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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Tender Loving Lies
A cantina on the eastern coast of Mexico. Less than a week ago, it was the scene of a brawl to end all brawls. Today, Wolverine a.k.a. Logan is back, and he wants just one thing – information. He slams one of the locals against the bar declares that the men he and his friend fought followed them back to their hotel room and attacked them. ‘Where can I find these men?’ he demands. ‘I do not know, senor. They were strangers here’ the local claims. ‘Strike two’ Logan tells him, but the local asks him not to hit him again, as it is the truth, before revealing that the fat man’s cousin was with them, and he knows him, explaining that he lives on the edge of town. Other locals look on inside the tavern, as the man Logan has pinned to the bar informs him that it is a small shack near the railroad tracks.
Soon, the cousin of the fat man is in his shack, watching television, when the door is suddenly kicked down. ‘What izzit?’ he calls out. ‘You remember me, bub?’ Logan asks, standing in the doorway. The cousin claims that he never saw him before in his life. ‘Nope? Take a closer look’ Logan suggests as he moves into the room, and the man backs up against his bed, looking very frightened. ‘You came with your fat cousin and a bunch of other yahoos. Jumped me and my friend in our hotel. My friend was shot. Kidnapped. I’m going to find him. And you’re going to help me’ Logan declares, while the cousin claims that he knows nothing. ‘I’d hate to think that was true’ Logan tells him. The man announces that his cousin is not a bad man, while reaching for his gun. Logan sees this, and unsheathes two claws. ‘Don’t even think it, bub. Violence breeds violence, eh?’ he remarks, before pressing the two claws against the man’s hand, drawing blood. ‘Now tell me... about your cousin’ Logan orders.
The man replies that his cousin is not a bad man, but that he was offered a lot of money to come and harass the Americano. ‘He says to me, come with us and earn your share. Easy money. So I come, too’. He adds that his mama always says his cousin is bad company, but he went with him anyway. Logan unsheathes the claws on his other hand and raises them above his head, asking where the money is now. The man motions to the table and tells Logan that some of it is there. Logan confiscates it, telling the man that it is blood money – evidence. As he collects the money up though, a coin falls to the floor. ‘What’s this?’ Logan asks picking it up. The man and reveals that the coin was amongst his pay, that it is not Mexican, and the men who paid them were foreigners. He adds that his cousin said they arrived in his village by chopper, probably from one of the coastal resort towns. Logan asks for the name of the town where the man’s fat cousin lives, declaring that he is interested to learn how this stranger happened to pay with a Russian coin.
Meantime, somewhere in a hospital room, ‘Pulse steady. Heart rate increasing’ a hospital staff member announces as they check the vitals of Alex “Havok” Summers. ‘He’s coming around’ someone else points out. ‘W-who -?’ Alex asks as he looks up in the hospital bed. ‘We’re doctors. You’ve been gravely ill with a particularly virulent strain of Bubonic Plague’ one of the doctors reveals. ‘Plague...? I remember being... shot. Girl... shot me’ Alex tells them, before asking about his friend. One of the doctors explains that Alex was found by the side of a cliff, and that he had been shot with an infectious pellet. ‘One would kill a normal man. Your friend had been shot with fifteen of them’ he reveals, announcing that he was dead when they found him. ‘No! That’s impossible!’ Alex shouts, adding that his friend isn’t normal – he is strong and can heal. A nurse steps forward as Alex struggles to get up. ‘I’m sorry, but he really is dead. I’ve seen his death certificate. I can show you, if it’d comfort you’ she offers.
The nurse then announces that she can tell Alex where his friend is buried. Alex leans back and declares that it makes no difference, that it is impossible, his friend can’t be dead, he heals. ‘Your patient’s becoming hysterical, Nurse McKenzie. Sedate him’ a doctor orders. McKenzie holds up a large syringe, ‘You’re still real sick, Sir’ she tells Alex, adding that he has to rest if he wants to get better. ‘After all, you are my special patient from back home in America... and I’d just hate it is anything bad were to happen to you... after all of the... loving care I’ve lavished on you here’ she tells him, before turning to leave the room, she tells Alex to sleep well, and that he will feel better when he wakes up – she promises.
Entering the corridor, McKenzie sees several men in trench coats waiting for her. She tells them to come up to the roof where there is no chance they can be overheard. The men follow her, and one of them asks ‘When will we leave this converted ruin? It gives me the creeps’. On the rooftop, McKenzie tells the men that they will leave when Havok is totally, entirely under their control, and not a moment sooner. ‘Watch him carefully’ she orders. One of the men explains that will not be an easy task, as their video cameras don’t register his presence – they merely get a ghostly haze, nothing more. ‘Some bizarre effect of his mutant physiology? Or something else?’ one of the other men enquires. The third man declares that whatever it is, it will make observing him difficult once he is fully alert. ‘Observe Havok as best you can’ McKenzie orders the men. She turns and starts to make her way down off the rooftop, ‘When he awakens, make another visit. Suggest that he watch television and make certain that, when he does, the program is subliminally enhanced. Remember, the sooner we turn him to our side, the sooner we can ho home’.
Shortly, McKenzie is in some sort of communications room, and taps a code into a keyboard. ‘Yes, Quark. What is it?’ a voice can be heard via a monitor. McKenzie – Quark – announces that the mutant Havok has awakened, that she has sedated him, but they can only observe him directly. ‘Yes, yes. As you reported’ the voice replies, adding that Dr Neutron has suggested that the measurement of minute variations in the air currents along with constant volumetric monitoring of the air within his room, converted into pictorial representation by computer technology should give them a usable visual approximation of his movements. He tells quark that the equipment Dr Neutron has devised should arrive in several hours. McKenzie thanks the man, and assures him she will make certain that their guest sleeps through its installation.
The man McKenzie was speaking to is of a strange appearance. He is in some sort of cell, a single camera focused on him enabling the communication with McKenzie. Suddenly, ‘Excuse me, Sir. The Inspector is due for his annual visit to the asylum tomorrow’ a voice calls out. ‘To the devil with it! Why now? Now of all times! Perhaps this is a result of the recent shakeup in the politburo’ he wonders, before lumbering over to the cell door, past another person, he suggests that they must make the best of it. ‘Ply him with a little vodka. The fool has a weakness for vodka’ the strange man reveals. ‘Ah... this vast, wretched corrupt bureaucracy. The influence of the decadent west’ he remarks, before unlocking the cell from the inside, and lumbering out into the corridor. He leaves the cell door open, and mutters that the Inspector’s visit will serve as a reminder of why he chooses to live this way, and why he must continue his struggle against Gorbachev and Glasnost, and those fools in the supreme Soviet who believe that they banished him here.
Making his way through the asylum, the strange man decides that it is a pity quark can’t be here, as she is such a genius at handling people – perhaps as much of a genius in her way as Neutron is in his. He decides that he must visit Neutron to see how their plan progresses, now that they have the ability to focus a reactor’s immense power within their grasp. He opens the door to another room within the asylum, ‘Neutron! Dr Neutron! It is I!’ he calls out as he enters the room. ‘Good evening, comrade Meltdown. Enter freely and of your own will’ Dr Neutron responds. The room is brightly lit, as the strange-looking Meltdown lumbers towards Dr Neutron who is sitting at a desk, playing chess. ‘For shame, Dr Neutron. A decadent indulgence of a disturbingly Western sense of humor’ Meltdown replies. ‘A wise man, comrade Meltdown, knows his enemy’ Neutron replies. Meltdown remarks that there are times he feels Neutron has studied them too well.
Smoking a cigar and looking down at the chess board, Dr Neutron, a middle-aged man, points out that quark understands the uses of humor, ‘So beautiful, so brilliant’ he adds, before remarking ‘A pioneer in the study of the effect of assigned roles on human behaviour herself, assumes a role. Becomes in effect, a subject worthy of her own study’ he continues, ‘My keeper... and yet, so easily suborned. A woman running an asylum, who becomes one with the inmates’. Dr Neutron declares that there are delicious contrasts, that it is rich, so rich. ‘You treat her... all this... as a huge joke’ Meltdown remarks as he leans over the desk. ‘On the west, comrade. Remember that’ Neutron tells him, adding ‘To whom you will deliver the devastating punch-line, nyet?’ He adds that their little queen has taken the white knight, but that is only the first step. ‘She must use the subliminals delicately. He must never suspect what is happening to him’. He moves a piece on the chessboard, pointing out that they must consider the implications of Quark’s conflicting roles as both savior and destroyer, that they shall have to monitor her progress. Meltdown agrees, and tells Neutron that they must monitor both of them carefully.
Back in the makeshift hospital, Alex is watching a news report about thousands who marched in protest of the opening of the nuclear reactor in Israel, too similar in design, many citizens felt, to the Russian Chernobyl facility. Though the devastation surrounding the partial meltdown at Chernobyl was the direct result of a nearly incomprehensible series of human errors, the public in Israel is not convinced that a nuclear facility of this kind is safe or wise. Alex’s eyes move from the television to McKenzie, who enters the room. ‘Well, hello in there, handsome. How’s the head?’ McKenzie asks. ‘Pounding’ Alex replies, to which McKenzie comments that it looks to her that he is feeling a whole lot better. ‘Just seeing you, Miss McKenzie, makes me feel – forget it’ Alex begins as he drinks from a glass of water. McKenzie asks him what is wrong, to which Alex tells her to forget it and forget him, that he can’t get involved, that it wouldn’t work. ‘But... why?’ McKenzie inquires.
