The alien being known only as Warlock sat rigid in his chair, his techno-organic arms fused with the control panel of Cerebro. Rather than use Cerebro like most people do, by scouring the planet for mutant brainwaves, Warlock's techno-organic nature allows him to directly interface with the system, so he can process the data than anyone else currently inhabiting the X-Mansion.

Currently, he was searching for a possible murderer with mutant powers. According to the latest news broadcast, a man was found dead in an alleyway, killed by a mutant energy signature. With Cerebro, he was searching for any mutants around that area, though due to the fact that he wasn't telepathic, he couldn't scan the thoughts as well as the mutagenic signatures.

"How're ye holdin' up, 'Lock?" a young woman with an Irish accent asked. "Any luck yet?"

Warlock's mind instinctively processed the voice signature. Designate: Theresa Rourke/Sub-Designate: Siryn. Daughter of Banshee. Current leader of X-Force.

"I've got a few targets," Warlock replied. "But, without an available telepath to scan the thoughts of those targets, it's almost like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"Unfortunately, Phoenix is our only available telepath," Dani Moonstar stated. "But the X-Men aren't available right now."

"Then how are we gunna find this murderer?" Rahne Sinclair, called Wolfsbane interjected. Right now, these four were the only inhabitants of the X-Mansion, since the X-Men were off somehwere else.* They are all that remains of the mutant strike team called X-Force.

(* See current issues of M2K's X-Men Alpha - Dino)

"That's where I come in, Rahne," Dani replied. "With my mutant ability to form psionic projects of a person's hopes and fears, perhaps I can be of some assistance. I won't be as effective as Jean, but--"

"But it's our only chance," Terry noted. "Are ye sure yuir t' this, Dani?"

"Honestly, I'm not so sure..." she said. "That's not the point, though. It needs to be done, and I'm not about to back down when I'm needed."

Slowly, she lowered the Cerebro helmet onto her head. With a nod to Warlock, the machine was activated, and Dani suddenly felt a rush of images and thoughts. It was extremely painful for her to leaf through them all to try and locate the right one. She clenched her teeth as her powers began to pull 3-D images from the minds of the mutants Warlock had narrowed it down to. Is this how a telepath feels? Thoughts constantly forcing their way into your mind? With an extreme amount of control to block them out? She silently prayed for it to end. The ordeal was an incredible strain on the young woman's mind.

X-Force stood back as they watched their friend in obvious pain. Rahne instictively moved closer, ready to seperate Dani from Cerebro. When in her wolf-state, Rahne shared a telepathic link with Dani. Even though she was now in her human form, she could experience a fraction of the pain that Dani was being put through.

The images flashed by, one by one. Until, finally, a single image caught Terry's attention. It was a girl on her knees with a man lying on the ground in front of her. Her eyes were glowing brightly.

"STOP!!" Terry ordered. "Dani, hold that image!! 'Lock, try'n get a location!! Now let's get Dani out of that machine!!"

Rahne instantly went to her friend's aid, removing the Cerebro helmet from her.

"Dani...?"

"Just... gimme a... minute to... regain my s-strength..."

"Rahne, is she all right?"

"Aye," Rahne replied. "She's just exhausted, Terry. But, she'll be fine. If'n there's one thing I know 'bout Dani Moonstar, it's that she's a fighter."

"Got it!!" Warlock exclaimed. "She's in Niagra!!"

"Then... let's get going..." Dani said, slowly standing up. "The Hummingbird's... prepped..."

"Sorry Dani, but ye're sittin' this one out," Siryn retorted. "Ye've not yet regained yuir full strength back."

"No offense Terry..." Dani stated. "But I don't care for your assessment at this moment. You're short on members, and, like it or not, you're going to need my help. I'm coming with."

"...fine."

"Point: Dani," Warlock muttered.

Niagra Falls. It's a natural wonder, separating New York and Canada. People from all over the world come to witness this awe-inspiring work of nature.

However, this young woman isn't here for sight-seeing. Her name is Emily, and she is on the run. A few nights ago, her latent mutant powers to fire optic blasts emerged, taking the life of her father.

Behind her is the classic angry mob. Obvious supporters of the Neo-Humanist Party and Jonathan Lancaster. They know Emily killed her father, they know she's a mutant, and they want her dead for that.

