The Assault on Cassandra Nova's Lair,[1] also known as the Infiltration of Cassandra Nova's Stronghold,[2] was an open confrontation between the Resistance and Cassandra Nova's Henchmen.
Background[]
Deadpool and Wolverine set out to find the Resistance mentioned by Johnny Storm and escape the Void. Along the way, they encountered a Variant of Deadpool called Nicepool, accompanied by his dog, Dogpool. Despite Deadpool's antagonism towards Nicepool, he received directions to the borderlands and a car, Ol' Betsy, to aid their journey.
While driving, Deadpool inadvertently revealed his doubts about the TVA's ability to restore Wolverine's reality, admitting that he had made an "educated wish." This infuriated Wolverine, who launched into a scathing monologue, leading to a lengthy brawl between them until they both collapsed from exhaustion. Unbeknownst to them, someone started their car and drove them to the Hero Hideout.
Deadpool meets the Resistance
At the hideout, they met Variants of Elektra, Blade, and Gambit, led by X-23, who had driven them there after being banished to the Void by the TVA. Deadpool persuaded the Resistance to unite against Nova to avenge Storm's death, omitting the circumstances of her demise. Wolverine scoffed at the plan, deeming it doomed to fail, and refused to join them, prompting X-23 to speak with him.
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Wolverine tells his story
In a moment of vulnerability with his alternate daughter, Wolverine confessed that in his universe, he had failed his teammates. After a night of drinking, he returned home to find his fellow X-Men slaughtered by anti-mutant humans, igniting a vengeful killing spree. He continued to wear his Wolverine suit as a reminder of his fallen friends. X-23 reassured him that, despite his self-doubt, he remained a good person at heart.[3]
Assault[]
The Resistance prepares to do battle
Rejuvenated and renewed, Wolverine joined the Resistance in storming Cassandra Nova’s compound, planning to acquire Juggernaut’s helmet to neutralize Nova’s psychic ability. The Resistance fought Cassandra Nova's Henchmen, allowing Deadpool and Wolverine to get to Nova. Arriving in Nova’s chamber, Deadpool was quickly knocked out and Wolverine was subdued; Nova then took over his mind and urged him to give in to his primal instincts and let himself loose, promising to shut down his trauma.
Cassandra Nova enters Wolverine's mind
However, Wolverine rejected her and Deadpool awakened and put Juggernaut’s helmet, provided by X-23 on her, rendering her completely powerless. Getting the upper hand, the duo demanded she release them from the Void. However, Nova was then shot by Pyro, who revealed that he was working for Mr. Paradox. Wolverine ordered Deadpool to take off the helmet, which would allow Nova to telekinetically heal, claiming that the Charles Xavier he knew would never want him to let Nova die.
As Deadpool obliged, Nova relented and revealed a Sling Ring containing the Reality and Time Stones she had stolen from a Variant of Doctor Strange she had killed. Nova donned the Sling Ring and used it to open an Inter-Dimensional Portal leading of the Void and into Earth-10005, telling them they had four seconds before they were devoured by Alioth. Deadpool and Wolverine ran and narrowly escaped before Alioth devoured the entire base.[3]
Aftermath[]
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Deadpool and Wolverine arrive in Earth-10005
- "You got a whole world to get back to. I got nothing. Give me this."
"Hey. I waited a long time for this team-up. Y'know something? You're the best Wolverine."
"...Say hi for your friends to me." - ―Wolverine and Deadpool[src]
Cassandra Nova forced Pyro to admit that he tried to kill her on Mr. Paradox's orders despite her and the TVA agent having a prior agreement about her. Deadpool and Wolverine made it to Deadpool's reality, where Paradox was finishing the preparation of the Time Ripper, and Nova followed suit to confront Paradox. Nova entered Paradox's mind and learned of the Time Ripper, resolving to use it to destroy the Multiverse, capturing Paradox, and sending the Deadpool Corps to stop Deadpool and Wolverine.
The Deadpool Corps arrive to Earth-10005
The Corps arrived through an Inter-Dimensional Portal from which Dogpool emerged and leaped into Deadpool's arms. Nicepool came running after his pet and was criticized by Deadpool for his irresponsibility. The Corps opened fire on the Deadpool Variants and Wolverine, leading Deadpool to use Nicepool as a human shield to get to cover. When it was revealed that Nicepool could not regenerate, Deadpool used him as a shield as he crossed back through the Corps' gunfire where Nicepool's head was blown off.
Deadpool and Wolverine prepare to fight the Deadpool Corps
Taking Nicepool's gold-plated Desert Eagles, Deadpool and Wolverine fought through the hordes of Deadpool Variants. Battling the final Deadpool Variants in a bus and bursting out of the back, the duo believed they had killed them all, but all their enemies returned to life due to their regeneration. However, before they could continue fighting, Peter Wisdom called out and came up to them and was surrounded by the Corps due to the multiversal adoration of Peter Wisdoms among Deadpool Variants.[3]
Behind the Scenes[]
- According to Ray Chan, the opening of this sequence in which the Resistance drive into Cassandra Nova's Lair to be met by screaming henchmen is inspired by a similar sequence in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.[4]