‘Let’s just say I have a history of unsuccessful relationships’ Alex tells her, pointing out that he will be leaving soon. Sitting on a chair beside the bed, McKenzie tells Alex that he can’t leave, as he is still real sick and the plague killed his friend. ‘Please. It could kill you, too!’ she tells him. Alex asks McKenzie why she keeps saying that, and declares that his friend isn’t dead, that the Bubonic Plague wouldn’t kill him, almost nothing can kill him. ‘And if he isn’t dead...then where is he?’ Alex asks. He presses one hand to his head, while the recording playing on the television states that troops swarm toward the Angola Borders and both countries assume a war footing. ‘Oh, my head! Get out of my head!’ Alex shouts, sitting up, he fires a blast of plasma energy at the television, ‘SHUT UP! Why can’t you just SHUT UP?!’ he shouts. McKenzie stands up, looking scared – or perhaps pretending to look scared – she exclaims ‘The TV! Gone! Fried!’
Addressing her as Scarlett, Alex tells her that he didn’t mean to frighten her, but the TV was hammering at him, and he couldn’t stand it. ‘Stand what?’ Scarlett asks. ‘I... don’t know. But it felt like the pictures...were hammering inside my head’ Alex explains. ‘And... how did you...?’ Scarlett asks. Alex informs her that he is a mutant, that he was born with the ability to convert solar energy to plasma, and he can fire it from his finger tips. He admits that it is not generally a useful talent, but assures her he has it mostly under control. ‘I don’t know what happened just then’ he adds. Alex turns away from Scarlett as he tells her that his friend, the one she says was killed, has a similar power, only it zaps germs and heals wounds, that it is a healing factor. ‘No plague could have killed him. Don’t you see, now, why it’s impossible?’ Alex asks. Reaching out to touch him on his back, Scarlett replies that if his friend can do that to germs, then she sees his point.
Alex is being watched on camera, his appearance indeed ghostly, as Scarlett tells him that she didn’t mean to act so scared, that it was involuntary. ‘I was just...surprised, that’s all. But now I understand’ she adds, while informing Alex that she nursed him while he was real sick, so she knows what kind of man he really is. ‘I believe you, now. Really’ Scarlett announces. Her hand touching Alex’s shoulder, she tells him not to worry, that she will find out what she can about his friend, while adding that if those other relationships fell apart, she thinks it was all those women’s fault. ‘Because you really are maybe the most... most special person I’ve ever met’ Scarlett declares.
Soon, in a laboratory, ‘You saw?’ Scarlett asks a scientist, who replies that he saw the computer simulation, but that it was clear he destroyed the television. ‘Yes, and he should never have been able to do that’ Scarlett points out, while adding that he should have believed them about Wolverine. ‘He should never have felt their subliminals. I hadn’t realized he was so...energy sensitive’ Scarlett remarks, announcing that he is the most interesting subject, while pointing out that he has obviously been trained to resist mind control, so they are going to have to increase the second dosage. She holds up a vial with a green liquid in it.
Meanwhile, at a small heliport on the south eastern coast of Mexico, Wolverine has arrived. He sees a burnt out chopper on a building roof, but the scents are masked by the reek of smoke. ‘They covered their tracks. Did a real thorough job of it, too’ he remarks. ‘But not thorough enough’ he decides, before flicking his cigar onto the ground, and making his way to a cantina, where he tells the bartender that he needs a brew – and some information, as he is going to be heading out of town and needs a chopper. The bartender tells Logan that it is too bad, as the heliport burned only last week. ‘Ferdinand who owns the taco stand, his cousin was killed in the fire’ the bartender reveals, adding that sometimes Ferdinand helped his cousin, so perhaps he can tell him where he can find another.
At the taco stand, Wolverine listens as Ferdinand reports that it was a sudden fire, a fuel explosion of some kind. ‘My cousin, God rest his soul, he was killed. The owner, too’ Ferdinand explains. Logan tells him that some strangers were here, right before that, Russians, who rented the chopper. Logan swigs some beer and asks Ferdinand if he knows where they went. Ferdinand replies that he doesn’t, so Logan offers to make it worth his while if he can find out. ‘Just tell me where you are staying, senor, and I will gladly ask around’ Ferdinand replies. ‘You know, here and there. I’ll check back with you’ Logan tells him as he leaves the empty beer bottle on the taco stand and leaves.
Ferdinand glances around as he picks up the telephone, ‘You said I would be pad for information concerning anyone inquiring about the helicopter’ he says to the person he calls, announcing that a stranger was just here, only he doesn’t know where he is staying. Suddenly, there is a SNIKT, and Wolverine puts his hand over the mouthpiece, while Ferdinand remarks ‘What do you mean, then the information is useless’, while Logan quietly instructs Ferdinand to tell whoever he is speaking to that he mentioned the Hotel Marimba, or warns him that he will be getting a second mouth. ‘Gently, now’ Wolverine adds. Ferdinand, wide-eyed, does as instructed, and adds ‘Yes, you are right. I should have said so earlier. I thought…yes, senor. I am not paid to think’. Logan then uses his claws to slice the phone cord, and tells Ferdinand that he will have no trouble slicing the cord and that it will be just as easy to slice his neck. Logan adds that right now, he is in a good mood, but suggests Ferdinand doesn’t press his luck. He warns Ferdinand not to call the person he was speaking to again, and orders him to get him another brew.
Not too far away, ‘Come on, Alex, lean on me!’ Scarlett tells Alex as she helps him walk through a corridor in the “hospital”. Alex is using a cane, and Scarlett suggests that they just go to the end of the corridor, explaining that Alex has been in bed so long that he needs to move around, to exercise a little to regain his strength. ‘You practically tried to tie me in the bed…until this morning. What’s the hurry now?’ Alex asks. Scarlett claims that she didn’t want to tell him until he was better, as she was scared it might worry him. ‘What might worry me?’ Alex asks. Scarlett adds that it might even set back his recovery, before informing him that a man has been asking questions about him. ‘A man? My friend?’ Alex asks. Scarlett replies that she doesn’t think so, revealing that this man is tall and mean and has a funny accent.
Scarlett continues, informing Alex that word is, he is a foreign operative, a spy. ‘Can you imagine? A real spy!’ she exclaims, revealing that when she came here from Oregon with the Peace Corps, even when she decided to stay here to work for a while, she never ever thought she would be meeting a real spy. Scarlett remarks that it is said that half the tourists here are really spies, agents from all over the world. ‘and now I’m afraid that…well…even this hospital might be involved in some kinda cover up or something’ she tells Alex, before they reach the end of the corridor, and tells Alex that they should go back, as they don’t want to overdo it the first time out. ‘Scarlett, about this man -?’ Alex begins, to which Scarlett tells Alex not to worry about him, at least until he is better. She promises to talk to him and try and turn the tables on him, to find out what he wants, and whether he knows anything about Alex’s friend with the healing power.
‘You just concentrate on getting well, okay?’ Scarlett asks Alex, who smiles at her, ‘So it’s you and me together against the world, huh?’ he asks her, remarking that he has had more experienced partners in his life, but that he has seldom had one as beautiful, unaware that he is still being watched on monitors. ‘How is it progressing?’ one of the scientists asks. Another replies that it is difficult, for no matter what drugs they use, Alex persists in his belief that Wolverine remains alive and in need of rescue. He explains that Quark has decided to use that strong belief, rather than oppose it, to try and twist it to their ends. ‘It could be dangerous’ one of the other scientists points out. ‘Not as dangerous as the alternative’ the second scientist remarks, adding that Quark says that to subject Havok to enough drugs and subliminals to make him a willing partner to their plan would kill him - and that is precisely what they must avoid.
The scientist continues, remarking that Havok is right, despite their best effort, Wolverine is alive and on their trail. ‘The greatest delusion we have going for us is Havok’s own need to love… to be effective… and his conviction that he must save his friend’ the scientist tells his colleagues, pointing out that this is in contrast to his distrust of affection and fear of betrayal, apparently the after effect of a recent traumatic shock, so Quark has created a scenario which will turn his needs to their purpose. ‘Meltdown wants him at the designated reactor, primed and ready to kill…right?’ the scientist tells the others, announcing that Quark’s plan will give him a reason to go there - and an enemy to destroy.
Night has fallen, and Logan is curled up in bed at the Hotel Marimba, on the outskirts of town. It is no longer the season for tourists, and its single gringo guest - Logan - has turned in. He hasn’t been too careful during his stay in Mexico. He has made enemies. It is one of the things he does best. A carp drives towards the hotel. It snaps a twig as it drives over it, and comes to a clunking halt, before the car door slams, and loud feet can be heard moving towards the door. Logan is awake now, and stares at the door. There is silence, then more thumping about, before the person returns to their car, and drives off. When he is some distance away, an alarm starts to sound. There is more noise back at the hotel, before the man in the car presses his finger down on a trigger, and the hotel explodes. ‘Do svidaniia, comrade Logan’ the assassin smiles to himself.
Later, the sun rises, and the assassin sits on the car, as he radios in to his superiors: ’This is Fireworks One, calling Distant Haven. Fireworks One calling Distant Haven. Come in, please, over’.  A second later, Distant Haven replies. Fireworks One asks how things are progressing down in Yucatan, how their tourist is. ‘Enjoying his rest cure. Stick to your business, Yuri’ Distant Haven replies. Yuri addresses the person he is speaking to as Quark, and tells her that his business progresses efficiently, announcing that there was an explosion last night at the Hotel Marimba, most spectacular, that it levelled the fleabag hotel, and the rubble burned all night. Suddenly, there is a SNIKT noise. ‘Huh?’ Yuri remarks. ‘Yuri, what is -?’ Quark can be heard saying. Yuri reports that he heard something, a lizard, probably, as they over-run this forsaken place. ‘At least they eat insects’ he mutters, before reporting that he watched the site until dawn and all that is left is embers.
