Cable & Deadpool #14

Issue Date: 
June 2005
Story Title: 
Murder in Paradise: part 2: Don’t ask, don’t tell.
Staff: 

Fabian Nicieza (writer), Patrick Zircher (penciler) M3TH of UDON (Inkers), Gotham (Colourist), V.C.’s Cory Petit (Letterer), Frank D’Armate (colourist cover) John Barber (Assistant Editors), Nicole Wiley (editor), Joe Quesada (Editor in Chief), Dan Buckley (Publisher)

Cable created by Rob Liefeld and Louise Simonson

Deadpool created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza

Brief Description: 

After figuring out that he killed the terrorist Barat, Deadpool is on the run. The Providence security patrol, lead by Irene Merryweather and former police officer Johann Kriek, send Prester John after Deadpool. Irene goes to Cable to ask him for help, but Cable says that he will leave Providence shortly to gather recruits and deal with another threat. He also wants to give Deadpool a chance to do the right thing.
On the run, Deadpool tries to remember why he killed Barat, but he is interrupted by Prester John, in full armor. John and Deadpool fight and take apart one of the restaurants in Providence. In the end, Prester John is about to kill Deadpool when Cable intervenes. He wants no violence on Providence and he has the guns to back that up. He asks John to clean up the mess he and Deadpool made, while he talks to Deadpool. Cable asks Deadpool why he killed Barat, but Deadpool can’t reply. Cable tells Deadpool that Moira MacTaggert, the geneticist, once looked at his files and concluded that, as long as he has his healing factor, Deadpool will be insane. Deadpool points out that without the healing factor, his cancer will return and he will die. Cable offers Deadpool help, but he has to leave Providence. He also tells Deadpool that he is going on a mission with X-Force. Deadpool offers help, but Cable responds that he will bodyslide by two in case he needs him and he doesn’t want Deadpool on Providence without him watching him. Cable leaves and tells Deadpool that he will kill him if he ever does something like this again. Deadpool finally remembers why he killed Barat: because he just felt like it. He decides to leave Providence and goes to Moscow. He contacts the information-broker Black Box and wants Black Box to find a way to kill him.

Full Summary: 

Deadpool has figured out that he himself has killed Haji Bin Barat, the world’s most wanted terrorist and inhabitant of Providence. He tries to run and hide, while he figures out what to do next.

Inside a control room, Irene, Mr. Kriek and Prester John are searching for Deadpool. Irene doubt Kriek’s ability to find him, but Kriek mentions that he has 20 years of experience as a police investigator and the most advanced equipment on the planet. He also mentions that they are on a small island; Deadpool has nowhere to run. However, Irene thinks that Deadpool would swim to Australia if he had to.

When Deadpool is found, Prester John leaves to stop Deadpool. Irene warns him, but John replies that he too is very dangerous. When he leaves, Irene sighs and sarcastically mentions what a paradise they have. Kriek responds that it was his wife’s idea to come here. Irene thinks that is grounds for divorce and leaves to give Cable an update.

Cable asks Irene if she is sure Deadpool is the killer. She is. He replies that he can’t fight Deadpool, not because of their weird relationship, but because he is about to leave. He is about to recruit some people to fight another threat, referring to a nearby hologram that shows the alien Skornn. Irene tells him that he can’t leave a murderer running around on Providence, to which Cable responds that excluding Wade, the deceased Barat and himself, eleven other people on Providence would classify as murderers and that he wants to change their views on crime and punishment. Irene suggests that Cable uses the genetic link he has with Deadpool to trap him with a bodyslide. Cable, however, thinks that he himself wouldn’t survive that in his current condition. He also tells her that he want to give Deadpool a chance to make the right choice.

Deadpool, at the same moment, comes to the conclusion that running away was the right choice and considers hiding on a boat, plane and even swimming to Australia as a solution. He tries his best not to worry about Barat’s murder and why he can’t even remember killing him. He thinks to himself that his healing factor makes his brain looks like Drew Barrymore’s in 50 first dates. He lists the reasons for staying in Providence: good weather, stimulating conversations about complexities and contradictions in Michael Moore’s work, saggy brainy chicks that have the Indigo Girls vibe going on and, most importantly, people who don’t treat him like a stain.

He then tries his best to remember what happened in Barat’s bedroom last night, but is only able to conjure up two scenarios: one where Barat is holding Irene hostage and threatens to kill her; Irene tells Deadpool that if he saves her, she will be his forever and the other with Barat is bedding his beloved Bea Arthur. He concludes that both scenarios are extremely unlikely, pointing to another, more gruesome option.

An energy blast interrupts Wade’s thoughts and he turns around to see Prester John in full armor. John tells him that the Providence Peacewatch Security Patrol has authorized him to arrest Deadpool. He warns Deadpool that he has used the powers of his stellar rod before in combat with the Fantastic Four. Deadpool can’t stop himself from laughing at the words “stellar rod.” Prester John looks at Wade laughing on the floor for a few moments then shoots him with the rod. Deadpool stands up and in classic Bugs Bunny-style responds “Of course you know this means war.”

