Osaka
One Week Ago

The common term for places like this is a hostess bar or snack bar. Places where lonely businessmen can spend several thousand yen an hour in order to talk to beautiful young women. Some are simply places for conversation but others, like this one, are prostitution fronts run by Yakuza clans.

The British expatriate who sat with beautiful young Japanese women on either side seemed perfectly at home here. He held a glass with Suntory whiskey in one hand, the ice rattling around with each sip. His other arm was draped around one of the women.

“I think we need another round here,” he said in perfect Japanese. “Also, I seem to be out of Silk Cuts. Anyone got a cigarette I can borrow?”

The girl his arm was draped around reached for a pack of Mild Sevens on the table. She placed it between his lips and lit it for him.

“You, my dear, are too kind,” he said.

She smiled and placed her hand on his upper thigh. “I can be even kinder.”

“Wouldn't that be something,” he said. “I love Japan, the people are so...accommodating.”

“We like Englishmen here,” said the one who sat on his other side, rubbing his chest.

“I can see that,” he said.

“What is your work?”

“Well, if you must know, I'm a spy.”

“Like James Bond?”

He winked at her. “Better. The name's Wisdom. Pete Wisdom.”

{This is growing pretty tiresome.}

“Just relax, love,” said Wisdom as he wrapped his arms around both girls, pulling them tight and acting as if he was speaking to them. “This night is going perfectly well.”

“Have you been to Japan before?” asked one of the girls.

“Been a few years but yeah,” he said. “But I came here because I thought a mate of mine died. Then it turns out he had just disappeared for a spell. Now, I find out he's back and I came to surprise him.”

“Oh really?”

“Gospel truth, love.”

“So where is your friend tonight?”

“I've been here for two weeks, haven't had much luck tracking him down yet,” said Wisdom. “I know he comes to places like this a lot, so I thought I might run into him.” He paused for a moment to take a sip of his whiskey and a drag on his cigarette. “Say, maybe one of you knows him? Not the most social guy. His name's Ken. Ken Harada.”

The girls both pulled away, their expressions betraying their words. “I—I don't know anyone named Harada.”

“Somehow, I don't believe you,” said Wisdom. He drew on the cigarette again and blew out a few tiny smoke rings. “I want you to tell him Pete Wisdom came to leave some flowers at his grave before he found out the sod's back among the living.”

“B-but we don't know him.”

Wisdom sighed. “Right. Then find someone who does. Now get moving.” He raised his finger and it began to glow white-hot and elongate. “Don't make me ask twice.”

The girls both scampered off into the back room. Wisdom sat back against the couch, sipping his whiskey and smoking his cigarette. He watched as the other girls began to shoo the customers towards the door, telling them they should go outside for air. Soon, the place was empty save for the bartender, who ducked down.

“Very interesting,” said Wisdom.

The door to the back room opened and a tall, imposing Japanese man stepped out, clutching a katana blade that crackled with energy. “Wisdom.”

“Hello there, Kenuchio,” said Wisdom. “You get a chance at reincarnation and you decide to return to that ugly sack of skin?”

“You have five seconds to explain yourself before I relieve your neck of the burden your head places on it.”

*CHK*

“I think not,” said Wisdom. A featureless black figure dropped from the ceiling, pointing a gun at Harada's head. The figure's form shifted, transforming into a woman with indigo skin, burgundy hair, yellow eyes and a white leather jumpsuit. “I believe you know Mystique.”

Wisdom stood and a cloud seemed to fly off him, forming into a young woman wearing a burka. “And this is Dust.”

“What do you want?” asked Harada.

“Information,” said Wisdom.

Marvel 2000 Proudly Presents

COLD WAR
Part Two

By Dino Pollard

The Triskelion
Today

“Japan?” asked Fury.

“Yeah, we found out that the Hellfire Club was shipping the Sentinel materials from Africa to Osaka, before being smuggled into other countries as prosthetics” said Wisdom.

“And the Silver Samurai?”

“After that business between the X-Men and Deus, dead mutants all over the world started popping up.”

“Except Harada was killed long before the Hecatomb.”

“Even ones who weren't killed in the Hecatomb were resurrected. Strange thing is it didn't seem to matter if they had been buried or cremated, didn't matter how they died, just seemed to resurrect anyone the wave chose. If you ask me, seems like there's something mystical there as well.”

“Since when do you believe in magic?” asked Fury.

“I saw some really fucked up things when I was with Excalibur, mate.”

“How did you know Harada was one of the resurrected?”

“Heard a rumor, know a guy who knows a guy whose brother worked for the Clan Yashida when Harada turned up to take back control,” said Wisdom.

“Sounds like very reliable intel.”

“Obviously it was.”

“But still, why Harada?” asked Fury.

