Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.xbooks
Date: Thu,  8 Oct 1992 20:34:45 -0400 
From: Steven Kelly Woyicki <sw3r+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Cable-Stryfe-Nathan/techno fits

Ok, here are my theories on the subject:

    1) Nathan (Scott and Maddie's son) is Cable.  Stryfe is Cable also,
but from yet a later timeline. (Remember, Cable didn't know Stryfe
looked like him, so the earlier theory that Cable was a later Stryfe is
false.)  I believe that at some point a disillusioned, bitter Cable will
"supposedly" go back to the future and then return as Stryfe.  This
explains the whole hate for Apocalypse, blaming Scott and Jean for
abandoning him, and general disdain for Cable.  (Notice that Stryfe
never really tries to ever kill Cable?  Cable goes after him, but
because he doesn't know who Stryfe really is.)

    2) There are three Summers children: Rachel, Nathan, and Askani.
(Remember her from the last couple issues of the old X-Factor?  She
calls Nathan "brother".  I'm not sure how she ultimately fits in, except
maybe as a later daughter of Scott and Jean.

    3) Apocalypse can travel in time.  (Remember Askani says that he has
made time travelling difficult by twisting time somehow?)  Therefore,
the techno virus he infected Nathan (baby) with was from the future. 
(Possibly obtained from Douglock at some later point in time.)  He
infects Nathan as a child, who is sent forward in time to be cured.  He
is cured, but sustains some damage.  (If you look closely at him just
before he is sent forward, his left eye is gone.  i.e. Cable)  This
explains the Cable 'Terminator' look.

    4) Since Cable/Stryfe was once infected with the techno virus, he
could somehow have knowledge on how to create it.  This explains where
Stryfe got the ammo for his shot at Prof X.  Furthermore, this is what
Stryfe gives to Sinister.  I'm not exactly sure what it is, but I think
its techno virus related.  This would explain "... a piece of the future
..."  Again, I really wouldn't bet on this.  There's juicier stuff that
Sinister would have wanted.  However, the phrase "... a piece of the
future ..." proves that Stryfe must have time travelling capabilities. 
(i.e. Cable)

    5) Ship is Cable's "Professor".  (Like this was real tough to figure!)

    6) How Ahab fits into the picture, I am unsure.  I don't think even
Marvel knows or has given it much thought.  I think he was going to be
Cable in the future when Cable really wasn't anyone but some guy. 
Liefield and L Simonson created him only a few months before he first
appeared I once read.  Therefore, I don't think the "X-men 201 was
planned to be the beginning of Cable" is valid.  (Remember, this was
Claremont still.  I don't think Chris was plotting this.  He was getting
ready to begin the Scott-Maddie-Jean/ Marauders/ Sinister/ clone thing.)
    Back to Ahab:  I think it might be possible that he is Cable/Stryfe
after Stryfe is ultimately beaten or something and gets turned into Ahab.

(ie.=> Nathan(baby)=> Cable=> Stryfe=> Ahab    via time jumping)
(This guy has more identities than the whole Hobgoblin thing in Spidey!)

    7) What I don't understand is why would Stryfe deal with Sinister. 
Wouldn't he hate him too?  Afterall, the guy only abused his mom, held
him captive for months (as baby), and was a general pain in the ass. 
However, maybe Stryfe is forgiving for things that don't actually cause
lasting bodily harm.  (i.e. Apocalypse's techno virus and Scott and
Jean's abandonment)

Therefore, I submit these theories for your debate.  I'm probably wrong
in several aspects, but I think this is the current logical explaination
based upon the present evidence.  I, too, am a little disappointed with
Marvel.  In the past, I never would have had anything nearly this
comprehensive of an explanation for the events of the X-books.  I still
think the mutant books lost their soul the day Claremont left.  He, in
my opinion, is the one writer who could restore the mutants to their
past glory.  The best thing about the mutants now is that there are so
many of them and there are so many story lines.

Until next time, true believers,

Steve (Lord Apocalypse of the Network)