Murder by Numbers 1, 2, 3...

*“Cell Combattre are my former friends and comrades! I will either save them, warn them... or betray them... alone!”*

—**Northstar**, *Marvel Fanfare #28*

## Murder by Numbers 1, 2, 3...

### Character(s)

Northstar
Scourge
Aurora
Clementine D'Arbanville

**Murder by Numbers 1, 2, 3...** is a storyline written by Bill Mantlo, with art and letters by Ken Steacy.

The story was first published in *Marvel Fanfare* #28 in September 1986. It further explores Northstar's past as a member of the Front de Liberation du Quebec's Cell Combattre, introducing several new figures from his terrorist years.

## Story

Northstar rushes to Toronto after receiving a phone call from the Alpha Flight headquarters. Due to the surrounding fog, Northstar must run the streets of Toronto rather than fly. As he runs slightly slower than he flies, Northstar is too late to save his friend Jacques Paradis from an explosion in his apartment complex. Northstar finds Jacques's body on a stretcher and vows to avenge him. The next day, Alpha Flight assembles at Commander Giles McHeath's office. McHeath has retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but has established a private antiterrorist organization which has led him to investigate the Front de Liberation du Quebec and Northstar's involvement with the group.

Aurora immediately defends her brother, telling McHeath of his actions to stop Pink Pearl's terrorist plot against several world leaders. Northstar also tells McHeath that he has promised his sister to forswear violent opposition to the state, to which McHeath brings up his old friends. Northstar tells him that they have also abandoned political violence, so he will not betray their trust. However, McHeath knows that Northstar was in Toronto, and shows Alpha Flight a video of Northstar. McHeath claims that he's trying to save Northstar's former allies as there's a fanatic with a hitlist, and he wants to make sure the rest of them are safe lest they be murdered like Paradis.

Northstar reveals to the others that Paradis did indeed call him, asking for help as he thought someone had seen through his alias. Northstar owed it to Paradis to help him, as he was a close friend who gave him something to believe in and fight for. McHeath isn't as sympathetic, as he tells Alpha Flight of the moment Cell Combattre launched a raid on a R.C.M.P. outpost and killed every police officer present. The group has eluded the police ever since. Aurora asks what all that had to do with Northstar, to which McHeath replies that the group had a "special courier" and showed them a photograph of a speedster racing through the streets. The members of Alpha Flight immediately know its Northstar, and he admits his involvement, though he had begged them not to go through with the murders. He tells them he told Guardian of his actions but that he was invited to join Department H anyway.

An argument soon occurs with Alpha Flight telling Northstar he must do what is "right" by telling McHeath the whereabouts of the rest of Cell Combattre. Northstar dismisses the idea, saying McHeath may just be trying to deceive them into finding the locations of former terrorists they couldn't find otherwise. Vindicator says that if the group has gone back to their ways of terrorism, Alpha Flight must stop them. Northstar angrily flies off, saying he will either save them or betray them on his own. The rest of Alpha Flight decide to track him, though from his office, McHeath also uses the tracking to locate Northstar and therefore, the members of Cell Combattre.

Alpha Flight lands in Toronto, and Aurora expresses guilt over tracking her brother. Puck also shows concern that McHeath may not be the kind retired policeman he claims to be. Elsewhere, a suited figure glides over Toronto: Scourge. Wearing a cybernetic battle suit based on a prototype from James Hudson, Scourge tracks Northstar to an abandoned theater.

Inside the theater, Alpha Flight finds Northstar, who feels betrayed by his team following him. He had traveled to the theater to protect his good friend Clementine D'Arbanville. However, as Clementine goes to reveal herself, she is murdered in an explosion by Scourge. The rest of Alpha Flight are knocked off their feet by the explosion while Northstar rushes to Clementine's lifeless body, crying out that she had tried to retire from her terrorist role. Tearfully, Northstar flies away from Alpha Flight to go save the rest of his friends.

Northstar flies to a scrapyard in Toronto where he finds Numéro Trois and Lettre A. They believe that Northstar betrayed them and pull their guns out. Box tears the bus they're on apart, and while Northstar battles Alpha Flight the pair of terrorists flee. They are soon caught in an explosion and murdered, as Scourge had been following Alpha Flight. Scourge is nowhere in sight, and Vindicator convinces Northstar to lead them to the last of the Cell Combattre members.

Near the beaches of Toronto, Scourge finds Lettre B in civilian disguise. As Scourge goes to strike the former terrorist down, Box punches the villain away. A battle ensues, and Aurora and Vindicator eventually use their powers to disable Scourge's suit. Scourge unmasks to reveal himself to be Commander McHeath. Northstar launches a superfast assault on McHeath, though his teammates in Alpha Flight attempt to hold him back before he kills the retired police officer. Northstar agrees to back down, but McHeath aims his gun at Northstar. As a bear, Snowbird slashes McHeath into unconsciousness. The police arrive and Northstar is taken to St. Michael's Hospital.

At the hospital, Alpha Flight visits Northstar. He reveals the prime minister has pardoned him for his past crimes. Northstar also tells Alpha Flight that he had the doctors remove his tracking chip that allowed his teammates to follow him. He says he will only feel as though the other members of Alpha Flight are his family when they actually trust him. Aurora embraces him, telling him they've both finally found a home.

## Featured characters

### Protagonist(s)

* Northstar
* Alpha Flight
	+ Aurora
	+ Box
	+ Puck
	+ Snowbird
	+ Vindicator

### Supporting character(s)

* Cell Combattre
	+ Jacques Paradis ("Numéro Un")
	+ Clementine D'Arbanville ("Numéro Deux")
	+ Numéro Trois
	+ Lettre A
	+ Yves ("Lettre B")
	+ Mariel ("Lettre C")