Yuri informs Quark that no one emerged alive, and remarks that if stories of his metal skeleton are true, he should like to see the face of the local mortician when they finish sifting the ashes. Yuri tells Quark that he will return to the Haven this evening by plane. ‘Good. We will be waiting -’ Quark’s voice can be heard, when suddenly, Wolverine leaps forward, knocking Yuri back, and putting a dent in the car. ‘Distant Haven’s closed, bub. Trashed by the hurricane of ‘38! Logan declares as he presses his hand against Yuri’s face, while Yuri reaches for a gun. Quark’s voice can be heard screaming over the communicator: ‘YURI! YURI! What is -’ she calls out, while Yuri manages to utter ‘Logan!’, before screaming as Logan shoves his claws into his face.
Blood spurts everywhere, and Logan skewers Yuri in the stomach with his claws, asking what is going on at Distant Haven. He pulls his claws out, they are dripping in blood, Logan then forces his claws back into Yuri, and holds him up in the air, ‘No, don’t try and tell me’ Logan remarks. He frowns, then retracts his claws, and Yuri’s body falls to the ground. ‘I’ll find out for myself’ Logan mutters as he turns and starts to walk away.
Meantime, Scarlett quietly tells Alex that she did like he said, she took that spy’s money, pretended she was bought, and could sneak him in here. ‘It worked, Alex. We actually tricked him. He’s here!’ Scarlett declares. A door slams open, and a man dressed in black, his face hidden by a wide-brimmed hat, ‘I don’t have much time, Summers, so we’ll make this short and sweet’ he declares, announcing that he is looking for a man named Logan, he asks Alex what he knows about him. ‘The doctors told me that Logan was dead’ Alex replies. The “spy” pulls a gun from his bag and declares that they have checked and his death was faked. ‘Normally, I’d enjoy dancing with you about this, but this is a matter of national security’ he claims. Scarlett looks on as the “spy” holds the gun up. ‘National security, well, well, well. Whose security has old Logan jeopardized this time?’ Alex asks.
The “spy” tells Alex that this is no laughing matter, that his government knows that Alex was traveling with Logan for a time, before announcing that they believe the Russians have kidnapped him. The “spy” puts a hand to Alex’s throat, and declares that the Russians have taken Logan to a secret location in Poland, in the Western Carpathian Mountains, and brainwashed him into working for them. He demands to know what Alex knows about this. ‘Tell me, or -’ he threatens, but Scarlett rushes over, ‘No! Stop! He’s sick! Leave him alone!’ she calls out as she tries to push the “spy” backwards. ‘ENOUGH!’ the “spy” shouts as he punches Scarlett back. Alex goes over to her, and with his back turned, the “spy” raises the gun. ‘We aren’t in the States, Mr Summers. We have a little more flexibility here in the observation of the individual’s rights!’ he exclaims.
Havok ignores the man’s comments as he asks Scarlett if she is okay. ‘Yeah… uh… I think’ Scarlett replies. ‘Good’ Alex tells her, announcing that he is also opting for a little more flexibility in the observation of the individual’s rights, as he spins around and punches the “spy” in the face, causing the “spy” to fall backwards, as blood splatters from his mouth. ‘You…you hit him. He’s out cold’ Scarlett declares as she goes over to Alex, who replies that where he comes from, they learned self defense alongside reading, writing and arithmatic. Alex looks at Scarlett and sees that she is shaking. He puts his thumb to her lip, remarking that it is bleeding. Scarlett tells him that it is nothing. ‘It’s just that I’m not used -’ she begins, before Alex wraps his arms around her, ‘It’ll stop’ he assures her.
Their faces move closer together, before Scarlett pulls away. Alex informs her that he is leaving tonight, and will take her with him. ‘But how can I just…leave? I’ve got -’ Scarlett begins, but Alex interrupts, telling her that this guy is probably CIA, so if she is still here after he takes off, they will send more boys like this one here. ‘They’ll take you apart, doll’ Alex tells her, to which Scarlett points out that if he is CIA, then he is working for their country. ‘Can’t we just…you know. Just tell him the truth?’ Scarlett asks. Alex points out that they are not sure what the truth is, but decides that they are sure as heck going to find out. ‘He said Poland…so that’s where we’re going’ he announces. They turn to each other, and Alex tells Scarlett that they will wait for night and then leave, before asking her if she can get them some sort of transportation.
Several hours later, the “spy” has been tied up, while Scarlett opens a door, telling Alex that it is dark, and admitting that she doesn’t have a car, but has something better. She quickly closes the door, telling Alex that there are people in the corridor. Alex tells her not to sweat it, as they are not leaving that way. He then fires a blast of plasma energy towards the wall, announcing that they are going to leave these people a little something to remember them by. ‘That should keep them too busy to look for us until we’re long gone’ Alex decides. He takes Scarlett by her hand and leads her out into the open ground. ‘A motor-scooter?’ he asks, surprised when he sees the small scooter ahead of them.
Scarlett points out that this isn’t the States, and she doesn’t have a car. She explains that a scooter is better for going over the dirt roads. She adds that she still can’t believe it - the hospital lied, the CIA is part of their own government. ‘It doesn’t seem right they’d pull guns on innocent people and hit them and threaten them’ Scarlett remarks. They get on the scooter and drive away, as Alex tells Scarlett that she just hasn’t been around long enough, before asking which way to go. ‘Right here. Off the main road’ Scarlett replies, revealing that there is an air-strip, and she got them a plane. ‘You weren’t just bragging or something when you said you could fly?’ she asks him. But, as they approach the air-strip, Alex sees the plane up ahead. ‘What the heck?’ he asks her. Scarlett tells him that it is a bi-plane, that it is the best she could do and that it belongs to a friend. ‘I told him we’d be careful with it’ she adds, asking ‘We will - won’t we?’
Behind them, muffled by the trees, the sounds of the scooter have already faded into nothingness, swallowed by the distance and the night. And in the silence, Distant Haven squats silently on the hillside - but only for a moment - as Logan arrives. He sniffs the air, then realizes that the place is empty - but only just. ‘Half an hour earlier and I’d have caught ‘em here!’ he tells himself. He figured that they were expecting him, waiting here with guns blazing, but didn’t think they would take off. He wonders what the scam is, as he sees that the ruins have been partially converted in to a hospital. He knows they kept Alex here, as his scent is strong, but acrid, like they have been drugging him. Logan sees the hole in the wall and realizes that Alex has fought someone, blasted his way out through the wall. He picks up the scent of blood - and a woman. ‘She was with him! Scent muffled by her perfume!’ Logan tells himself, when suddenly, he hears a ticking sound, and makes a run for it.
An explosion soon follows, which Logan is caught up in. His clothes are destroyed in the flames, but he falls down the side of the slope, and lands in a pond, which puts out the flames around his body. He floats in the water for some time, before rising, his naked body standing up in the water, Logan is angry at himself. ‘Careless, stupid bastard! Knew they’d be expecting me! Shoulda figured on a bomb. Blowing things up seems to be their style’ he decides, lamenting his lack of clothing and some of his skin being burned off, but knows his skin will heal, so it is the least of his problems. Logan sniffs the air again, realizing that Ale came here, on a scooter of some kind, and the woman was with him - again, that scent, masked by cheap perfume, but the same - the lady is the same. ‘Bitch who shot us. She was here! She’s with him now!’ Logan tells himself.
Getting out of the water and onto the land, Logan knows that Alex’s scent is normal, he is not worried - meaning he doesn’t know this woman is the one who shot them. Logan sees tyre marks in the dirt road and follows them, knowing he has to stop this woman before she gets whatever she is after. The moon shines down through the night sky, as Logan continues to follow the trail up into the mountains. He smells something, petrol, and hears the rumbling of an airplane take off. ‘Damn! Too late!’ Logan realizes as he arrives at the runway. ‘She’s gotten away! And he’s going with her willingly! But in a bi-plane? What the hell dos she think this is - World War One?’ Logan wonders, before his voice booms through the night: ‘ALEX!’ he shouts.
Up in the plane, Scarlett looks down to the ground, while Alex asks her if she hears something. Scarlett replies that she heard something a while back - like an explosion. ‘I heard that, too. I meant just now -’ Alex explains, before looking down, ‘Holy cow! Would you look at that?’ he tells Scarlett as they fly over the remains of Distant Haven, still on fire. ‘There was an explosion, or at least there’s a fire!’ Alex tells Scarlett, who replies ‘Oh, no! Alex…what you said musta happened! Those spies musta found their friend and they got mad and took the hospital apart!’ As the plane flies off into the night, Scarlett tells Ales that she knew he was in some terrible danger, and this proves right. ‘Thank Heaven you got away in time’….


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Duel
The sky is a deep purple as Alex “Havok” Summers pilots a small bi-plane across it. He tells his companion, Scarlett McKenzie, that there is a thunderhead building, so they will need to circle around the storm, which will use a lot of fuel. Scarlett asks Alex if he can get them as far as Merida, as she has a friend who might take them a bit farther, for a price. She notices another explosion down below. ‘Real faint, but you can see it...like a little firecracker’ Scarlett remarks. Alex tells her that the CIA is doing their job very thoroughly, to which Scarlett reminds Alex that the spy he fought said the Russians have his friend in the Soviet Union – the Carpathian Mountains. ‘So why did he try to kill you?’ she asks. Alex explains that the CIA seems to think Wolverine has gone over to the Russians, and they probably wanted to stop him from going after him. Alex adds that the CIA aren’t known for their subtlety, and declares that if is not going to work, for if Wolverine is in Russia, he is sure as heck not on vacation – and he is going to get him back.