John agrees and Deadpool jumps at him, shouting “I take sliced Saxons for 800, Alex,” but bounces off John’s forcefield and crashed through the roof of what seems to be a restaurant. Wade apologizes to the Native American girl and tries to seduce her by mentioning that he has lost money in 5 Indian casinos last month and that he has Dances With Wolves on laserdisc. His attempts to win her heart are interrupted by John. Wade tells John three points: 1) As long as he is wearing the mask, the name is Deadpool. It is the whole Clark Kent-mystique. 2) They should fight outside, because one of the scientists in there may one day find a cure for Tucker Carlson and 3) Never interrupt him when he is trying to get with an Indian girl that is hotter than the one Kirk banged on Star Trek.
In the monitor room, Irene apologizes to Kriek, thinking that the escalation is her fault for sending in John. Johann suggests that they call in Cable and Irene thinks that Cable already knows. She is right because Cable is watching the fight on a monitor as well.

John has Deadpool pinned against the floor and accuses him of endangering the safety of everybody on Providence. Deadpool points out that he is not the one waving his stellar rod around (and he could if he wanted to, because his rod is spectacularly stellar.) John is about to stop Deadpool’s “murderous rampage” when Deadpool replies that he doesn’t consider “one guy” a rampage and that he doesn’t think John can crush him and keep up a forcefield at the same time. Deadpool’s proves his point by shooting John in the chest four times, but John’s chainmail or superhuman durability stops them.

John knocks out Deadpool and admits that the fight is not bringing him any pride, because he feels like he is beating up the village idiot. He is about to finish off Deadpool, when an energy blast hits him from behind. Cable is standing there holding a gun and telling them that he wants no violence on the island and he has the guns to make it stick. John feels betrayed by Cable, who hit him from behind, and is about to hit him. Cable just stands there and tells him that he was wrong in thinking Cable was a man of honor and that he will throw John off the island if he doesn’t stand down. John gives in after a moment of hesitation. Cable thanks John and asks him to look after the wounded with Kriek and Irene, while he talks to Deadpool.

Kriek and Irene turn off the monitor and go get medics and a clean-up crew. Cable asks Deadpool what happened. Deadpool replies that he doesn’t know, he isn’t even sure that he killed Barat. Cable remains silent. Deadpool admits that Cable has a point. Cable asks if he saw, heard about or worked with Barat. Deadpool says that he doesn’t know to each question. Cable tells him that the brain damage defense will only take him so far. Deadpool responds that it has worked pretty well so far. He tells Cable that he must have had a reason.

Cable brings up Moira MacTaggert, the famous geneticist. Shortly before her death, Cable had her take a look at Deadpool’s Weapon X files. Her conclusion was that Deadpool’s brain would never be normal as long as he has the healing factor. Deadpool replies that removing the healing factor will return his cancer. He tells Cable that he wasn’t that smart to begin with. Cable doesn’t doubt it, but he doesn’t think it was quite so bad as he is now. Deadpool confesses that sometimes, just sometimes he knows, referring to how bad his mental condition is.

Cable offers assistance: he will ask the scientists on Providence to look at his Weapon X files for a solution, but Deadpool has to go. Cable tells him that he is recruiting X-Force again for a mission. Deadpool wants to know if he can join. Cable replies that he will bodyslide by two if he needs him. He asks Deadpool again why he killed Barat. When Deadpool still says he doesn’t know, Cable tells him to leave. Deadpool asks if Cable will come after him if he does this again, to which Cable says that he will kill him. Deadpool just stares at him. When Cable is gone, he thinks to himself that one should never ask a question one doesn’t want answered.

Back with Irene, she tells Cable that they need to know why Deadpool killed Barat. Cable thinks that they shouldn’t even bother asking why. Elsewhere, Deadpool finally remembers why he killed Barat: because he just felt like it. Deadpool leaves Providence by boat.

Four days later, Deadpool finds one of Black Box’s Think Links – people all over the world that function as his ears and eyes. The Think Link tells Deadpool that he can’t talk to him, because Black Box is watching right now. Deadpool tells the Think Link that Black Box, if the rumors are true, can give him the one thing he wants. The Think Link asks what that is. Deadpool answers that he needs a way to kill himself. From his base, Black Box follows the conversation and orders the Think Link to tell Deadpool that, if the price is right, he would be happy to accommodate him.

Characters Involved: 

Cable

Deadpool/ Wade Wilson

Irene Merryweather

Johann Kriek (former Interpol agent, now security on Providence)

Prester John

Citizens of Providence

Black Box (information broker)

Black Box Think Link

(Hologram)

Skornn

(Deadpool’s imagination)

Haji Bin Barat

Irene Merryweather

Bea Arthur

(on monitor)

Deadpool

Story Notes: 

The X-Force (2nd series) mini-series seems to take place immediately after this issue.

Michael Moore is a controversial filmmaker, best known for his movies Bowling for Columbine and Farhenheit 9/11. He has produced several films with content his critics find misleading at best or factually inaccurate at worst. Still, he was made a name for himself among the film community and those on his side of the political spectrum, who find his work provocative.

The Indigo Girls are a duo of folk-rock singers, first formed in the 1980s.

Due to the politically autonomous nature of Native American reservations, tribal leaders have been able to open casinos, since they are not subject to federal or state prohibitions.

Dances With Wolves was a 1990 Kevin Costner movie, where an 1860s cavalry officer is taken in by and later defends a band of Lakota Indians.

Tucker Carlson is a conservative pundit, best known for his years as a commentator and analyst on CNN’s political debate show, Crossfire.

Star Trek’s Captain Kirk once lost his memory on a mission to a planet that was inhabited by descendents of Native Americas who had transplanted by mysterious and powerful beings called the Preservers. The locals declared Kirk a god, and wed him to a local young woman named Miramanee. Shortly before he is rescued and his memory restored, Kirk’s wife – as well as their unborn baby – fall victim to a political dispute and were killed. [The Paradise Syndrome]

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