Uncanny X-Men (Marvel Omega)

SuperNova, Part VIII

Morocco

Earlier, these six rogue X-Men – Cable, Nightcrawler, Jubilee, Fantomex, Deathbird, and Proteus – came to this small village in Morocco. Inside one of the huts, Proteus and Jubilee stand and look at Nightcrawler as he sleeps.

"I don't know how anyone can sleep at a time like this," says Proteus.

"Not like he has much of a choice," says Jubilee. "He was teleporting like, all day before we found him. Plus, he was teleporting two people. No wonder the guy's exhausted."

"This is bad, isn't it?" asks Proteus. "I mean, have you guys gone up against something like this before?"

"You kidding?" asks Jubilee. "Dude, someone betraying the X-Men has been like, our thing for years. Remind me to give you the skinny about the whole Onslaught thing some day. You're not turning scared rookie on me now, are you?"

"Hell no," says Proteus before he offers a little smile. "I'm looking forward to beating the shit out of Cassandra."

"Y'know something Pete, I think there's hope for you yet," says Jubilee. "You kinda remind me of me when I first hooked up with this outfit."

"Ease off, Jubes, are you trying to scare me off the X-Men?" asks Proteus. The two young mutants share a little chuckle at the good natured ribbing.

***

Outside the hut, Fantomex and Cable look into the air and watch Deathbird circle the village overhead. Fantomex moves his eyes away from Deathbird, and he eyes Cable somewhat cautiously. Fantomex is a new addition to the X-Men, and as such, he doesn't know of Cable's history with the team. However, Fantomex doesn't quite trust Cable – he thinks Cable's story is far too convenient.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," says Cable. "There a reason you're staring at me, ninja boy?"

"My reasons, like my thoughts, are my own," says Fantomex. He taps his forehead a few times. "I like to keep it that way if you catch my drift."

"You don't trust me, I get it," says Cable. "You might as well just come right out and say it instead of tiptoeing around it with these innuendos."

"Very well, I don't trust you," says Fantomex.

"Good, because I don't trust you, either," says Cable. "I don't like the idea that you're invisible to my telepathy."

"From where I'm standing, that's a good thing," says Fantomex. "It means if my suspicions are right about you, then I'm the only one you won't be able to control."

"And if my suspicions are right about you, then I won't know what you're planning until it's too late," says Cable.

Their conversation is broken as Deathbird lands in front of them, her scythe in hand. "The area's clean for now," she says. "I did a complete sweep of the village and the surrounding area. No jets, no one tracking us by foot, nothing."

"Good," says Cable. "Where are Jubilee and Proteus?"

"Right behind you," says Proteus.

"Just got your little mind-call," says Jubilee as she exits the hut and stands next to Proteus. "Kurt's still asleep, though."

"I know, let him rest," says Cable.

"We got a plan?" asks Jubilee.

"I'm going to try and get in touch with Blaquesmith," replies Cable. "Then we can bodyslide back to the Z'noxx Chamber and make our next move from there."

"I was wondering why we haven't gotten over there yet," says Proteus.

"I wanted Kurt to get some rest before we moved on," says Cable. He lifts his wrist to his mouth and activates the communicator on his glove. "Blaquesmith, this is Cable, you read me?"