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Misalliances: Conclusion
Deadpool and Macap, sitting in a tree. F-I-G-H-T-I-N-G. Okay, okay, okay. If it’s not a tree, it’s a secluded monastery in Symkaria, but people say that this is a “retro” type summary and we were doing a childhood taunting song. But you know, it was for Nostalgia’s sake. Hey so sue us, it was a nice opening!
Deadpool and Madcap are facing each other. Wade shouts that he can’t be killed, as he heals quick. Madcap replies he can’t be hurt because he doesn’t feel pain. So, it’s time for them to paaartaay! And so, the battle between the Heroes for Hire and the Wild Pack begins.
Misty faces Paladin and manages to shoot the guy’s gun out of his hands. Paladin doesn’t waste any time, and takes a brick nearby and throws it towards Misty’s direction. Misty thinks that’s nice, but thinks nobody informed Paladin about her bionic arm and easily demolishes the brick! Both Paladin and Misty think this is going to be harder than either of them thought.
The two martial artists, Iron Fist and Shang-Chi, stare at each other for a while. They gracefully bow, and start hitting and kicking each other, before they eventually realize they are equally strong. Deadpool takes out a flamethrower and burns Madcap’s butt with it. Colleen holds her knife against Silver Sable’s throat, thinking she must want to give up now. Of course that’s unlikely, and Sable hits Colleen in her face. The two girls start fighting each other.
Luke gets attacked by Sandman, but a mass of concrete isn’t going to stop him. Sandman laughs that he knows more than one way to beat Luke, knowing that muscles don’t mean anything if someone can’t breath. So, Sandman starts throwing lots of sand around, and captures Luke in a sandstorm until he’s knocked out. He notices his boss in trouble, and also throws a lot of sand of Colleen. Sable thanks Sandman for the help and finishes her battle by kicking Colleen down.
They both rush to attack Misty, who gets distracted. That’s all Paladin needed, and he manages to knock her out. Iron Fist gets worried about her, hence giving Shang-Chi the free opportunity to hit him again, until Fist is down. Shang-Chi quotes that the mistake of caring is to leave one-self open to distraction, meaning getting vulnerable. The Wild Pack notice Madcap, who warns them that Deadpool is a bad boy and deserves a beating. They gather around and are ready to take the merc down. Deadpool notices that he’s a desperate one in a desperate situation. And, when the going gets desperate, the desperate himself gets ready to teleport into safety! And so Wade does and vanishes from sight.
Sable orders her team to pick up the heroes that are defeated, and mentions that she’s going to have some questions for them once they wake up. She mentions to Sandman that he can go to that Avengers meeting after all as she thinks the main target has been neutralized. And, Sable also wants someone to explain why she thought she hired Nomad and wound up with Madcap!
Meanwhile, a plane lands on the roof of Oracle, Inc. White Tiger, Thena and her kids walk out of it, having dropped by for a visit. Tiger meets up with Jim, thanking him for letting them borrow his plane. Jim wants to deal with that later, mentioning they’ve got a situation as a part of the team is down. Tiger immediately worries about Iron Fist. Jim explains that he, along with the other members of this team, are captured. He’s planning on seeing if he can get field a rescue team together, that is unless everyone isn’t off at that Avengers meeting.
Ant-Man isn’t, who is busy at the computer room of the base. He has found a compute,r which seems to be the terminal Cassie told him about, namely the one that she was looking at before she was swallowed up by the Super-Adaptoid. He accesses a file, which is labeled as Hydra-island, the former base of the subversive organization Hydra, which later sunk by the forces of SHIELD. Its current status is that it’s rising from the seabed, as per schedule. Scott asks the computer why it’s tracking this and on who’s authority. The computer apologizes, but that information is only available to one person. Scott wants to know the name of that user. The computer reveals it’s… Luke!
Back at Symkaria, Iron Fist wakes up in a cell. He sees Luke chained on a wall, and he doesn’t know where either Misty or Colleen are, and has absolutely no idea of what happened to Deadpool. And his head feels like someone is chopping it off with a dull icepick! Suddenly, the door opens. It’s Silver Sable, who claims to just be there to talk. Guarded by Shang-Chi, Sable tells Iron Fist that, if he can give her his word that he won’t try to escape, they can perhaps sort things out. Iron Fist agrees. He’s not convinced, but since all bets are off he has no choice. Sable warns that if Fist does try to escape, she’ll have to kill him. She and Danny take off and close the door again.