A lone figure rushes across the ground below the plane – it is Wolverine a.k.a. Logan, his naked body shrouded in the darkness, he sees the plane is heading north, so supposes that it can’t be going far – the airport at Merida, perhaps. But, he knows that a plane that size could land anywhere, while wondering where they would head after that. ‘That’s the question, isn’t it?’ Logan tells himself, while deciding that Alex’s scent indicated that he took off in that plane with his heart racing, and that bitch who shot them in the first place is with him. Logan is able to tell that Alex is full of adrenalin, but that he isn’t scared. Wolverine comes to a stop and squats down, picking up his backpack, while realizing that Alex hasn’t got a clue he is in danger, so the woman must be disguised. ‘Probably thinks he’s saving her from a fate worse than death. Just his style’ Logan tells himself.
He is pleased that his pack survived the explosion better than his clothes did, which saves him the trouble of stealing some new ones, as he puts on his costume. It feels good to be in fighting gear – real good. Putting on his gloves, Wolverine realizes that he was mad before – but now, he is really pissed, and unsheathes both sets of claws, before retracting them, and pulling his mask down over his face, ‘They’ve kidnapped Alex...even if he doesn’t know it...and whoever has him, I’m gonna get him back!’ Logan thinks to himself, before noticing something to the left – downwind from the hospital, masked by the smell of cordite, he almost missed it.
What Wolverine sees – or rather, who – is a man, down in amongst some trees, speaking into a radio communicator, he announces that there is nothing else to report, as target Havok has been safely removed and is now en route to Merida, while the mutant named Wolverine entered the “hospital” just before the explosions. ‘Unquestionably, he is no longer among the living’ the man boasts. ‘Can you confirm?’ a voice asks over the radio communicator. ‘Say again?’ the man asks. ‘We need a body, comrade. Wolverine is notoriously difficult to kill. We need confirmation’ the voice explains. ‘You mean you want me to -?’ the man begins, ‘- enter the ruins and locate him’ the voice orders. ‘I do not think –’ the man begins, when suddenly, a hand is pressed onto his head – ‘No, sweatski, Ivan. I’ll make it easy for ya – you can find a body right now’ Logan declares as he unsheathes two claws from that hand – which pierce through the man’s skull and out his eye-sockets.
The person on the radio communicator hears the commotion, ‘Nikki! What’s happening?’ they call out. ‘Your last transmission was garbled’ they remark. Logan picks up the radio transmitter and speaks into it: ‘So’s Nikki, bub. But listen up. I’m gonna make this one real clear. Whoever you are, you’ve tried to kill me twice. I know you got Alex. I’m coming for him. And if you still want to find me, then just keep looking over my shoulder. Because sooner or later, that’s where I’m gonna be’ he warns them, before noticing a helicopter in a nearby clearing, and then he crushes the radio in his hand.
‘He’s destroyed the radio’ exclaims General Meltdown, a misshapen man, while his companion, Dr Neutron states that this is an unexpected move on the part of the opponent, and suddenly, the game is in jeopardy, which he finds interesting. ‘This means that Wolverine is alive’ General Meltdown declares. ‘And still tracking Havok and Quark’ Neutron points out. ‘This blows the whole thing!’ Meltdown declares, adding that they don’t need interest, they need results. Neutron smiles and tells Meltdown to fear not, as the game is far from over. ‘Our White Knight is merely in danger. I must consider our next move carefully’ he decides. Meltdown turns and lumbers away, muttering that if they lose their “White Knight” then they lose the game. ‘Remember that, Neutron! We must act quickly... or all will be lost!’ he declares. Neutron just smiles.
Back in Mexico, Wolverine has climbed aboard the chopper and has started it up. The blades start to spin through the air, while he sees that dawn is arriving, which will help him get his bearings. He knows that every second counts now, deciding that it is a cinch that whoever ha Alex is going to get him out of here as fast as possible. Logan tells himself that Alex is heading for Merida, it is probably because he is making a connection to somewhere a long way from here. ‘I’ll bet my last beer that little bimbette is leading him by the nose’ Logan thinks to himself. ‘Don’t start counting any chickens, lady. Alex may be too young to know any better, but old Logan’s been around the track more than once. I’m gonna burn yer ass... and yer friends’, too!’ Logan threatens as the chopper takes off.
In Siberia, specifically the Gulag, beneath the Insane Asylum that is General Meltdown’s secret headquarters, the elevator shaft plunges ten thousand feet through solid rock. There, down a steel-walled hallway, surrounded by a series of radiation proof shields, is Meltdown’s lead-lined workout room – the one place in all the world where he can put restraint aside and simply be himself. The strange-looking being lumbers through the corridor towards his workout room, ‘That a capitalist pigmy should learn of our plans is inexcusable! That he dares defy the might of Mother Russia and live is unforgivable! That he dares threaten us is unendurable!’ he shouts, before a computer-generated voices bids him good evening. ‘What’s good about it? Raise the radiation column!’ Meltdown booms. ‘At your command, General’ the computer responds, and a small column raises from the floor before him. ‘Ah!’ Meltdown smiles.
Radiation flows around him. ‘Better...much better...’ he remarks, before telling the computer ‘Enough!’ and ordering it to activate the holo-graphic firing range. The computer activates the holo-graphic firing range, and states that the level difficulty is medium. ‘A tank! Ha!’ he laughs as the hologram tank appears before him. ‘A tank is nothing to me! A minor annoyance!’ General Meltdown declares as he fires energy at the hologram, destroying it. A guided missile cruiser appears and he sees it out the corner of his eye. ‘Bah! It burns as paper at my touch!’ he boasts as his energies disintegrate the hologram. He decides that he must speak to Dr Neutron about reprogramming the range. ‘Let me test my power at a level of difficulty that will stretch my abilities to their maximum!’ he orders the computer. ‘No need to, Sir. I felt a brief warm-up period was necessary’ the computer responds, as a hologram of a city appears. ‘A city! That is more like it!’ Meltdown declares.
General Meltdown casts energy towards the hologram, announcing that his control over his power expands as he practices, and decides that, had he enough power, he could destroy the world. ‘Sir! Your energy level!’ the computer warns General Meltdown, who leans against the wall, ‘Ugh. Too angry. Got...careless’ he replies, announcing that he must replenish his power, but that even in this concentrated for so much of the energy is lost to him. He declares that he needs concentrated, controlled radiation in a form he can readily absorb. ‘Neutron says that Havok is the tool we need!’ Meltdown adds, stating that Quark is bringing them that tool, while wondering if they can use him, as the very power that makes him so valuable to them neutralizes Neutron’s brainwashing techniques. ‘He’s the perfect little hero, not like Wolverine. Havok is no killer. What can we do to enrage him to the point where, blindly... unthinkingly... he will try to destroy me?’ Meltdown asks himself, while wondering also what they will do about Wolverine.
The computer informs Meltdown that there is a call for him, so Meltdown instructs the computer to put the call through. It is Dr Neutron, who announces that he has devised their counter response in this turbulent game, and that it should prove quite interesting.
Meanwhile, half a world away, a bi-plane lands at Merida airport, which is not the most modern of airports, but Alex “Havok” Summers has not been flying the most modern of planes. He and his companion, Scarlett McKenzie, leave the plane and walk towards a hangar, as Alex asks Scarlett what is going on, as there is nobody around. Scarlett explains that it is siesta time. ‘Sounds great, doesn’t it? We could both use the rest’ Alex remarks. ‘Yeah, you been real sick and fought that spy and flew that plane all night long through a storm...’ Scarlett replies, before telling Alex that she has to freshen up. ‘You mean girls still really powder their noses?’ Alex asks. Scarlett suggests that Alex stretch out on the bench and try and get some rest. ‘Good idea’ Alex replies, as he goes over to a bench in the hangar and lies down. Scarlett tells Alex that she will call her friend and tell him where the bi-plane is, and will ask another friend about the jet. ‘Great, Scarlett. You do that. I guess we’re real luck that you have so many friends...’ Alex replies, before falling asleep.
Scarlett goes into a glass booth with a phone inside it, ‘Dr Neutron? Quark here’ she reports in, before exclaiming ‘What? Wolverine’s taken out another operative? So even the explosion didn’t kill him’. Scarlett remarks that this is not surprising that Alex refused Wolverine was dead then. ‘Perhaps you’d like to...reconsider our plan. Alex...I mean Havok...he’s beginning to be a bit suspicious of my...friends and the ease with which his plan to rescue Wolverine is proceeding’ Scarlett explains, before stating that she can easily confuse that suspicion by arousing his feelings of personal jealousy. Scarlett tells Neutron that she understands the jet will arrive in a matter of minutes, and tells him to spare her his concern, boasting that she will not fail him, as her quarry is well in hand. ‘You see, Alex trusts me. He doesn’t suspect that he is the one who has, in effect, been kidnapped’ Scarlett points out, adding that she has played her part much too well for that, before telling Neutron that, as a gesture of good faith, she wants to suggest a way in which Wolverine can be put to good use. ‘It begins with the dress, which I am now wearing, and which i will leave behind in the ladies room. It shall be the bait that we will ensnare our relentless pursuer...’
Scarlett enters the bathroom, and sits down on a chair. She removes her dress, and is wearing only panties and stockings. She looks into the mirror and touches her reflection, then leans over in the chair clutching herself.
‘Wake up, sleepyhead. I got great news’ Scarlett tells Alex as she leans over him, touching his hose. She is wearing a trench coat and informs Alex that her friend Charlie left a message and said he would be more than willing to take them wherever they want to go, as long as they pay for the privilege. ‘Only thing is...we can’t ask too many questions, okay?’ she tells him. Alex sits up, ‘Hey, that’s great! Almost... too great, Scarlett. The first guy...’ his voice trails off. ‘Joe’ Scarlett replies, ‘...loans you his plane. The other guy agrees to fly us to Poland. Why would your...friends go to all that trouble?’ Alex enquires. ‘I was afraid you’d ask me that’ Scarlett responds, before informing Alex that she is going to tell him the truth, but he has to promise he won’t get mad. ‘A long time ago...Joe...it’s his bi-plane...Joe and me, we were...real close’ she claims. Continuing, Scarlett remarks that the way Joe started throwing money around, she thought he was running drugs, and he told her he wasn’t, but she thought he really was, so she stopped seeing him.