“Even despite Harada and Mariko's efforts to clean it up, the Clan's still got underworld ties. Mariko tried to sever them completely but Harada understood the need to keep some things intact. And for the kind of smuggling operation the HFC was doing, they'd need some help in Japan. And with Psylocke in charge of both the Hand and the Jigoku, they knew they were up shit creek there. So they needed to go through the traditional Yakuza routes. Which, under normal circumstances, the Samurai would have picked up on.”

“Except they didn't know he was alive.”

“He did a good job of keeping his tracks covered, the HFC had no idea, didn't even suspect,” said Wisdom. “He's been spending the time he's been back secretly rejoining the Clan Yashida, taking it back piece by piece. I bet not even SHIELD knew about it, right?”

Fury said nothing.

“That's what I thought. For all the HFC's money and even with SHIELD's global reach and all those fancy toys you've got, nothing turns up more reliable intelligence than good old fashioned assets.”

“So you, Mystique and Dust made contact with the Samurai,” said Fury. “What about Sabretooth, Maverick, Brass and Weapon X?”

“They were doing their job, tracking down Tessa and Astra. And they were doing it in their...unique way.”

Osaka
One Week Ago

A beautiful day out, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, it seemed like nothing could go wrong.

Until, of course, a Japanese man went flying out the top floor window of a corporate boardroom, plummeting to the streets below and his eventual death.

Up in the boardroom itself, a large, burly man with straggly blond hair, fangs, and razor-sharp claws took the seat of the man he just threw out—literally. He wore a tank-top and jeans and rested his massive feet, clad in heavy work boots, on the table.

“So...does anyone else take issue with my presence on the floor?” he asked. His Japanese was gruff, but otherwise very good. Not one of the men seated around the table offered a single objection and Victor Creed smiled. “Good to know. Brass?”

Sean Watanabe began speaking in his native tongue. “We don't wish to harm any of you. As long as you cooperate, you will not be injured. Now, are you going to cooperate?”

Nods in the affirmative followed and Brass smiled. “Smart. We're looking for a woman your company has a connection to. A woman named Tessa. She represents an organization known as the Hellfire Club. Do you know who we're talking about?”

No answers came.

“An uncomfortable silence,” said Sabretooth, still in Japanese. He stood from his seat and began to circle the table. “I'm not real big on uncomfortable silences. See, uncomfortable silences make me...well, uncomfortable. Never been big with words, so if someone's not talkin', I feel the need to fill that silence with something else.”

He stopped behind one of the men. His massive hands gripped the poor executive by his shoulders and threw him on the table. Sabretooth leapt on top of him and uttered a loud growl, like that of a lion, causing the man to freeze in terror. He ran the back of his claw along the man's face.

“Tell me somethin', pal,” he said. “You ever been ass-raped by way of an office chair?”

The man's eyes widened in horror.

“Creed, we've got what we came for,” said Brass, switching to English.

“What? Already?” asked Sabretooth. He looked down at the man. “Dammit...was gonna get me an ear, too.”

The four men left the office and walked out into the hallway as Brass explained the situation. “Once Creed started threatening them, their thoughts of Tessa were loud enough for both Weapon X and I to pick up with our telepathy.”

“So where are we going?” asked Maverick.

Brass pressed the call button for the elevator. “A Yakuza boss has a house just outside of town. That's probably where she's holed up.”

The Triskelion
Today

“So you put a bloodthirsty sociopath on a SHIELD mission.”

“You said I could pick my own team, Fury,” said Wisdom.

“Yeah, as long as I know who's on it!”

Wisdom lit a fresh Pall Mall. “Need-to-know basis, Nicky. Creed was very effective in getting us the intelligence we need. That company was helping the HFC smuggle the Sentinel parts as prosthetics. Neither Brass nor Weapon X is powerful enough to dig through people's minds effectively. We needed to put those men in a situation where their thoughts would basically broadcast themselves.”

“And in the process, he killed a man to do it,” said Fury.

“We do what we have to,” said Wisdom. “If it makes you feel any better, that was the man in charge of this company's connections to Tessa. Unfortunately, SHIELD had to go and make our lives even more difficult.”

“Team X wasn't my idea.”

“No, but you put us in that situation,” said Wisdom.

“The problem, Wisdom, came with your team. You were betrayed by one of the people you thought would be a good recruit,” said Fury. “Or did you conveniently forget that part?”

Wisdom narrowed his eyes. “What the bloody hell do you think?”

Osaka
One Week Ago

“How did you know?” asked Harada.

The Silver Samurai sat with Wisdom, Mystique and Dust at a low table only about a foot off the ground. They all knelt down on the floor of the tatami mat room. On the table before them was a bottle of warm sake and each of them held a small glass. One of the girls from Harada's snack bar filled the glasses.

“Just lucky, I guess,” said Wisdom. “But once I found out you were also part of the great escape from the netherworld, I had a feeling you could help us out as well.”

“And how would that be?” asked Harada.

“The Hellfire Club,” said Mystique. “They're smuggling Sentinel technology—weapon systems, gene scanners, things of that nature—from Genosha. It's found its way to the black market.”