Luke wakes up, having enough to have to pretend to be knocked out while he isn’t. He gathers enough strength to break free from his chains, and contacts the Master. He reports that he’s in the dungeon like the Master wanted and thinks that maybe now he wants to tell him what this situation is all about. The Master agrees. He explains that it concerns the scientist that is hiding at the base, namely Professor Wolfgang Hessler. Hessler was in the Master’s employ, at least until recently. Hessler, however, didn’t know it was the Master he was working for, or the nature of his plans. When Hessler did become aware of them, he fled to his homeland of Symkaria for protection.
The Master warns Luke that Hessler’s plans are vital his plans. He informs Luke he must use the controller’s disc to download what Hessler knows. The Master orders to leave this channel open and promises he’ll send help, warning that everything else is secondary. Luke jokes that something primary is getting out of his cell, and kicks its door open!
Elsewhere at the base, Misty and Colleen are being interrogated by Madcap. They won’t confess and Madcap quotes that, if that’s the case, they shall use the pluffy pillows! And, if those are not enough, they shall use the comfy chair! Misty hates the lousy Monty Python routines Madcap is quoting. She thought torture was against the Geneva Convention.
Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. Madcap wonders who’s there. He opens the door, and… looks at himself! Surprised, Madcap wonders who the person really is, but then gets knocked out! Deadpool reveals himself, joking that being Madcap made his image inducer want to throw up.
Colleen and Misty are glad to see him, and Deadpool releases them from their bounds and even gives their weapons back. Colleen wonders how Deadpool managed to conceal them. Wade asks Colleen if she reeeaallly wants to know that, because it involves an awful lot of lubricant. Misty tells him to skip it, as she wants to go find Danny. And so, they depart.
As they walk through the hallways, they meet up with Luke and ask him if he knows what happened to Luke. Luke lies that he isn’t sure, lying that he thinks Sable took Iron Fist away to be tortured, claiming he was pretty out of it. He suggests they start kicking doors in until they find the guy.
Meanwhile in his lab, Hessler thinks he’s finally found it. Suddenly, Luke kicks the lab door open! He grabs Hessler by his clothes, informing the others that this is the guy they came there for. Luke threatens that the professor is going to tell them where their friend is, or else he’ll personally put him into orbit. At that very moment, Iron Fist and Silver Sable enter. Danny calms Luke down, explaining he’s fine and that there’s been a terrible mistake made by them!
Luke doesn’t understand. Iron Fist explains that Professor Hessler is a Symkarian national, who was doing genetic research until he learned his work was going to be used as a weapon. He fled here and asked Sable for protection and time. Sable confirms, adding that they were specifically warned about the Heroes for Hire since Hessler was doing work for an offshoot of Oracle, Inc, who are the Heroes’ sponsors! Hessler reveals he has been working on the counter-measure to his earlier work, which he will then give back to the world! It will make the genetic weapons useless. And he has just come up with the solution.
Suddenly, the Master opens an astral projection of himself, and orders Luke that the moment to strike is now! Luke sarcastically thanks Eshu for blowing his cover like this, but informs that the disc is in its place. Iron Fist wants to know what Luke is doing. Luke angrily shouts that he’s taking care of business – his REAL business! The Master warns Luke to keep the disc in place, informing him that his other employees are already downloading directly from Hessler’s brain. He informs that help is on the way. Luke hopes so. Deadpool doesn’t know about his other chumps and chumpettes, but maybe it’s because he doesn’t have such a close personal feeling with Cage, but he knows a traitor when he sees one and starts shooting at Luke!
Much as it pains her to say it, she mentions to the others that Deadpool is right. Luke has gone rogue and they’ve got to stop him. Luke invites them to try. Meanwhile, Paladin and Madcap are hiding behind a corner. Paladin thinks Madcap is right, and that the escapees are back after the professor. Madcap agrees, and they start fighting the others with him hitting Deadpool again. Luke thanks the two, mentioning he’ll use any diversion he can get right now. He hits both Colleen and Sable, knocking them both out. He faces Iron Fist.
Danny doesn’t know what sort of game Luke is playing, but he wants to be let into it. He refuses Luke has turned bad on them. Luke tells Fist he can believe what he wants. He reveals that the only reason he agreed to join this group in the first place was because of the Master’s request. He tries to hit Danny, who gracefully dodges the punch. Sadly, Danny is convinced Luke really is a bad guy now and powers up, thinking his old friend really needs to be stopped. On that moment, the Master’s soldiers materialize inside, telling Iron Fist that the battle is already over and that he has lost.
The soldiers move to Hessler’s direction and want to leave with him. Iron Fist realizes that Hessler is the key and tries to make it to him in time. He tries hitting the soldier nearby Hessler, but he somehow anticipates Danny’s move. The soldier reveals that he’s on every bit Iron Fist’s equal, and even more as well. And he promises Danny he shall soon learn that lesson. The soldier places his hand on Luke’s soldier, telling him the Master bids he returns to him. Luke agrees, and they teleport away!