‘But... well, when you were in such bad trouble, I had to do something, didn’t I?’ Scarlett remarks, claiming that she didn’t tell Alex because she was ashamed, and was real worried. ‘I thought maybe if you knew how I got the plane, you might not wanna use it’ Scarlett adds, before assuring Alex that Charlie is different, that it is nothing personal with Charlie, and all he wants is the money. A jet has landed up ahead, and Scarlett hands Alex a coat, telling him that it is Charlie’s plane. She adds that it will be colder in Poland. ‘Scarlett...’ Alex begins, his voice trails off. ‘What?’ Scarlett asks. ‘Nothing’ Alex replies, putting the coat on, he follows Scarlett towards the plane. ‘Fancy little jet you got there’ Alex remarks to Charlie, who reveals that the jet can make Mach 2 and squeak beneath the radar like a bug under the floorboards. ‘I don’t work cheap, guy. That’s how I can afford the best’ Charlie explains. ‘Like Scarlett told you, I have connections in Poland. Other...businessmen. I got people can take you where you wanna go...for a price’ Charlie declares. Alex pulls out some money and tells Charlie that he seems real well connected. Charlie claims that he is an entrepreneur dealing with other entrepreneurs and that it is a dog eat dog world. ‘You don’t get nowhere, unless you know who you can trust’.
Soon, the jet has taken off and flies across the cloudy sky, while Alex and Scarlett sit in some seats. Scarlett remarks that Alex looks so grim, and tells him that he shouldn’t, because they did it. ‘We got away from the CIA guy, and we’re going to Poland, just like you wanted’ she points out, adding that she just knows they will find his friend. ‘You arranged most of it, Scarlett. I seem to mainly be along for the ride’ Alex replies. Scarlett asks Alex if that is what is bothering him, and tells him not to be silly, reminding him that he flew the plane through that awful storm. With almost sadness in his eyes, Alex replies ‘But you got us the plane, Scarlett. You didn’t have to – not...like that’. Scarlett tells Alex that she would do anything for him, adding that getting the plane was the easy part. Scarlett then pulls out a cigarette and asks Alex if he will light it for her. ‘But Scarlett, you don’t smoke...do you?’ Alex enquires. Scarlett replies that she doesn’t, and explains that she borrowed it from Charlie, before asking Alex not to light it with a match, but with his hand? ‘Like this?’ Alex asks as he raises a hand, and emits a small amount of energy, which indeed lights the cigarette.
Scarlett points out that anybody can hire a plane, but that nobody else in the world has that plasma generation power, which is what is going to be important when they get to Poland, and find Alex’s friend. Scarlett adds that that will be hours from now. Alex puts a hand on Scarlett’s face and tells her not to worry, as he thinks they can keep themselves amused. ‘Yeah. But Alex, what’ll I do with this cigarette? ‘Scarlett enquires. Alex calls Scarlett “honey” and suggests she stub it out, and later, if she wants it again, he can light it up for her all over again.
Meantime, the brooding Siberian skies threaten another barrage of snow and ice, but the mood inside of the Asylum is self-congratulatory – almost triumphant. Meltdown informs Neutron that Quark is on her way with their White Knight, and they have a plan. ‘Indeed she is, Meltdown. Though I fear she may be losing control’ the skinny Dr Neutron replies, sitting on a chair. ‘Of Havok?’ Meltdown asks. ‘No, no. Of herself’ Neutron responds. He explains that during his conversation with Quark, “Scarlett” emerged. He tells Meltdown that she is calling him “Alex” – so their Scarlett is beginning to care for him more than she knows. ‘Then “our Scarlett” is a fool’ Meltdown responds. ‘Folly, folly, indeed. Such warmth in her voice, when she spoke of him, Meltdown. Such...regret’ Neutron reveals, adding that he could almost fall in love with Scarlett himself. He adds that impersonating Scarlett makes quite a change for their diamond-brilliant Quark, and suggests that perhaps, in some way, Scarlett releases Quark’s true self? ‘We cannot allow her to betray –‘ Meltdown begins, but Neutron tells him to calm himself, as they need not fear betrayal, yet, as Quark remains dominant. ‘Quark fears what Scarlett is forcing her to become. She’s fighting it, with all her strength and intellect and icy courage. And so...Quark has given me this brilliant plan... which will solve our Wolverine dilemma...and break poor Scarlett’s heart’. Neutron then announces that their pawn is arriving in Merida, even as they speak.
Logan approaches someone at the airport, who tells him ‘Si, senor! I have seen just such a couple as you describe’, and informs him that they wished to take passage immediately but all flights are filled, so he sold them tickets for the morning and directed them to the hotel Chicen Itza. ‘It is – you know – mostly for turistas’ he explains, adding that the woman is very beautiful. ‘And her legs? A man could die happy if he –’ the man begins, before Logan interrupts, telling him to spare him the gruesome details, before asking for the same directions. ‘But -?’ the man behind the ticket counter begins. ‘There’s another 10,000 pesos in it for you, bub’ Wolverine offers the man, warning him that his next offer will not be so generous. ‘A privilege to serve you, senor. It is at the end of the Street of Dreams’ the man explains, and Logan trudges out into the rain, making his way along the street. ‘A perfect place for a romantic evening, no?’
‘A perfect place for an ambush, more likely’ Wolverine thinks to himself, but decides ‘We’ll see who’s the ambusher and who’s the ambushee’. He locates the hotel, but there is no sign of Alex – although he can smell her. The scent is the same he caught mixed with the plane exhaust, and it is coming from the cabin around the side. He walks over there, and finds the cabin locked. ‘But I always carry my own pick-lock’ Wolverine jokes as he unsheathes one claw, and uses it to lever the door open as he shoves a finger in the lock. He rattles the lock, then opens the door. It makes a loud creaking noise, and the first thing Logan sees inside is the woman’s dress. ‘Drenched in cheap perfume. Somebody must think I got a cold’ Wolverine thinks to himself, before seeing that the place is empty – no Alex, no bad guys, no girl. He realizes he is due for another chat with that airport clerk, but hears a humming sound, and drops into defensive mode, releasing his claws, but it is too dark to see anything. He doesn’t smell anyone else in the room, but the noises continue. ‘Machine oil’ Wolverine realizes.
Suddenly, ‘NO!’ Logan shouts as a machine attached to the ceiling suddenly opens fire at him – shoving tasers with barbed tips into Wolverine’s body. He cries out in agony, and tries to rip them out before he is electrocuted, He struggles, but is unsuccessful, as the tasers retract slightly, leaving Wolverine hanging motionless from the ceiling. Two men enter the room, ‘The electricity is off, comrade Dubinsky’ ‘Excellent. The General will be pleased’ Dubinsky remarks as he holds a large helmet towards Logan. ‘And so will Dr Neutron’ he adds.
At that moment, Dr Neutron reclines in a chair, a chessboard in front of him, cigar in hand, ‘Check! You and, General, have reached excellent board position. It is time to launch our offensive’ Dr Neutron states. Dr Neutron points out that unless Havok sees the body, he will refuse to believe that his friend is indeed dead – and they cannot provide him with the body unless Wolverine cooperates with them and dies. ‘So we will allow Havok to provide himself with irrefutable evidence...and with the evidence that you, General, are responsible’. Dr Neutron suggests that Havok’s response should be entirely satisfactory, that he believes Havok will energize Meltdown to full capacity in somewhat under a minute.
While in Merida, Dubanski and his comrade have placed the helmet over Wolverine’s head and put bandages around his claws, they have put him in a coffin-like box, and are about to put the lid on.
Dr Neutron tells General Meltdown that in the meantime, thanks to Wolverine, they shall be able to learn a great deal more about the effects of photonic quantum brain wiping. He explains that Havok’s energy sensitivity made him a poor subject, but that Wolverine’s remarkable resiliency makes him an excellent choice for a full powered experiment, thereby providing them with a great deal of data they might never obtain from an ordinary human. He states that in the end, of course, whatever damage Wolverine may sustain will be of little consequence, since he is already as good as dead. He instructs Meltdown to notify Dubinsky, that they are to adjust the helmet to radiate a total brain-wipe, leaving only the instructions that they require.
Meantime, in Poland, the Western Carpathian Mountains, Scarlett and Alex are on horses, following another man on a horse through the mountains. He tells them that the place they wish to reach is more than a day’s journey. ‘Do we really have to ride horses, Alex? I mean, this is the Twentieth Century!’ Scarlett complains. ‘Just think of them as one step down from your bi-plane, honey’ Alex replies. The guide tells Scarlett that if the KGB have truly for her friend, then there is only one place they would have taken him – that it is just across the Soviet border and to approach it by car would alert the sleepless sentries. ‘Only this way can our journey remain secret’ he assures them. The guide adds that it is an ancient fastness, evil in legend, evil indeed. ‘Few enter, none return’ he warns them. ‘Swell’ one of them replies.