She considered using her optic blasts on them, but decided against it. She never wanted to use her powers against another human again, even if they were prepared to kill her. Her father, the only person who had ever cared about her, who had ever shown her love and compassion, was gone. Dead by her own hand. She looked out over the falls, and realized she had two choices. She could either be beaten to death by the mob, or she could leap into Niagra Falls, plummeting to a death much quicker than the one these bigots would have chosen. Yet, perhaps they would simply badly beat her and leave her here to survive? She could either risk a beating and live, or die a quick, merciful death.

Not much of a choice, really, she thought as she leapt out into the falls. The fierce water was growing much closer, and she knew that soon, it would be over. She faintly heard a loud noise over the sound of rushing water, coming closer, perhaps police sirens?

Actually, this sound is a Siryn, the leader of X-Force. Using her mutant ability to emit a high frequency noise, Theresa Rourke is able to propel herself through the air, just the tactic she needs to rescue Emily before she falls to her death.

"Wolfsbane, Moonstar, keep the mob at bay!!" she shouted into a headset. "Warlock, bring the Hummingbird closer!!"

Emily was about to ask who Wolfsbane and Moonstar are, but she stopped herself when she saw a Native American woman and a wolf-girl fighting off the Neo-Humanists. Before her, she saw a jet of some kind hovering there. The hatch opened, and Siryn flew inside it, placing the young woman down.

"Are ye all right, lass?" she asked.

"Yeah, I think so..." Emily replied. "But who are you people?"

"Me name is Siryn, the leader o' X-Force. That's Warlock up there pilotin' our ship, an' down there fightin' of yuir friends is Moonstar an' Wolfsbane."

"Y'know, this may be sort of a crazy question to ask, then again, I've been called pretty crazy myself... But shouldn't we be helping Rahne an' Dani?"

"Aye, 'Lock," Siryn stated. "Take us in, closer, an' leave 'em ta me."

The Hummingbird manuevered just near the edge of the falls, and Siryn leapt out, using her sonic scream to assist her teammates.

I've got to help them out... Emily thought. They're risking their lives to save me, it's time I returned the favor, regardless of my powers.

She saw Warlock still sitting at the controls, his arms merged with the control panel. If she was to get out of here, she would have to do it quickly.

She looked out of the hatch, over the water. Briefly, she wondered if she would be able to make the jump, or if she would simply fall. She watched as Siryn, Moonstar, and Wolfsbane fought off the mob. Then, she made a decision--summoning up all her courage and the need to help her newfound friends, her eyes began to glow. Then, dual blasts fired forth from her retinas. As they shot out, she took notice of something--the beams were blue. When she accidentally killed her father, they were red.

A sudden shift in the plane's trajectory caused Emily to fall back, her blast misdirected, striking Siryn. The Irish woman seemed unaffected though. And Emily felt something instictive. She moved back and broke into a sprint towards the hatch, leaping out in the air. As she began to fall, she emitted a scream from deep within her throat, allowing her to levitate herself in the air. As she continued to fly upwards, she used her sonic scream to assault the mob, aiding Siryn.

The assault of the four women caused the mob to back down, running off. Screams of, "damn muties" and "burn in hell" were shouted as they retreated.

Once they departed, Warlock landed the Hummingbird and rejoined the group.

"Thank ye f'r th' assist," Siryn said.

"It's the least I could do after you saved me," Emily replied. "But, I have no idea HOW I got your powers."

"I think that what happened might be your powers," Dani said. "You can probably take on another mutant's abilities when you strike them with your energy blasts. But we can't be sure until we return to the Mansion and have Dr. McCoy run some tests on her."

"But, the beams were red the first time I used them," Emily interjected. "That's how my father died... When they first emerged, that's when he was struck with them... But now, he's gone, and I've got no place to go."

"Nae," Wolfsbane retorted. "Ye're a mutant, like the lot o' us, an' that means that there's a home for ye with X-Force."

"I'm... honored..." Emily said.

"Welcome to X-Force, Emily," Moonstar stated.

"Call me Siphon."

"Now, let's get back ho--"

Before Moonstar could finish her sentance, she noticed a strange object fell from the sky, landing in the Canadian wilderness across the falls.

"Query: are we--"

"Do ye even have tae ask, 'Lock?" Wolfsbane stated, as she broke into a sprint.

NEXT ISSUE: X-Force crosses the Canadian border to find themselves hunted by a masked killer!!