"How is the subject responding?"

"Adamantium bonding would be too dangerous, he would die instantly."

"Scans show that he possesses an x-factor gene."

"Yes, he has the potential for powerful, telepathic abilities. However, it may take years before he can fully develop them."

"Let's try to see if we can speed it up, then."

His eyes snapped open. The sun was blinding him. He couldn't remember when he had last been out during the day.

His name is unknown to him. However, he has the alias of Weapon-X. He wears a skintight costume which emits a forcefield around his body. He is able to warp this forcefield to his will, creating nearly anything out of it.

Recently, he attacked the mutant heroes known as X-Force. He saw them, and thought they might be after him, to try and take him back. He couldn't allow that.

"Hey, looks like our guest is awake," Warlock stated. "Hiya!"

Weapon-X said nothing, just glared at the alien being.

"Oooookay...." Warlock said, turning away. "Gonna leave silent, morbid guy alone."

"Just as well, 'Lock," Siryn said. "We need tae get moving. We've got tae find where this object landed. For all we know, it could be dangerous. Rahne--"

"Dani's fine, Ter," Wolfsbane replied. "Just a bit weak. I'm not too sure that she should come with us, though."

"I'm fine, Rahne," Moonstar stated.

"Ye're pushing yourself to yuir limits," Siryn noted. "Ye cannae keep up like this."

"Umm... guys?" Warlock stated.

"I know my limits, Terry," Moonstar replied. "And I'm still in good enough shape to help out."

"If ye keep pushin' yourself, who knows what might happen!" Siryn exclaimed.

"Guys...?" Warlock said again.

"Look, you need me," Moonstar said. "Em hasn't gone through any training, and we're not sure if Weapon-X is friend or foe."

"GUYS!!!" Warlock exclaimed.

"What is it?" they asked in unison.

"My sensors have located something."

"Hmm... interesting..."

He ran a gloved hand over the object. It had a series of odd symbols on it.

"Alien in nature... I wonder..."

He stopped. There was something coming closer. In an instant, he vanished in a flash of light.

Warlock was the first to arrive, a horn extending from the side of his head.

"It's over yonder!" he stated.

"Ach..." Wolfsbane muttered as she moved closer. She was crouched down, transformed into her wolf-girl state. "Honestly 'Lock, can ye be serious for at least a bit?"

"Now where would be the fun in that?" Warlock asked.

"Look..." Moonstar broke in. She moved closer to the object. "That must be it."

"What is it?" Siphon asked.

"Some sort of space pod," Moonstar replied. "There's some odd writing on it. It's definitely alien in nature. Possibly Shi'ar."

"Hold on a sec..." Siphon stated. "You DID just say alien, right? As in from space?"

She nodded.

"I think I have a headache..."

"That's a side effect of wearin' an X on yuir uniform," Siryn noted with a slight chuckle.

"So... now you're telling me that aliens exist?" Siphon asked.

"Well... yeah," Warlock replied. "I'm an alien."

"You are...?" Siphon asked.

"What'd you think I was?" Warlock asked.

"Well... I dunno..." Siphon replied. "I thought maybe you were just a mutant who could shape-shift."

"Mmmmmm nope," Warlock stated. "I'm full, 100% alien. Well, maybe not full, but... that's a long story."

Weapon-X leapt through the air, landing in front of the team. Wolfsbane instantly got into a defensive position.

"Hold on a minute, Rahne," Moonstar stated telepathically. "Look, his back is to us."

He slowly stood, a hand pointing towards the woods.

"What's going on?" Siphon asked.

"I think he senses something..." Siryn replied. "We-"

He put up a hand to silence her. That same hand closed into a fist as his forcefield began to materialize around it. He shot the arm forward, and the forcefield extended out, forming into a spike as it slammed through several trees.

"What are ye doin'?" Siryn asked.

"I believe he's looking for me, Ms. Rourke."

He appeared behind them, the straps which composed his cape flowing about his body. Once, he was Nathaniel Essex, a Victorian scientist. Now, he was the mad geneticist known as...

"Sinister!" Siryn exclaimed.

"So, you six comprise the new X-Force, I understand," he stated. "Siryn, Moonstar, Wolfsbane, Warlock, Weapon-X, and..."

He looked at Siphon.

"...You, my dear, are a mystery," he continued.

"How is it you know about Weapon-X?" Moonstar asked.

"Do you honestly think that I'd be oblivious to what goes on in a place like Department H?" Sinister asked with a chuckle. "Now, if you don't mind, I will be taking this pod, as well as its occupant. And your teammate shall be joining me as well."

"The name's Siphon, pal!!" she exclaimed, unleashing an optic blast. "And there's no chance in hell I'll be going anywhere with you!!"

"Impressive, child," Sinister stated. "But not impressive enough."

He lifted his arm, sending out a powerful blast at Siphon.

"Hit 'em hard!!" Siryn ordered, unleashing her sonic scream.

"Children, children," Sinister calmly said as he took down Siryn and Wolfsbane with relative ease. "Don't you realize how pointless this is?"

"Yeah..." Warlock said, his arm forming into a battering ram as it slammed into their enemy. "But what can I say? Kids these days are stubborn."

"We'll never bow down to you!!" Moonstar shouted, unleashing several psionic arrows in unison. In her weakened state, that was about all she could muster. And against Sinister, she wasn't sure how well it would fare.

Weapon-X watched on as this happened. He could pick up thoughts from X-Force. They were good people, they could help him. With Sinister, all he saw was the same evil that was responsible for what he has become. He knew who the enemy was, and he wouldn't stand for it.

Leaping into the air, his forcefield became extremely jagged, covered with spikes. Then, those same spikes shot off from it, flying through the mad geneticist.

"I see that suit of yours works well," Sinister noted. "It's so nice to see Department H using technology to their advantage."

His eyes began to glow, and an energy blast emitted from them, engulfing Weapon-X. Moving over to the fallen Siphon, he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Then, he looked down at the rest of X-Force, his hand beginning to crackle with energy.

"So much potential wasted..." he stated, shaking his head. "It's sad, really."

Before he could fire, Weapon-X noticed the space pod opening. And then, a massive discharge of energy exploded from it, striking Sinister hard.

NEXT ISSUE: Who's inside the pod? And is he friend or foe?