Three days later, dusk, Alex, Scarlett and the guide sit on their horses and stare up at a large, sprawling building with no windows. Alex tells the others that nothing has moved in or out of this place in the last twelve hours. ‘Whoever...or whatever was here is gone now’ he decides. Scarlett comments that it looks just like Dracula’s castle, to which Alex jokes that they will take along their wooden stakes, before telling Scarlett to come along, as they need to get a closer look. Addressing their guide as Janos, Alex asks him if he thinks the KGB has abandoned this site, but Janos is riding his horse in the other direction. ‘Janos?’ Alex calls out. ‘Maybe he thinks the vampires haven’t left. Maybe they haven’t!’ Scarlett exclaims. Examining the ground, Alex tells Scarlett that if the count and his wives are still around, they have updated their approach, as there are tire tracks all over the ground, and they are fresh. He then notices a couple of empty Jerry cans. ‘Alex?’ Scarlett calls out. Alex tells Scarlett to remain here with the horses. ‘Maybe this place is empty, and maybe it isn’t’ Alex remarks. Scarlett asks him if he is going in there, and Alex points out that they probably weren’t too inconspicuous back in town, but that he can’t afford not to go, for if Logan has been here, dead or alive, he must know.
Entering the dark facility, Havok starts to emit a small amount of energy to light his way. ‘I have to know. I won’t be long’ he calls back to Scarlett, but, making his way through the complex, he finds nothing – no signs, no sounds. ‘The place’s completely deserted’ Alex realizes, deciding that except for the tracks outside, it doesn’t look like anybody has been here in years, least of all the KGB. Alex wonders why Janos would have lied. He doesn’t want to leave Scarlett alone much longer, but he still hasn’t had a chance to search the great hall beyond. He decides to take a quick look around, when suddenly, he feels that something is not right. ‘Maybe I’ve hung around Logan too much, picked up some of his sixth sense for danger’ Alex suggests to himself, realizing that he best play this one cautiously – and quiet. He kneels down and puts a hand to the ground, releasing some plasma tendrils through the flagging under either side of the door frame. ‘And if I’m wrong, I can always apologize to the count later’ Alex jokes
An instant later, ‘WHA -?!’ Alex gasps, standing up, the door is smashed down, but not courtesy of his power – it’s Logan, who growls, and leaps towards Alex. ‘DEATH! DEATH! DEATH!’ Logan booms. He is naked save for a pair of briefs, and he looks savage, uncontrollable. ‘LOGAN!’ Alex gasps. ‘It’s me! Alex! You’re alive!’ Alex calls out, telling Logan that he is glad to see him. ‘You all right? Where’s your – Logan? Alex remarks, realizing something is wrong as he rushes over to his friend. Logan unsheathes his claws, ‘DEATH!’ he shouts as he slashes Alex across the left side of his face. ‘EYYAAHHH!’ Alex screams, before collapsing. ‘He’s trying to kill me! He sounds like a zombie! They got him! They got him! But how?’ Alex wonders. ‘How can you brainwash a guy whose healing factor ought to reconstruct any damage you did to him?’ Alex asks himself. He tries to get up, but Logan lunges at him again. ‘DEATH! DEATH!’ Logan declares, wrapping his arms around Alex’s neck.
Alex wonders what the hell is going on – and how he will live to find out. ‘DEATH! DEATH!’ Logan booms as he slams Alex’s head against a stone wall. ‘My head!’ Alex exclaims, realizing that Logan is about to kill him. He worries what Logan will do to Scarlett in the state he is in, while telling himself to concentrate, and Alex manages to release a charge of plasma energy, knocking Logan backwards. Alex clutches his head while realizing that he has to think fast. ‘If Logan’s been brainwashed permanently, I’ll never be able -!’ he begins, while Logan sits up, ‘Alex? Alex is that you? You okay?’ Logan asks him. ‘Logan! You...you know me?’ Alex replies. ‘Sucker’ Wolverine smiles as he moves closer – and skewers the surprised Alex. ‘ARRRHHH! Logan!’ Alex screams, before collapsing. ‘Say goodnight, Gracie!’ Logan suggests, raising bloodied claws – but before he can bring them down, Alex manages to spin around, and blasts Wolverine at close range with the full force of his plasma energy. ‘NOOO!’ Alex screams again.
Part of the facility is destroyed, leaving Alex to hold Logan’s motionless body in his arms. ‘Logan! Logan!’ Alex exclaims. ‘Oh no! No! No! No! No’ he says over and over. ‘Alex?’ Scarlett calls out as she moves slowly towards Alex. ‘He’s dead! I’ve killed him, Scarlett! This was no accident! Somebody set it up. Somebody’s responsible for this horror!’ Alex tells Scarlett, before swearing to Logan that he will find who did this to them both. ‘And kill him if it’s the last thing I do!’


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Endgame
In the shadows of the barren Carpathia Mountains, Alex “Havok” Summers stands over the body of his friend and teammate Wolverine a.k.a. Logan. ‘Logan attacked me in the castle, but he wasn’t Logan anymore...he was Wolverine’ Alex tells his companion, Scarlett McKenzie, who huddles into her trench coat. The confused Alex continues, hand on head, ‘...berserk, babbling...talking non-sense! He was trying...no holds barred...to kill me!’ Alex declares, certain that Logan was brainwashed, that someone was using him like a pawn. ‘Someone wanted him to get to me! But I got to him instead!’ Alex declares. ‘He was my friend...and I killed him’ Alex remarks. ‘Why? I keep asking myself why...and it doesn’t make any sense! Who would want me dead...and at his hands?’ Alex asks. ‘What the hell is going on?’ Blank-faced, Scarlett replies that she doesn’t know, and reaches out to take Alex’s hand, suggesting that if they look around, there might be something, some clue.
In amongst the rubble of the facility, Alex points out that the place is a mess, and that they will never find anything here. ‘But...they were just here! They brought Logan here! So they must have left something’ Scarlett remarks, suggesting that they just look. Suddenly, Scarlett falls. Alex calls out to her, concerned, but Scarlett tells him it is okay, that she just tripped – when she notices, laid out in front of her, a piece of paper. ‘Alex – look! See? I have found something...only...what is it?’ Havok crouches down besides Scarlett as she sits up, as Alex points out that it looks like a map, with overlays, and wonders what it is doing here. ‘And what’s it a map of?’ Scarlett asks. They see the nuclear symbol on the map and Havok supposes that somebody meant to get rid of it, to burn it, and tells Scarlett that it is hard to make out, but from the latitude and longitude, he would say it is somewhere in India.
‘And the overlays?’ Scarlett asks. Havok tells her that he doesn’t like it, that he thinks it is a nuclear reactor. A type similar to the one that blew at Chernobyl in the USSR! Scarlett maintains her blank expression. Havok holds the overlays up and informs Scarlett that it is complete with power output tables, thermonuclear reaction charts and stuff about plant security. He adds that the notations suggest that it is due to be shut down for annual maintenance in a few days, which means it will be operating with a skeleton crew and a reduced level of security. ‘This might explain why somebody wants me out of the way’ Alex suggests, telling Scarlett that whatever skulduggery is being planned at the plant, his mutant ability to absorb energy could stop it. He adds that perhaps they wanted him out of the way permanently, but that they wanted it to look like an accident, no embarrassing questions or official investigations.
‘So that’s why they shot you with that plague virus...’ Scarlett points out. ‘And when that didn’t work. They decided to use Logan. A simple case of murder. Totally unconnected with whoever’s fulfilling the strings’ he declares. Remaining with her neutral expressions, Scarlett tells Alex that is diabolical, and asks who. He tells her that he doesn’t know, but that whoever they are, they will be there, in India, at the nuclear plant. He puts the overlays and map into his coat pocket and announces that he is going to be there as well. Scarlett hugs herself and asks Alex if he thinks the CIA is behind it, reminding him that there was the agent at the hospital, and wonders what the CIA would gain by sabotaging a nuclear power plant. Alex puts an arm around Scarlett and they start to walk, as he tells her that he is not sure anymore that it was the CIA. ‘Things aren’t always what they seem to be in this business. I think there’s a piece of the puzzle missing... but what?’ Alex adds. He remarks that all he knows for sure is that whoever they are, because of them, today he is burying his friend – and is going to pay them back in spades.
Soon, Alex has dug a grave, and wrapped Logan’s body in his trench coat. He carries his friend over to the grave, although Scarlett points out that it seems awfully shallow. Alex tells her that Logan won’t mind, and that they have got to move fast. Scarlett asks Alex if he will be cold without his coat, to which Alex remarks that it is the only shroud he has got to bury Logan in. He stands over the grave and tells his friend to rest in peace, before suggesting to Scarlett that they get out of here. Walking towards their horses, Scarlett tells Alex that this will sound weird, and reminds him that Logan is a mutant. ‘He has that healing factor. What if...’ her voice trails off, as they get on their horses and start to trek on, while Alex tells her that Logan’s healing factor doesn’t work when he is dead. ‘God forgive me, but I hit him full power. Nobody survives that’ Alex declares.
Far away, in an asylum in Siberia, De Neutron leans back in his chair, bottle of alcohol at his side, he tells the misshapen General Meltdown that their spies report Havok has fought Wolverine and killed and buried him. He adds that without Quark’s quick action, their little pawn might have missed their carefully planted clue, and points out that as it is, Havok has been persuaded to rush to India to stop their “sabotage” of the reactor there. He remarks that, thus far, Quark’s plan has succeeded. ‘Here’s to a brilliant plan...and a brilliant lady’ Dr Neutron declares, raising his glass. ‘And a brilliant conclusion to our plan, Dr Neutron. Havok will save the day by absorbing the plant’s escaping radiation. He will power up, and blast me with his plasma!’ Meltdown declares. He boasts that he will be energized to full power, and a new day will dawn for the Soviet Union – and the world.
Dr Neutron reminds Meltdown that Havok is a hero, that he will not try to take life lightly. ‘When you face him, he must see you as the ultimate threat...so that he will be driven to attack you with the full force of his power’ Neutron explains. ‘The ultimate threat, Neutron? That should not be difficult. I helped him kill his friend, remember?’ Meltdown replies. ‘Then enjoy yourself in India, comrade’ Neutron announces, while moving a piece on the chessboard resembling General Meltdown closer to the piece resembling Havok. Dr Neutron states that the outcome of this game should be most interesting, as Meltdown and Havok are well placed for final confrontation. ‘But quark has been as seduced as Havok by the gentle character she plays...a question mark’ Dr Neutron points out, before remarking that at least Wolverine appears to be out of the play, and will not affect the outcome of the game.
