Cerebra's Files

Shortpack

Real Name: Unknown
Affiliation: Xavier's Spy Network
Alternate-X Versions: None
Codename Etymology: Pronounced shôrt-păk' [From Old English sceort, akin to Norse skortr "lack" + Middle English pak "bundle, group"]; The term for the action figure in a series with the lowest supply.
Powers & History: Shortpack's power is short-range telepathy. However, his mutation also came with a severe price - his body began shrinking at puberty. If not for the meditative exercises he learned from Professor X, he likely would have shrunk to a microscopic size. Unfortunately for him, he cannot control his power to grow and shrink further, and so he remains about 8 inches tall. His strength and stamina are proportionate to his body size.

Shortpack was recruited by Professor X to be a field handler for the clandestine operatives Xavier uses to perform those missions he cannot have directly associated with the now-public Xavier Institute. Shortpack's first agent was Prudence (Agent 16), who was killed by the arms dealer Steinbeck. The next agent to be assigned to him was Mystique, but when the two met in Cuba for the first time, Shortpack did not know about her terrorist background.

After handling Mystique on a few missions, Shortpack was contacted by the Quiet Man, who offered him a way to exact vengeance on Steinbeck for killing Prudence. He tried to get Fantomex to kill Steinbeck for him, but was refused, though Fantomex brought him to what he thought was Steinbeck's lair. Instead, Shortpack found that his target was his benefactor - the Quiet Man was Prudence's mind in Steinbeck's body, and the exchange had driven her mad. S/he captured Shortpack and used him as bait for Mystique, who had replaced her. Shortpack was eventually rescued by Mystique, and presumably still works for Xavier.
511