Chapter 17
They emerged just in time to watch the structure that was Gideon's pride and joy sway against the crimson dawn, sparkling in the growing light, then abruptly crash into shining shards as it collapsed into itself. Dusting themselves off, and glad that the collateral damage hadn't pulled them into it, Deadpool held up his hand for a high-five. After a moments consideration, Cable reciprocated, feeling the merc with a mouth had earned it. All this time, Deadpool's power had been doing it's thing - sealing ruptures, regrowing the missing bits his internal organs depended upon to get anything done, putting the maximus back in his gluteus. He was almost his old self again. He wasn't too keen to learn where the extra body mass came from, but he'd never asked before, and figured it was fine remaining a mystery.
"Well, I guess we can forget about finding physical evidence now." Cable said, shaking his head, as he half-heartedly shoved aside a piece of rubble. "Though I suppose if we're lucky they'll think we were taken care of."
"Ha. That's a joke. Anyone who can be killed so easily by a remotely activated explosion is in the wrong line of work."
"I still have no idea if we accomplished anything."
"We got to beat up some badguys." Deadpool paused. "At least, I assume they were the badguys, it's possible we were. It's so hard to tell in this morally elastic time of contempt, given it's stopped being the good guys hit the bad guys and started being a kind of professional wrestling approach complete with jobbers, where societal issues and paradigms are… I'm just %$#@ing with you, they were badguys."
"Sure. But did we stop them?"
"I hope not. If we did, what are we going to do tomorrow?"
Cable sighed, but supposed he couldn't blame Deadpool for not grasping the seriousness of the situation, given how evasive he'd been actually describing it. There were too many factors at work, too many unknowns in play. There was only one sensible move to take."I'm going to go get some perspective. Figure out a fresh angle of attack." He said after a moment. "When I have a strategy that might actually work, I'll come get you." He paused. "Chronology might get a bit complicated, but if it happens retroactively, then thanks in advance."
"Plan, schman. Beat the crap out of 'em while yelling a lot. It's in every movie for a reason - it's a classic."
"And in the meantime can I rely on you?"
"I don't like it."
"Wade…"
"I don't like it." He sighed. "But I'll do it. I'll spy on my brother. If he ever finds out, he'll take it personal and never forgive me, but some things are more important then subjective morality and the feelings of the main characters. Like the survival of the entire human race. I'll play along."
Cable clasped his arm. "You're a little rough around the edges, but when it counts you're the best man I've ever known. And I've known some great ones."
"Right back at you." Deadpool replied, then went for the hug. Cable was a little perturbed, but returned it. It was good to have friends.
"I missed you."
"Yeah, I missed you too."