Meantime, ‘Where the hell am I?’ Wolverine thinks to himself. He smells the earth around him, pressing in on him, and realizes there is almost no air, but that he is wrapped in Alex’s coat. Logan pops his claws, ‘Buried alive!’ the thinks to himself as he tries to scramble upwards. He detects that he is not buried deep, but just below the surface, meaning the guys who buried him knew about his healing factor, and meant to get him out. He wonders what happened, and how he got here, before recalling being attacked in Mexico, having a helmet shoved over his head – and then nothing – until he woke up in a castle. ‘Brain a blur’ Logan tells himself as he digs himself free of the ground. Logan’s memory starts to come back – he remembers fighting someone no holds barred, slamming their head against a wall trying to kill them, and realizes that it was Havok. He recalls Havok blasting him, that he could have burned the flesh off his bones – but that Havok held back just enough. ‘Healing factor kicked in... just like he knew it would... into overdrive’ Logan tells himself.
Logan is relieved that his healing factor not only healed his body, but his mind, also. Logan wonders where Alex is now, before pulling a piece of paper from the jacket pocket – Logan realizes that it is a map of India with the location of one of their reactors. ‘So. Looks like bright boy thought of everything!’ Logan tells himself. After examining the paper, he shreds it, and decides that Alex has not thought of everything: ‘Spy-bitch is still with him. Scents all over, mixed with his’ Logan realizes, while wondering if she knows that he is still alive. ‘Doesn’t matter...nothings gonna save her... nothing!’ Logan thinks to himself angrily, as he starts to run.
Meanwhile, in India, the district of Maharashtra, not far from the Tarapur nuclear reactor. A hot wind blows across the land. Dust devils spring to life, spin their way across the arid countryside and die. And though not every dusty pillar contains a devil, still the very air whispers of death. Dust billows into the air as Alex, wearing his Havok costume, and Scarlett drive a jeep across the sand. Alex tells himself that Scarlett is everything he has ever dreamed of in a woman, that it is like he has found his personal salvation. But he knows he can’t tell her about Logan, not while he still doesn’t know what is going on – if something goes wrong, Scarlett won’t be able to tell anyone what she doesn’t know.
At the same time, Scarlett thinks to herself that perhaps General Meltdown won’t kill Alex, as he is so young, and trusting, and strong. ‘Maybe Havok will kill the General and Alex and I will be free! If only...’ her thoughts trail off, before telling Alex to look up ahead. ‘My God!’ Alex utters as he sees the nuclear reactor on fire.
Havok declares that it looks like the bad guys are here already, and points out that the Geiger counter is starting to climb, meaning they may have breached the containment building, but that it may not be too late. He starts to tell Scarlet that he wants her to stay here, but Scarlett shouts ‘No way, Jose!’ as they drive closer to the sprawling nuclear plant engulfed in flames. Scarlett tells Alex that if he is willing to die to save these people and the world, then she is coming with him. She adds that she has faith Alex will not let either of them die. ‘Besides...you’ll need me to keep a lockout for whoever’s behind this while you put out the nuclear fire’ Scarlett points out. They see some bodies, and Alex tells Scarlett that they are dead. ‘It’s horrible. They look as though they have been burned from the inside out’ he explains. ‘Listen, Scarlett –’ Alex begins, but Scarlett tells him to hush, and that it doesn’t matter, as she is still coming with him. ‘You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met’ Alex tells Scarlett, before announcing that he thinks he is in love with her. ‘Finding you... it’s like a miracle’ Alex utters. ‘It is a miracle’ Scarlett replies, before they kiss.
Entering the flaming building, Scarlett is wearing a radiation suit. Havok tells her that he doesn’t suspect the guard will mind that she “borrowed it”. ‘But are you sure –’ he begins, to which Scarlett interrupts and tells him that it doesn’t seem damaged. ‘As long as I’m not in here too long...’ she adds. ‘Okay’ Havok replies, before explaining that he is starting to absorb the energy and radiation being released by the reactor, and asks her not to get too close. Havok announces that it doesn’t look good in here, as whoever got here before them as has pretty well destroyed the control room. He had hoped that they would be able to scram the control rods back into the reactor, but it doesn’t look like it. ‘Now it looks like I’ll have to enter the reactor myself’ Havok informs Scarlett, suggesting that he might be able to return the rods to their shut off positions manually. ‘Oh, Alex, please, let’s get away from here! I’m frightened!’ Scarlett calls out. ‘I know, honey, So am I’ Alex replies.
As they approach another part of the reactor, Havok tells Scarlett that there is no time left to get help. ‘Look at the color of the core. We’re getting close to a meltdown’ he explains. Alex tells Scarlett not to worry, assuring her that he won’t let her down. Scarlett starts to climb down a ladder, following Alex into the core, ‘This is my plan. I know what will happen. I can’t –’ she thinks to herself. Alex is busy with some of the rods, as Scarlett calls out to him. There is a brilliant light glowing behind them, but Havok tells Scarlett to get back. ‘Keep away from here!’ he calls out. ‘There’s nothing you can do’ he tells Scarlett as he holds some of the rods up Alex explains that it is like Chernobyl, that the rods have buckled, they won’t slide into their casings. ‘You haven’t tested them all’ Scarlett replies. ‘Maybe if I try –’ Scarlett begins as she holds up a rod, but Alex tells her not to, that this won’t work. ‘Get out of here, Scarlett!’ he shouts. ‘Out in the air. Out where you’ll be safe’.
Havok goes over to Scarlett, who asks him to come with her. Havok tells her that he can’t. ‘Don’t you see? Without the control rods to absorb the neutrons, the chain reaction is getting stronger with every second. The core is close to prompt critical’ Havok explains. He starts to run off further into the reactor, ‘But I’m a human control rod. I can absorb all that energy...maybe’ he calls back. ‘And maybe you’ll die!’ Scarlett calls after him. Havok explains that if he goes further into the core, he might be able to stop the meltdown and points out that lives, the safety of an entire country, is at stake here. ‘It’s a chance I’ll have to take!’ he declares.
Stopping further inside the core, Havok extends his arms, and finds the radiation intense. He doesn’t know if he can hold the power. ‘Might go prompt critical myself’ he realizes. ‘Hey...no problem. I can hold it easy. Maybe...too easy...’ Havok thinks to himself as the radiation is easily absorbed into his body. Suddenly, Havok sees a strange figure moving about through the plumes of radiation. ‘Who -?’ he calls out. ‘The name is Meltdown, tovarich!’ General Meltdown booms. ‘You’re responsible for this destruction?’ Havok asks furiously. ‘With a little help from my friends’ Meltdown replies, before asking: ‘It’s warm in here, is it not, comrade Havok? The core emanates a rather... pleasant glow’. ‘You... brainwashed Wolverine... wanted me dead... and by his hand!’ Alex exclaims as he leans forward to casts a powerful blast of energy towards Meltdown.
General Meltdown raises his arms, ‘’And you’ll see me dead... as payment for all of this?’ he asks, adding that is good, for in truth, he does deserve to die. ‘So fire away, little man! Kill me... if you can!’ he boasts.
Watching from the edge of the core, Scarlett thinks to herself that it is not Meltdown who will be killed. ‘This is the payoff. Meltdown will be powered to the ultimate... will become a walking reactor... the most powerful being this world has ever known!’ she realizes, knowing that Meltdown’s word will be law – that his friends will prosper beyond their wildest dreams. That Havok will die, and Scarlett will die with him. ‘Come, capitalist pig! I hardly felt that! Strike a blow for God and country. Surely you can do better’ Meltdown calls out, trying to encourage Havok to release more energy. Alex realizes that his foe seems unaffected by his plasma, meaning he is no danger to him.
Alex wonders why Meltdown set Wolverine up to kill him. ‘Why did he want me to die?’ he asks himself. Meltdown continues to absorb the energy Havok casts at him, while thinking to himself ‘I forced him to kill his friend! I caused this devastation! And he attacks me...as Quark planned’, but Meltdown decides that Havok still fights like a self-proclaimed hero – cautiously, desiring justice, but not his destruction, without the ferocity, the reckless abandon he must demonstrate if Meltdown is to attain his full potential.
Suddenly, Scarlett removes the head covering of the radiation suit, ‘Alex... my love... he is more powerful than you can imagine! And fighting him will only make matters worse! Run! Get out while you still can! He’s death!’ Scarlett declares.
 ‘Scarlett! My heart! What are you doing here?’ Alex calls back as he continues to fire energy at Meltdown. ‘It’s too dangerous! I said I’d keep you safe... you believed me!’ Alex reminds her. ‘Did she indeed?’ Meltdown calls out, while thinking to himself that Quark has solved his final problem. ‘Neutron was right. You are magnificent’ he thinks to himself, before telling Havok that he should be wary of promises that he is unable to keep. Meltdown then releases a blast of nuclear energy at Scarlett, striking her at close range. ‘SCARLETT!’ Havok screams, a look of terror on the hero’s face.
The nuclear energy continues to pour into Scarlett – until she is vaporized. Wide-eyed, Havok suddenly roars ‘NOOOO!’ and looking at his own hands, he then increases the energy that he attacks Meltdown with. ‘Die, you monster! Die! DIE!’ Havok shouts furiously as the energy is released in a frenzied attack. ‘Aaaahhh!’ Meltdown replies, smiling, looking relaxed. ‘At last!’ he declares as the energy flows into him. An exhausted Havok collapses to the ground, while Meltdown looms over him and tells him that he and Quark have done him great service. ‘And I feel that I have come to know you as my own son’ he adds, while regretting that their personal acquaintance will be so brief, for in a few more moments, he shall drain the remainder of Havok’s energy. ‘At which point, I will being to generate my own power...and your usefulness will end’ Meltdown declares. ‘Who...who are you?’ Havok calls out.
