How did you know I was here?" Aéulgo asks.

"You're always here."

Aéulgo sighs as the wind blows against his street clothes. Cable figures he must have transformed his clothes to blend in now that he was in the mortal world.* "No, she doesn't remember you at all. There were certain rules I had to abide by when I brought her back. I'm sorry to say it, but defeating Nagruha didn't mean you could gain everything. And I mean that in the kindest way possible, Nathan."

(* Check Cable #10 where Aéulgo enters our dimension physically for the first time -- Brad)

"I understand," Cable says as he walks with Aéulgo down the street. "I notice your voice has that godly tone..."

Aéulgo smiles, "All thanks to you, Nathan."

"You didn't tell me I could manipulate the Fifth Force," Cable says.

"I couldn't. I had to choose my words very carefully while I was around you. No offense, but you already know too much." Aéulgo peers at the sky. "I suppose it was worth it... you wouldn't have defeated Nagruha if I didn't take you to the Fifth Dimension and show you what your full potential was."

"Is he really dead?"

Aéulgo somberly shakes his head. "You only ended his mortal life. But don't despair, he's imprisoned by the Powers-That-Be in the Fifth Dimension indefinitely."

"Well, that's good," Cable says as he approaches a hot dog vendor. "I'll have one with everything on it."

"Comin' up, chief," the vendor says with a smile as he goes to work to assemble the ultimate dog.

Cable awkwardly asks Aéulgo, "Um... you want one?"

"One what?"

"You do eat, don't you? I mean you have to use that mouth of yours for more than just flappin' it all eternity."

Aéulgo gets a disgusted look on his face, "I'll... pass..."

Cable pays the vendor and takes his pig intestinal delight, topped with mustard, ketchup, and three different kinds of relishes. "Suit yourself." Cable downs it in four bites. He licks his fingers. "Hot damn! Well, if hot dogs don't tickle your fancy, you've GOT to try some deep-dish pizza!"

"Cable...," Aéulgo laughs, "I--there's a more serious reason why I'm here with you today."

"Well what is it?"

"I want you to kill me."

The Safehouse.

Rachel Summers look at her face in the mirror. She touches the side of her face and smiles. Her skin felt smooth again. But there is an emptiness in her soul. She no longer possesses the Phoenix Force.

Irene walks past the bathroom, only to spot Rachel and walk up behind her. "Hi," Irene says awkwardly. Irene's known Rachel only through myths and lore Cable has told her... seeing her alive in person is sort of overwhelming.

Rachel continues to smile. "The Hound marks are gone!" *

(* In Rachel's timeline, Ahab had brainwashed Rachel and turned her into one of his mutant-tracking Hounds. Tattoos all over her face signified that... until now, of course. Brad.)

"What?" Irene asks.

"Nevermind. I'm glad to meet you. Blaquesmith says you are one of Nathan's best friends," Rachel says.

Irene smiles, "Same here." Irene looks at the floor, "So... you started the Askani, huh?"

"Yes," Rachel answers.

"Um... cool...," Irene responds.

"Kill you?!?!" Cable exclaims.

"Think, Nathan! What is wrong with the world? Haven't you noticed it? I can't be here! I only came here to help stop Nagruha... I'm interfering with the natural course of your universe... my influence is--"

"Making everyone... good?" Cable asks.

"Precisely! So you see that for the universal forces to be balanced again--"

"I have to kill you...," Cable finishes. "Is there another way? I really don't think I can hurt an innocent person..."

"Aw, come on, party-pooper! Have a little fun!" Cable's darkside haunts.

"This has to be done, Nathan. Do you want to enjoy your life? I've noticed that you've been quite bored since Nagruha was stopped. The reason for living is to be challenged and then to solve the challenge! That's the way it's been since the birth of your universe. There is no challenge here! I must be returned to my rightful place!"

Cable remains silent.

"Outside heroism, what is there for you? Do you want your life wasted?"

"Maybe it's a good thing that you're here at full power. Your influence can--"

"NO! I must be destroyed! I cannot live here! I can't! Your universe would die! The forces of good would overpower the dark forces, causing a universal catastrophe!"

"Aw, just kill the ol' bean if it'll shut him up!" Cable's darkside whispers.

Aéulgo tears his shirt off, revealing a muscular body. Cable gets an awkward look on his face, "Um..."

"Aim for my heart. Use your techno-virus. The Celestial-based nanotechnology will kill me... hurry! Before I get too powerful!"

"Do it, ya pansy! You couldn't kill a fly with a wreckin' ball! Do it! Do it! Do it!!!"

"DO IT!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Cable growls as he forms his left hand into a techno-organic syringe, piercing Aéulgo in the chest. Nathan watches as the god slumps to his knees in agony. Cable breathes shakily. "I'm sorry..."

Aéulgo grasps his chest as his body begins to be consumed by the virus. "You.... did..... the right...... thing........... *urk*..... *cough*..... *gak*......"

Cable looks to the side. He said he was desensitized to death... but this was an exception... this was an innocent life... even if it was a god's.

There was an explosion of light that Cable was familiar with. When it cleared, Cable could hear the police sirens again. Clouds condensed together and thunder rumbled. There was balance in the universe... but is there balance within Cable's soul?

Cable smiles sinisterly. I'm free...

Wow! What a ride! My entire run thus far from Cable #1-12, right up to the present 2001 Annual has been a blast! And don't think I'm gonna stop here! Deathglare was just the beginning. Cable's gonna have to deal with some pretty serious adversaries in the future -- and in Cable #13, his first new enemy is his own darkside! Don't miss it!