X-Force #87-90
Five years ago, Christopher Aaronson declined a position at the Massachusetts Academy, angering the White Queen. He departed, assuring Tarot (one of the Hellions) that he would return for her.
Domino finds Bedlam (Aaronson's brother) in a pool hall, revealing that she thinks she has found his brother. She explains that his parents were information analysts for the National Security Department, and has tracked down their handler. Bedlam is allowed to talk to the elderly man, but makes no sense from him. Tarot, who supposedly died with the other Hellions, is visited by a mysterious man who tells her that he doesn’t like her leaving the house. Meltdown is introduced to her father’s new wife, and is horrified to find that he is part of the Triune understanding. Moonstar meets with Jennifer Kale to discuss her new powers, and Jennifer reveals that Moonstar is tapping into some kind of cosmic force. Domino and Bedlam arrive at the location they received from the retirement home, and after Bedlam remembers the last time he saw his brother, they are attacked by Magma, and a strange techno-organic being, before Bedlam’s brother reveals himself, explaining that his power is to cause static to functions of the brain. Calling himself King Bedlam, he explains that he had been identified a mutant by the National Security Department when he was six, and what he had been doing since then. He adds that he was unaware his brother was a mutant, otherwise he would have asked him join them. He then introduces four of the five members of his team - Magma, Paradigm, Tarot and Switch - the New Hellions.
The rest of X-Force have arrived at the vineyard where Bedlam and Domino have located Bedlam’s brother. Cannonball tries to connect with Magma, still calling her Amara, she tells him to call her Allison Crestmere, as that is her real name, while Moonstar fails to get any emotional reading from the mysterious Paradigm. Feral, the final member of the New Hellions, appears, and sets about arguing and making snide remarks to her former teammates, who are surprised she is no longer in the Vault. Domino surprisingly tells the others to give him the benefit of the doubt, as she thinks King Bedlam’s ideas are visionary. King Bedlam explains that his vision is to end the war on mutant-kind, and asks X-Force to stay at his home overnight. Proudstar goes to meet Tarot and she is still cryptic about her resurrection, but does reveal that she did die with their teammates, but unlike them is forced to live her life again and again to atone for the sins of her past. She also reveals that she owes King Bedlam her life. Bedlam meets with his brother, who reveals that he has liberated the Armageddon Man from storage, and that he is going to use him to demonstrate to the world that the Hellions mean business. X-Force re-group and discuss what they learned during their exploration, when suddenly Switch appears, revealing that Domino is an impostor, and that he is Domino. Domino accuses him of lying, and they battle, but when Domino is ready to kill Switch, Siryn knows that something is wrong, and uses her sonic scream on them, disrupting Switch’s power, so Domino’s mind returns to her own body. Bedlam is confused about what to do, before X-Force find the Hellions in the distillery, before Magma attacks them, only for Paradigm to transform them into techno-organic statues. Feral warns King Bedlam to kill X-Force, but Paradigm wants to study them. King Bedlam unveils the Armageddon Man, boasting that he has power to bring the world to its knees, causing Bedlam to take his pills again, wondering what he has done in siding with his brother.
Most of X-Force are under the control of the techno-organic Paradigm, who is forcing them to prepare the Armageddon Man for release on the world. Meanwhile, Feral and Switch have abducted Senator Danville, and bring him to the New Hellions base, where Paradigm is assessing the abilities of X-Force, however when he connects with Moonstar, it is Moonstar who learns Paradigm’s unfortunate origin. The Senator is shocked to see the Armageddon Man being released, for he knows of his power, and King Bedlam blackmails the Senator into contacting his associates in Washington to meet his demands. Bedlam does a runner, but Tarot finds him and tells him that he has the power to stop his brother, bur Bedlam does not seem interested. Tarot meanwhile uses her powers on Paradigm, which forces him to release his hold over X-Force. Moonstar uses her quantum powers on him, forcing him to go fetal. King Bedlam is furious at Tarot for aiding X-Force, and is about to punch her when Bedlam comes to her rescue. X-Force and the New Hellions are about to do battle, when the Armageddon Man breaks free from his restraints.
Storms rage across the West Coast due to the release of the Armageddon Man. King Bedlam uses a device to psychically control the Armageddon Man. Cannonball flies off to distract the Armageddon Man, while Feral reveals that she has the Legacy Virus. X-Force and the New Hellions engage in battle, but as Siryn tries to take down King Bedlam, Feral slashes her throat.
Moonstar immediately takes command and orders Sunspot to fly Siryn to a hospital. Meltdown takes on Feral, while Domino takes out Switch. Magma continues to annoy her former teammates, before Cannonball takes her out of the picture. Tarot reluctantly battles Proudstar, before Bedlam makes a surprising return, destroying the device which his brother uses to control the Armageddon Man. King Bedlam reveals that he was responsible for their parents death. Moonstar helps the Senator and finds out how to stop the Armageddon Man, before King Bedlam, Feral, Switch and a reluctant Tarot all make their escape. Moonstar tells her teammates what to do, and they are aided by Magma, before a combination of Moonstar, Cannonball and Proudstar’s abilities take the Armageddon Man down. They bind him in carbon rods, before Paradigm appears, he speaks to Moonstar, before leaving. The Senator convinces X-Force to leave the Armageddon Man with him, so they do, warning him that they will be watching what he does. They leave, and pick up Bedlam on the way out, offering him a second chance. Arriving at the hospital, it is revealed that Siryn may never speak again.