‘Wake up and smell the coffee, Alex... it’s the big bad wolf himself and this is what he wanted all along’ a voice calls out. Meltdown turns in the direction of the voice, and finds a set of deadly claws before him. ‘Wolverine! It can’t be!’ the shocked Meltdown calls out. Logan tells Alex that he did good, real good, but that he thinks this place is getting ready to blow. Logan asks Alex to see if he can hold the core in check while he has a chat with “chuckles”. ‘Logan...the radiation’ Alex calls out. ‘That’s yer job, buster. You gotta soak it up like a sponge before this part of India becomes history. But one on one with laughing boy? That’s my job’ Logan tells his friend. Wide-eyed, Meltdown exclaims ‘It can’t be you! I saw you die!’ and suspects that this is some trick of Havok’s to confuse him. ‘You’re dead!’ he declares. Logan lunges at Meltdown, ‘Yer right, pal! But I got better! Which is more than you’ll be able to say when we’re finished!’ Logan warns him, slicing into him, Meltdown falls backwards. Logan continues to slash his claws into General Meltdown.
Meltdown gets back up, as the cuts close up like water behind Logan’s blades. ‘It’s like fighting me, except that he doesn’t even seem to feel it! He’s just standing there as if –’ Wolverine thinks to himself, before Meltdown lashes out at him, cackling with laughter, he pushes Wolverine backwards with a force of nuclear energy. Although most of his clothing is destroyed, Wolverine is fine. ‘Nice try, Chuckles...but yer gonna have to move faster than that to nail me!’ he tells Meltdown. ‘You are quick, Wolverine. Quicker than I. Your speed against my power. But in the end, power is everything!’ General Meltdown declares that he was wrong to fear Wolverine, and boasts that he is already beyond Wolverine’s ability to harm, much less kill him. ‘You were right to call me “Chuckles”. As they saw in America, he who laughs last...laughs best!’ Meltdown remarks as he continues to fire the nuclear energy towards Wolverine.
Wolverine realizes that his foe has the range, and realizes he has to get down. But as he makes a move, radiation strokes his left arm, ripping skin and flesh from him. There is a hissing noise and Wolverine growls in pain. The remains of his clothing falls off, save for his briefs. ‘MY ARM!’ Wolverine declares. ‘So your bones resist even the force of my nuclear blasts, Wolverine? They are wonderful, but they will not save you when your body has been vaporized!’ Meltdown boasts, explaining that he has become a living nuclear reactor and therefore, speed cannot save Wolverine. Logan wraps his tattered coat around his scorched arm, and agrees that it is speed against power. ‘And if I don’t take the initiative, he’s gonna fry me’ he realizes. ‘So I’d better do some initiating! And fast!’ Logan jokes as he moves quickly towards one of the rods lying on the ground. ‘You’re grasping at straws, Wolverine! I shall polish your skeleton until it gleams like silver and hang it in the highest tower of the Asylum!’ Meltdown boasts.
Sorry, bub! That sounds like too much exposure and too little skin! Why dontcha take one of these home instead?’ Logan replies as he hurls that reactor rod towards Meltdown – piercing him through his chest, the rod is firmly lodged in him. ‘UHHH!’ Meltdown calls out, but Wolverine realizes that the rod doesn’t seem to be slowing him down. ‘Maybe I guessed wrong?’ he wonders. ‘A simple “spear” Wolverine? When even your claws couldn’t stop me?’ Meltdown calls out, stating that this is the final council of desperation. ‘I can generate enough heat to melt any missile, including a boron rod!’ he boats, as he places his hands on the rod and the part of it sticking out of his chest is vaporized. ‘Well, at least it gives ya something to do!’ Wolverine replies, before pointing out that he is doing a lousy job of it, as he only melted the end. ‘So we’re gonna keep going ‘til you get it right!’ he declares, as he throws another rod at Meltdown, striking him in the chest once more.
Meltdown cries out again as the second rod pierces him, ‘That...HURT!’ he then shouts, before asking Wolverine what he thinks he can accomplish by this face. ‘Let’s just say...I like to fill my spare time’ Logan replies as he throws another two rods at General Meltdown, then two more. ‘How can this be? I...I feel...’ Meltdown utters as nuclear energy radiates around him, then slows – ‘The spears! Dampening down my reaction!’ Meltdown calls out. ‘I’m not longer absorbing energy from Havok!’ he shouts. ‘That’s the general idea, laughing boy’ Logan declares, before lunging forward, he starts slicing Meltdown with is claws, and asks him why he thinks they call them control rods. He continues slicing General Meltdown and tells him that they can now get down to it on more even terms. ‘Nooo!’ Meltdown exclaims, announcing that he must gather all his energies for one final detonation and destroy the rods – this plant and all who are in it. Wolverine strikes him again, and this time, draws blood. ‘I’ve hurt him now’ Logan tells himself.
As Wolverine furiously attacks Meltdown, the nuclear-fueled villain is unable to think. He knows he has to concentrate, while Wolverine sees that Meltdown is getting thinner and thinner. ‘Concentrate...’ General Meltdown tells himself, before asking Wolverine to stop. ‘This isn’t fair...’ he utters, as Wolverine’s claws start to pass right through the villain, until he is vaporized by the nuclear energy. ‘He...he’s gone’ Logan declares, before turning to Alex. Logan sees that with Meltdown no longer draining energy from him, Alex is at near full capacity, and the reactor is still going wild. ‘Logan...’ Alex calls out as energy darts around him. ‘Rods...will cool...reactor...’ Alex manages to utter. He holds his hands up urgently, Alex is basically a blur now with all the energy inside of him. ‘Control rods. Scram the rods...’ he calls out. Logan tells Alex that he is way ahead of him, before pointing out that not all of the rods scram. ‘Try...! This is all the energy...I can hold!’ Alex declares, raising his arms upwards, he tells Wolverine that he has to release it, or he will explode.
Alex warns Logan to take cover, but Logan asks for another five seconds, revealing that he has found some rods that still work. ‘Can’t hold...any...’ Alex exclaims as Logan shoves the rods into place. An instant later, red and green energy bursts forth from Alex, upwards, further and further, reaching space. ‘Geez...that blast’ll give satellite intelligence analysts nightmares fer months!’ Wolverine remarks before rushing over to Alex, who has collapsed. He puts a hand on his friend, to find him as hot as a blast furnace. ‘Logan? We...we did it?’ Alex asks. ‘Yeah, buddy. We did it’ Logan replies, stating that everything seems to be cooling down just fine. They hear sirens, and Logan picks Havok up and puts him over his shoulders, telling him that is their cue as the welcoming committee is finally arriving, and they don’t want to be here when they start trying to figure out what has been happening. As Police arrive from one direction, Logan and Alex escape in the jeep parked in another direction, as Logan admits that he is not really sure he is all that certain himself about what has happened.
Later, the streets of Bombay, India buzz with whispers of nuclear disaster barely averted, of lives and property saved by the quick action of the local militia and fire-fighting officials. And for the most part, Alex and Logan wouldn’t have it any other way, Except... ‘You know, it was Scarlett who was the real hero. She helped me find out where you were...got us the plane that brought me to Russia. It was through her contacts that I found you. You should have seen her, Logan. She was magnificent. She was like a wonderful dream...who got swallowed up by a terrible nightmare. I can’t believe she’s gone. I can’t even visit her grave’ Alex tells Logan. He adds that everything he touches seems to turn to dust, but at least this time, he loved someone who was good and true.
Lighting a cigar, Logan starts to reply ‘Alex...about Scarlett...she...’ but he stops himself mid-sentence, and instead thinks ‘...she was the bimbo who pumped us full of plague germs. She was one of them...but maybe, in the end, she was the girl Alex knew...and even if she wasn’t, what good’s the truth about her gonna do him now?’ So Logan says to Alex: ‘...she was something special, buddy. You don’t go finding girls like her everyday’, and thinks to himself ‘And a damn good thing, too!’, before telling Alex that he has a powerful thirst, and reminds him that he owes him a lot of beers, but suggests that in view of their successful and continuing partnership, he might agree to limit his consumption to two or three cases. ‘Might even let you have one if ya behave yerself’ he jokes.
Epilogue:
Dr Neutron sits in the Asylum, which is quite not, beneath a blanket of new snow. The chessboard looks different – the black king and queen have been lost. ‘An exceptional game...a pity it’s over. And yet...there is always the anticipation of the games yet to come’ he decides, looking into a box with chess-pieces resembling other heroes. There is a knock at the door, ‘Enter freely and of your own will’ Dr Neutron calls out. ‘A reference to Count Dracula, De Neutron?’ a voice calls out. A woman is standing in the doorway, ‘Surely you don’t see me as a kind of vampire?’ she asks. ‘You, my dear? The new superintendent of our little Asylum? Ah, no...never a vampire!’ he replies, while telling her that as she has no doubt learned from studying his dossier, paranoia is not the disease that keeps him incarcerated here. ‘Like many of the old-line Stalinists, I suffer from a touch of megalomania’ he admits, before declaring that the times they are a chancing, and they must perforce change with them. The woman goes over to Dr Neutron, she appears to be wearing a nurses uniform. Neutron smiles and takes her arm, declaring that Glasnost sweeps through Mother Russia, and brings new games to replace the old. He states that he is out of touch these days and knows the old games best. ‘Tell me, my dear, do you play chess?’....