text: Author's Note: \*I have always wondered about the faceless henchmen in movies. The mercenaries beaten by a James Bond or Jason Bourne. Many of those men and women have families. What if there was a story about one of them and the story intersects with a known scene from an action movie, but from their perspective like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. This is the story of the henchman motorcyclist at the 11:11 minute mark of Deadpool. He was the only “bad guy” to escape alive from the opening fight scene on the bridge. I am assuming for the sake of the story that the escaping motorcyclist is not Ajax who shows up later in the scene on a bike. An earlier scene shows multiple henchman next to bikes so it’s possible one escaped).\* *\*\*This is an abridged version for Reddit.\*\** &#x200B; Link to part 1: &#x200B; **Chapter: Dr. Ford** In the ensuing months, the MCU were called on five times to respond to mutant activity. The spike in the MCU’s operations, despite years of inactivity was not lost on many of the senior commanders. What they did not know was that the Deputy NSC Advisor for Mutant Affairs and nominal leader of the MCU, Dr. Theodore Ford, was in cahoots with sectors of the Canadian government running the modern version of the Weapons X program. Dr. Ford maintained communication with Dr. Killebrew the lead scientist running the initiative. The uptick in “run-ins” was not accidental. Dr. Ford was a true believer in Project X and over the course of his long government career, covertly helped move resources and funding across the border to support the program. Dr. Killebrew was always a rogue (pun intended) and lately the Program had gone out of hand. This was an understatement considering what happened with James Howlett but that was way before their involvement and those sins were redeemed by Alpha Flight and later Howlett’s inclusion into the X-Men. That’s at least what Dr. Ford told himself. What Dr. Killebrew was doing now was wrong. His own private army. It was supposed to be OUR private army. An army of loyal mutants. Loyalty was determined by implanted explosive devices in their brains, a technology he knew Dr. Killebrew had not perfected yet. Who did he think he was? Shutting me out like this, Dr. Ford thought. Selling mutants for financial gain? Without him getting a piece. Did he think he could get away with it? That he wouldn’t know. Their mutants were never supposed to hurt civilians but yet, it had happened. Time and time again. Hence, this was the reason Dr. Ford maneuvered himself into leading the MCU and expanding it. The rising casualties caused ample justification (although few within the general public outside of a few journalists suspected mutant connections to many of the murders). He had to stop whatever plots Dr. Killebrew had cooked up and bring him back into the fold. Dr. Ford knew the situation was actually worse. Dr. Killebrew was not only stepping out on his own and going solo but was also losing control. The escapes, the random attacks. The successful capture and interrogation of the mutants, Worm Cunningham and Jacques confirmed his suspicion that Dr. Killebrew and this...Ajax, his apparent number 2 were going rogue. It would soon get out in the open. In the meantime, this Ajax was worth looking into. Dr. Ford felt a tickle in his brain as he pondered next steps. **Chapter - Professor X** A few days later, Professor X is testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The hearing is at his behest. PROFESSOR X - I have information and updates regarding the covert program in Canada called Weapon X. You’ve been briefed before on Weapon X and each of you have met Wolverine, who came out of that program. Dr. Killebrew, who has led the program for years, is using it to ultimately create his own private army. In the near-term he is selling mutants to the highest bidder. Mutants from this program are connected to a few deadly incidents where civilian lives were lost. SENATOR MARSHALL - How do we know this isn’t just to provide new members for Alpha Flight. PROFESSOR X - I know for a fact that many of the recent run-ins with mutants which have resulted in over a dozen deaths, have been from mutants created from Project X. I also have proof that Dr. Theodore Ford is working with Dr. Killebrew. Or, until very recently was working with him. “There is a murmur among the Senate committee members until the Chair brings everyone to order.” CHAIRMAN LUNDGREN - You signed an agreement with our government, and with most governments of the world that you would not eavesdrop into people’s minds. Can you assure us that this...intel....did not come from a violation of that agreement? PROFESSOR X - It did not... CHAIRMAN LUNDGREN - Where then...how do you know this? PROFESSOR X - I cannot say unfortunately Chairman Lundgren looks at Charles skeptically. **Chapter - Ajax** Several weeks later the MCU is disbanded out of fear that its ranks are filled with traitors and a prevailing concern across Congress and the White House that the recent increase in mutant attacks was used as a justification for expanded funding and operations. That was true and untrue. The members of the MCU are