Things were quiet for the X-men. When they finally landed on the roof of Forge's building, they were greeted by Bishop who looked like he had just been in a fight.
" Bishop what happened?" Scott asked.
" Got the Cuckoos' distress call from my ship and rushed to Dallas as fast I could. But when I arrived, Cable had already taken Forge out and was pillaging his equipment room. He and I fought, and I shot him a few times. Should've had him." Bishop explained.
" Don't beat yourself up, Lucas. Just tell us what happened." Scott told the man.
" Just as I was about to grab the baby, the Marauders ported in... And it all went to hell, Scott. I don't know how else to put it. By the time I came to and dragged myself out of the rubble, they were all gone. Even Cable. Though I doubt they took him with them." Bishop explained.
" Yeah, not too likely." Scott replied. " Their focus this entire time has been the baby."
" The future of our race and I let them get their hand on it. I failed." Bishop cursed himself for his own failure. He was angry and upset. But mostly angry.
" Listen, pull yourself together. This isn't over yet and I'm not giving up. So, I'm going to need everyone who can still stand up at this point." Scott told the man. " Emma, are you getting anything from Jamie?" Scott turned and asked the woman.
" You mean am I picking up any messages from the future?" Emma asked. " I wish. But no... He's basically brain-dead right now... I mean more so than usual."
Scott rubbed his chin and then turned back to Bishop.
" Is your ship still up and running?" Scott asked the man.
" Yeah? Why?" Bishop replied.
" Because we lost one of ours." Scott told the man. Scott then turned to Logan. " Logan, take X-Force and go with Bishop. His ship is faster than the blackbird." Scott told the man.
" Right, slim... Any idea where we're headin?" Logan asked the man.
" Not yet, but I want you in the air when I find out." Scott replied.
" You got it." Logan replied. He and Bishop walked out of the medical lab in Forge's tower and into the stairwell where the others were waiting. " All right. Let's go troops." Logan exclaimed.
Ian, Rahne, Laura, James, and Hepzibah all stood up and prepared to follow the men out. But James stopped Logan. He had something on his mind, and he wanted to share it.
" Not her." Warpath told Logan. " Hepzibah stays here." He already lost one friend He didn't want to lose another.
" No, I do not do that, James. I go with you." Hepzibah told the man.
" I can't put you in harm's way. Not after Caliban." James told the woman.
" Don't be idiot, James. I pick my fights. You best off not being one of them!" Hepzibah exclaimed.
" Listen to me." Jame spoke.
" What are you saying? What happened to Caliban?" Bishop asked, interjecting himself into the conversation.
" He's dead, Lucas." Logan told the man.
" My god." Bishop muttered.
" Yeah... So, let's move. And James, it ain't yer say who's on my squad. Hepzibah's got skills and like Slim said, we need everyone who can fight right now." Logan told the man.
James nodded and with a satisfied Hepzibah, followed Logan out to Bishop's ship. The final battle was quickly approaching.
It would be hours before Scott or the girls back at Xavier would find anything of importance that would help in locating the Marauders, but eventually Sinister slipped up and in a matter of moments, the girls were able to pinpoint their location.
" Muir Island, Lucas. You've got your heading. Get going, we'll be right behind you." Scott radioed to the airborne team.
" Copy that, Cyclops, we're on our way." Bishop replied.
" Scotland, lucky you Rahne. You get a free trip home." Logan joked.
" Aye, I could have wished for better circumstances for a homecoming, though." Rahne replied.
" What're you kidding?" Logan asked. " Heading for a major scrap to rescue a baby and save mutant kind? Kid, Circumstances don't get any better." Logan told the woman.
" Aye, maybe not. But damn did I wish it would have been Ireland. The emerald Island was always better." Ian spoke up.
" Och, ye idiot." Rahne slugged Ian right on his chest. And although she meant for it to be playful, Ian actually flinched hard and grunted.
" Agh!" Ian yelled and grabbed his side.
" Och dear, what is it?" Rahne asked.
Logan and the others looked at Ian and watched as he clutched onto the red bandages.
" Damn, I think you aggravated my wounds." Ian groaned.
" You gonna be alright?" Logan asked Ian.
Laura grabbed Ian's shoulder; concern was written all over her face.
And though it did hurt, Ian nodded.
" Yeah, I'll be fine. But when this is over, I'm gonna need a long vacation." Ian groaned.
" Good man." Bishop cheered.
Logan smirked and nodded at Ian.
" All right then, let's go."
a few hours later, after the sun had set and darkness arose, X-Force had finally landed on Muir Island.
" You sure they couldn't have tracked us landing here on Muir Island?" Logan asked Bishop.
" Positive. My ship's stealth capacity can't be pierced by any technology of this time." Bishop explained.
" Okay, you people. Stay tight and frosty. Two by two formation." Logan told the group.
" I'm not picking up any life readings in the area." Bishop explained.
" None? Are you sure?" Ian asked the man.
" Maybe they cleared out." Bishop stated.
" Maybe... Or." Logan spoke.
" Logan." Ian called out to the man.
" Yeah, kid." Logan replied.
Bishop questioned the two, the way they spoke made it seem like they were aware of something he wasn't.
" What is it?" Bishop asked.
" Well... Problem is that the Marauders have people who get into your head... Like Lady Mastermind, for instance. Make it seem like the area is deserted... Make you think your gizmo detects nobody, when it's screaming alarms." Logan explained to the man.
" So, you're saying." Bishop started.
" Yeah, you'd almost think this was a trap." Logan told the man.
" Yeah." Ian spoke." But what they don't know is, I can sense energy. Like the energy of a man made up of fire." Ian explained
Ian reached out his hand and grabbed the air in front of him and squeezed, while Logan thrusted his claws forward and pierced something.
And then it all came undone.
Logan had stabbed Lady Mastermind in her gut, undoing er telepathic illusion. And Ian had grabbed Sunfire by his throat.
With their ruse out of the way, the Marauders attacked X-Force.
" You know what to do X-Force!" Logan yelled.
Ian looked Sunfire in his eyes as he clutched his throat.
" I'm going to enjoy this more than you can imagine." Ian stated.
He tossed Sunfire into the crowd of mutants.
" Kill them all." Exodus exclaimed.
" Exodus." Ian smirked at the man and attacked him first, tackling the man away from the fight. ' Hear me, Exodus.' Ian allowed the man inside of his mind.
" You!" Exodus exclaimed.