“And it's going to people who shouldn't have it,” said Wisdom. “We encountered it in Burma.”

“Hardly fills me with confidence,” said Harada. “But what do you expect me to do about it?”

“They're bringing it through Japan, so that means they've got Yakuza help,” said Wisdom. “And as I'm sure you've discovered, this is something the Hand wouldn't take part in.”

“Correct,” said Harada. “A lot's changed since my death.”

“We know Tessa's behind it, but we also know she traditionally doesn't work alone,” said Mystique. “But Shaw isn't involved. This doesn't serve his interests.”

“Are you certain of that?” asked Harada. “This strikes me as the sort of scheme that has Shaw's name written all over it.”

“We already checked him, he's clean,” said Mystique.

Harada raised an eyebrow. “When?”

“What's that?”

“When did you check him?”

“An associate of ours took a trip through his mind a few weeks back in Genosha,” said Wisdom. “Said he was telling the truth.”

“That's not possible.”

“We have him under watch, Kenny,” said Wisdom. “I don't know what you've heard, but Shinobi Shaw hasn't left Geno—”

“Stop,” said Harada, raising his hand. “You were speaking of Shinobi Shaw?”

“Who else?”

“I was speaking of his father.”

“His father's dead,” said Wisdom.

“Hmm, I wonder how he might have avoided that fate?” asked Harada.

“...oh bollocks...”

The Japanese-style house was large and opulent, with armed guards patrolling the grounds. Maverick, Brass, Sabretooth and Weapon X stood on a hilltop just outside the perimeter, watching and planning their move.

“We need to split up,” said Maverick. “Brass, you and Sabretooth go in through the front. Cause a big enough distraction to make it easier for Weapon X and I to slip in unnoticed via the back way.”

“Not to sound like a coward, but considering you've got more firepower and more offensive powers than me, shouldn't you be leading the charge through the front?” asked Brass.

“Believe me, I'd like nothing more,” said Maverick. “But these are just hired thugs, nothing you probably couldn't handle alone. And each of us should have a telepath with us, plus Weapon X is more adept at stealth missions than you are.”

“Don't sweat it, kid.” Sabretooth slapped Brass on the back, almost knocking him over. “Ol' Uncle Vic'll take good care of you.”

Brass hurled a grenade at the front entrance and the guards scattered just before it exploded. Sabretooth leapt into the fray and the guards opened fire. He moved with a speed belaying his massive size, the razor-sharp claws that adorned his fingertips shredding through the guards, cutting them to pieces.

Brass came in after, armed with his katana sword. Creed drew the majority of the gunfire, allowing Brass to move through virtually unmolested and take on the guards while their attention was diverted. As he moved, he relayed a telepathic message.

On the other side of the house, Weapon X received Brass' message. He motioned with his hand for Maverick to follow him and then took the lead, expanding the forcefield under his feet to boost him onto the roof of the house. Maverick fired a grapple line and followed him.

Weapon X leaned over the edge of the roof, reaching his hands out at a closed window. His forcefield extended from his fingertips and flattened, allowing it to slide beneath the window. It reached around inside and unlocked it, and he pushed it open before jumping in. Maverick followed suit.

They found themselves in a tatami room. Swords, boken, staffs, and other weapons adorned the walls. Before they took another step, Weapon X raised his hand to halt Maverick. The sliding doors opened and a man walked in, wearing the kimono of a samurai. His dark hair was even tied in the traditional knot. However, his features were distinctly European, as were the woman who stood by his side, her pale skin almost white and a sharp contrast to her black hair and the marks under her eyes.

“Good evening, we've been expecting you gentlemen,” said the man. “Allow me to introduce myself—my name is Sebastian Shaw and this is my associate, Tessa.”

Weapon X was about to launch into an attack but he found his body would not respond to his commands.

“That would be my doing,” said Tessa. “The brain is a fairly advanced computer, one I can manipulate with relative ease. Especially one as primal as yours. You will find it's impossible for you to break out of that pose unless I allow you.”

She smiled slightly. “Sebastian, this young man is wondering how we were ready for their arrival.”

“Then perhaps we should tell him.”

“Don't bother, Shaw,” said Maverick, raising his Glock.

Shaw raised his eyebrow. “An interesting turn of events, Mr. Nord.”

“This was the plan all along,” said Maverick, keeping his eyes and gun trained on Shaw. “Send X-Force around the planet on a wild goose chase. Unfortunately for the Hellfire Club, we got wise to the game. So instead, you decided another tactic—turning SHIELD against us.”

“We had some help on the inside,” said Shaw.

“I know,” said Maverick. “I'm sorry, but now it has to end.”

He turned the gun from Shaw and pointed it at Weapon X. The young man called Brandon relayed a single thought to his supposed teammate. Maverick sighed. “Because there's nothing more pathetic than a soldier without a war.”

*BLAM*