given a choice, return to their former billets or retire with a pension. Jason is filled with rage at the news. He feels that it means the loss of his friends were meaningless. He chooses to retire, after short stints in the Army and MCU. Instead of moving back to Colorado he chooses to live in New York City which was where many of his most recent operations occurred. He takes a small apartment in Brooklyn and is in Manhattan when he gets a call from one of his MCU comrades, Danny Kehoe. Danny tells him about an opportunity for “guys like us.” Bored and rudderless, without hesitation Jason asks Danny to make the connection. A day later Danny and Jason are escorted into an office suite in a nondescript office lot in Yonkers, NY. The job description had gotten to Danny through MCU word of mouth. The job responsibilities were varied, interdictions, escort, personal security, ...what caught both men’s eye was that the job had experience working with mutants as a highly preferred qualification. Since the Unit was super-secret he wasn’t sure how they were even targeted. Soon after they sat down, a door to one of the corner offices opens and a man in his 30s in a leather jacket and jeans walks up with a smile on his face. FRANCIS: Hi, I’m Francis Freeman. Thanks for coming. I’ve been a huge fan of you guys, from afar. Despite you being a thorn in my craw. I manage a workshop which you’ve no doubt heard of. One that you’ve had a front row seat...Project X. Both Danny and JASON exchange looks. The rumors were true. FRANCIS: \*misreading the looks\* “Yes, yes I know all about the Mutant Containment Unit. You’d be surprised at the friends we have in high places JASON: You’ve killed innocent people... FRANCIS: No! No. I mean, yes. But not intentionally. Some of our clients got out of hand and it was us that requested help from the MCU and X-Men. Our purpose is to recreate Alpha Flight, and other teams of benevolent and heroic mutants. The events in the 80s and 90s demonstrate that the X-Men are not enough. We would have handled the runaways with our own but due to... complications we’re not there yet. DANNY: Looks like you have a tough time keeping the animals in the zoo.... maybe shut it down? FRANCIS: But we’ve made so much progress, I’d like to show you.... DANNY and JASON exchange looks, and simultaneously shrug. DANNY: Sure, why not. The three men travel to the elevators. Francis opens a hidden compartment and scans a digital reader. The elevator moves down. Danny and Jason exchange nervous looks as the elevator keeps descending. Eventually it comes to a rest. The door opens to a dimly lit industrial looking facility with gangways, beams and what look to be housing units scattered throughout. JASON stares in amazement: How long has this been around... FRANCIS: Decades my friend. He points to a laboratory FRANCIS: This is where we give people a chance to achieve their dreams or have a second chance at a full life. Our clients include the terminally ill, the disabled. We give them abilities that will help the greater good. Several countries have purchased our mutants. JASON: Wait, you’re selling mutants? Like, to the highest bidder? Isn’t that slavery? FRANCIS: The mutants have full mental faculties and they willingly go. They come to us to become superheroes. We view them as our clients and our customers are those who procure their services and abilities. We ensure that our customers are morally upstanding. Both the US and Canadian governments are fully aware of our actions. Again, the only reason why the MCU was called in was to help us bring down the...abnormalities. JASON: What would we be asked to do? FRANCIS: We have shipments that will need escorts. Mostly from here to various airports, seaports and the like. There are elements, including rogue mutants, that would like to steal our valuable cargo, your experience is sorely needed and you will be paid handsomely. The two men tour the facilities walking by mutants in see through glass cages. DANNY: Looks like a zoo to me \*whispers to Jason\* Danny and Jason ultimately agree to join Francis’s outfit. With no base or living quarters, they drive into Project X facility from their homes like it’s a 9-5. During their first week, they get to meet the other members of The Detail, the informal name given to the ragtag bunch of Project X mercenaries. The Head of the Detail is Gustave Zola, a grizzled dishonorable discharge from France’s Action Division. In Jason and Danny’s second week they are given their first mission, a convoy escort to a remote helipad. **Chapter - Meet Deadpool** GUSTAVE: Ok listen up, the mission is simple. This will be a convey escort to Teterboro airport. At 1100hrs we will meet with the customer and transfer the three crates you see being loaded into the vehicles behind you. New guys! Jason and Danny, you will take rear and watch our six. The other bikes will guard our flanks. Mr. Francis wants to run point...despite my repeated advice that he need not endanger himself. Francis smiles wryly GUSTAVE: Anyway, you should be aware that elements of our supply chain have been targeted by a rogue mutant by the name of Deadpool. Gustave shows everyone a picture of Deadpool on