Rub-Out

*“You miss the point, Pearl. Mam'selle D'Arbanville is an old friend. An old friend who has asked for my help. I'm not about to let her down on your say-so.”*

—**Northstar**, *Alpha Flight #22*

### Character(s)

Northstar
Aurora
Pink Pearl
Clementine D'Arbanville

**Rub-Out** is an Alpha Flight storyline written and drawn by John Byrne, with inks by Bob Wiacek, colors by Andy Yanchus and letters by Rick Parker.

The story was first published in *Alpha Flight* #22 in May 1985. It explores Northstar's history as a member of a Sepratiste terrorist group, and also introduces Pink Pearl as an antagonist.

## Story

After an argument between Aurora and Northstar, Aurora terminated her relationship with Northstar which ended his membership with Alpha Flight. However, Jeanne-Marie now appears in front of Northstar's home in her undergarments, having suffered another mental breakdown. When Northstar accidentally mistakes her for her Aurora persona, Jeanne-Marie angrily begins to leave until she collapses in the snow. Northstar grabs her and brings her inside his home, calling for his roommates Maurice and Rhonda to bring blankets and coffee to warm her up.

Minutes later, Jeanne-Marie regains herself and apologizes to her brother. He knows he must be careful when referring to her two personalities, but mentions how Jeanne-Marie was living with Walter Langkowski which angers Jeanne-Marie. She once again apologizes, and reveals that she had been on a boat when a strange man (really Langkowski), who she believed was trying to assault her. She flew away when he kept calling her "Aurora", drifting in the air for three days until she arrived in Quebec. This surprised Northstar, who didn't think Jeanne-Marie could fly, but she tells Northstar that Aurora won't let her fly and wishes to keep that power for herself. Rhonda takes Jeanne-Marie to the guest suite while Northstar ponders contacting Langkowski. He decides not to, as this situation may lead to a team of Northstar and Aurora without Alpha Flight.

The next day, Northstar drives Jeanne-Marie to his old friend Clementine D'Arbanville's circus. Northstar tells her that he had been a performer in his younger years. Clementine appears and excitedly kisses Northstar. She is introduced to Jeanne-Marie, not knowing that Northstar had a sister. A few minutes later, Northstar asks Clementine about a letter she had sent him implying something sinister was happening at her circus. Clementine tells Northstar that trouble began when Pink Pearl, the circus "fat lady", had joined the troupe. Each of Clementine's performers suffered freak accidents, and Pearl suggested replacements for each one. There have also been a number of delays that Clementine believes Pearl is responsible for. Suddenly, there's a knock on the door, and when she answers, a massive arm punches Clementine in the face.

Pink Pearl stands in the doorway, scolding Clementine for telling "strangers" all of these "nasty stories". Northstar stands up for Clementine, but Pearl tells him, "Keep your nose out of this, pretty boy. So far you don't know enough to hurt Pearl's plans. Keep yourself to yourself, and Pearl may let you walk away from all this with a whole skin." Northstar ignores her demands and is ambushed by Pearl's henchman, Bones. Bones wraps his limbs around Northstar and begins squeezing the life out of him. Jeanne-Marie tries to stop Pearl but is quickly smothered by Pearl's cleavage. She then knocks Clementine around, telling her that she's just adding to the body count.

Jeanne-Marie regains consciousness, but her Aurora persona takes over. She tries to make sense of the situation while Pearl reveals her plans to Northstar and Clementine. Pearl knew of Clementine's past with the Sepratiste group which used bombs to commit violent acts for Quebec's independence. Northstar is surprised by this, and deduces that Pearl may know he also used to be a member of the group. Pink Pearl has planted a massive bomb that will kill the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of the United States, with all the blame going to Clementine for her criminal past as the explosion would be centered on the circus. This is why Pearl had to make sure there were delays in the circus, to coincide with the meeting between the two governments.

With her hands still bound, Aurora fights back against Pearl's henchmen, knocking out the Bearded Woman while Northstar avoids the Strongman. Pink Pearl, enraged at the defeat of her henchmen, leaps into the air and grabs Aurora. She holds her for Bones to throw a knife and kill her, but Clementine slams into Bones and knocks him off-balance, with his thrown knife going into Pearl's chest. Aurora checks for a heartbeat and discovers Pearl's fat has cushioned her from a killing blow.

The police arrive as Northstar, Aurora and Clementine regroup. Clementine thanks Northstar for his help, but Aurora chastises Northstar as she figured out how he knew Clementine from his own terrorist days. "And that makes you no better than Pink Pearl and her murderous brood," she says. She tells him that Alpha Flight will not want him back on the roster after she informs them of his past.

## Featured characters

### Supporting character(s)

* Aurora
* Clementine D'Arbanville
* Maurice
* Rhonda

### Antagonist(s)

* Pink Pearl
	+ Bones
	+ Bearded Woman
	+ Mighty Mite
	+ Strongman

### Other character(s)

* Walter Langkowski (flashback)
* Heather Hudson
* Talisman
* Box
* Madison Jeffries

## Collected editions

* **Alpha Flight Classic Vol. 3** collects Alpha Flight (1983) #20-29, Incredible Hulk (1968) #313, and material from Secret Wars II (1985) #4, 280 pages, November 2012, ISBN 978-0785162926