a display screen. GUSTAVE: He is a mutant but his only powers are strength, speed and agility. You shoot him and he dies like any man. There’s no intel suggesting he is aware of today’s operation but keep your head on a swivel. From the airport, we go to Pier 6 in Manhattan where we will pick up supplies. The three crates contain three mutants, hibernating in specialized life support systems designed to keep them unconscious but alive during long duration transport. The contract involves three orders, with each spaced a month apart. The customer that Gustave referred to is Mazi Talik Bhat, a warlord from the war-torn Kashmir border region. These mutants are highly specialized to operate in high altitude and cold regions. They arrive at their first destination... CUT TO: AIRPORT RUNWAY Francis sits on top of a crate. A helicopter lands a few yards away. Some men get off. One in particular approaches him. Francis smiles and taps on a crate, standing up. FRANCIS: They won’t disappoint. TAZIN BHAT: They better not. What about next month’s shipment? FRANCIS: There won’t be one. You’re not the only one with a war to win. TAZIN BHAT: That won’t do. FRANCIS: See, we’ve had this small disruption to our supply chain. Francis grabs the man by the throat and lifts him into the air. FRANCIS: We’d appreciate your patience. TAZIN BHAT: Okay! FRANCIS: We’ll deliver in full the following month. Francis drops the man, who chokes a little. FRANCIS: Pleasure doing business with you. He walks away. He and his men leave. TAZIN BHAT: A mutant?! Some men grab the crates. Francis’s convoy drives off. (author's note, the excerpt above was pulled from the Deadpool script) Jason can’t believe what he just saw. Francis is a mutant? He had to be. Only a mutant had that kind of strength. In the distance, amid the din of engines, he can hear Francis yell “Let’s move out.” The convoy snakes out of the airport on to its next destination. Manhattan. Unbeknownst to Jason, Deadpool spots Francis’s convoy. In the distance up ahead, he sees someone in red drop from a bridge into Car #2 in the convoy. JASON: What the...?! He knows from the shattering glass and swerving that whatever is happening inside is not good...and we’re not winning. Is that Deadpool? Has to be. Unfortunately, Jason gets caught in the chain reaction of crashes and fender benders caused by the ongoing commotion and crashes into a sedan. His bike is caught in the sedan’s hitch handle JASON: Who puts a hitch on a sedan?? He motions the driver to move the car JASON: Move! The sedan driver creeps forward, freeing his bike. Good! It still works. He revvs the engine and starts for the chaos, unholstering his modified PP-2000. JASON: Oh man! Catching up to the fight, Jason can hardly believe what he’s seeing. Bodies, limbs, carnage...while he didn’t have time to really get to know his crew, their loss fills him with rage. He sees what remains of Danny, who must have been slammed against the sign up there and is now human lasagna. He also notices two of his crew get out of Car #4, approaching the car that Deadpool is in. He accelerates and is close enough to clearly see both men get shot in the head. JASON: Here’s my chance! Jason speeds toward Deadpool who is on the other side of the upturned Car #3, he weaves around cars in the road. He roughly knows where Deadpool is on the other side of the car. He can see his hands in the air after all? Is he surrendering? Doesn’t matter. Half his team is dead, this mutant is going down. He clears the car and sprays Deadpool with half a clip. JASON: He’s still standing?! I know I shot him at least twice. He stops and turns around, preparing for another charge. He sees Deadpool take aim and fire. Jason somehow ducks every shot. He can hear how close the bullets are to his head. He’s still alive somehow. He extends his weapon again and sprays Deadpool with a hail of bullets. He knows he shot him again. At least once. It’s like the first shots never hit him. Jason looks back. Stunned. Jason quickly realizes that he was lied to? This was no vulnerable mutant. This Deadpool was something different. More powerful. Whether he was bulletproof or had a force field, Jason was lied to once again. Lives lost. Unnecessarily. Again! Why? What am I doing here? This train of thought happened within seconds but it was enough to inform his next decision. He wasn’t going to circle back around for another pass. For what would surely be a suicide mission. No! He realized how fortunate he was. He felt his body to make sure the bullets whizzing by, shot by Deadpool, did not find their intended target. No, this was ABORT MISSION. He was out of there. He could only hear one other convoy motorcycle at this point. His bike and the other were the only remaining sounds from the Detail. The rest of the crew is dead. He holds out a sliver of hope that the mass of meat he saw on the ground wasn’t Danny. He knew deep down that it was him. He also hoped that the motorcycle he heard belonged to Francis Freeman. **He hoped Francis survived the battle with Deadpool because he had a debt to pay and Jason was going to be the collector.** This is the end of the story but it obviously is set up for a sequel.