Silver Sable recovers, and shouts that Iron Fist had a traitor in his group and now that the Master, whoever he is, has access to the most powerful genetic weapon in the world! Danny tries to relax Sable. He tells her that if her group had closed ranks with them instead of blindly attacking, they could have prevented this. Danny knows they will find the Master and his goons. They will also bring Hessler back even if they have to destroy the Master for it. They shall succeed, no matter what or who they will have to go through in order to finish this situation. Danny swears that on his life.
At his citadel, the Master is informed by another of his soldiers that the retrieval team has returned and that all is as he planned. The Master believes then all is as it should be. He promises the soldier he shall be with him in a moment after he has finished with their other “friend.” He orders to open communications line Beta, and it quickly gets done. His computer screens reveal vital statistics about Iron Fist.
As the Master sees it, Daniel Rand remains a problem. He knows K’un Lun will manifest itself wherever he is on that moment. And since K’un Lun poses a threat to the Master’s plans, Iron Fist must die. He orders that Fist and his other Heroes must be dispatched to him right inside the citadel, knowing the hero will be quite eager to find him. He orders his agent to lead them by himself. And once the Heroes are here, especially Iron Fist, can be terminated. He asks his agent if that’s clear.
From his own base, the agent has understood everything perfectly. He promises the Master that all shall be done as he ordered it. He closes communication, and steps out of the shadows. The Master’s secret agent is revealed to be none other than… Jim Hammond?!


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Force Majeure! (Siege of Wundagore Part 1)
Another New York downpour rattles the castle on the Hudson, the safe house which is the current home for the Knights of Wundagore and, now, the High Evolutionary himself. Approaching the castle are two of the Evolutionary’s creations, Bova and Hero for Hire, White Tiger, whom Bova had been sent to retrieve. They chat before their arrival and White Tiger says she is in confusion over what has occurred at Wundagore and why her master is in this place. Bova explains that there was a war in which Exodus and the Acolytes took the citadel during one of their creator’s weak moments, forcing him to go into exile in Antarctica. She tells her that the High Evolutionary is in an unstable state, one moment having the power of a god and the next being barely subhuman.
They arrive at the castle and find Sir Ram on guard duty, who demands they halt. Bova is startled by her sword-wielding comrade but tells him she has come with the White Tiger as their lord asked. He raises his sword and invites them to enter, but says that the lady had better be prepared to account for herself. Bova turns her nose up at him, telling him there’s no need for rudeness. Inside, White Tiger is introduced to some of the Knights: Lady Ursula, Lord Tyger and Lord Gator, who stand before her impassively. Sir Ram informs her that Lady Vermin is preparing the craft, Lord Anon is on patrol and Sir Delphis is in another dimension before telling her to account for herself. Before she does, Lord Tyger leans towards her and sniffs her, saying they know all the New Men, but they don’t know her. She holds her hand outstretched and asks them to open their ears and their minds and she will tell them the purpose of her creation.
(flashback)She explains that the Man-Beast was their creator’s great failure among his creations. He was drawn from the wolf but there was something malignant in his spirit, always seeking to undo their lord’s creations. Though aided by such heroes as Thor, never was the High Evolutionary able to end its existence. so she was created specifically to hunt down the Man-Beast forever.
(present)Lord Tyger thinks about what she’s said and thinks that creating a tiger to hunt a wolf was an excellent idea, but asks her why he wished to use her in particular and not himself. Suddenly, the High Evolutionary himself interjects, telling Lord Tyger that it is because it is his will, asking if that is not enough for him. White Tiger looks very surprised to see him. The three Knights each bow before him as Lord Tyger calls him sire. He replies, saying that, yes, he is sire of them all and asks rhetorically that if he has decided to create a being for a specific purpose then who are they to question him.
He turns his attention to White Tiger, asking if she has found the Man-Beast. She replies that he was taken to the enhanced human prison called ‘the Vault,’ but escaped before she could reach him. The Evolutionary leans into her and, with some annoyance, informs her that he has seen reports of her with the Heroes for Hire. He asks to what purpose, as that was not why she was created. White Tiger stands her ground and says that they are allies and might be useful in dealing with Exodus and taking back Wundagore. “Indeed?” he says, “And you think we need allies?” he replies. White Tiger is not fazed by her creator’s stature and replies with not a little sarcasm, “Ah, then you chose to leave Wundagore when Exodus came. I was misunderstanding.” Her eyes remain fixed on the High Evolutionary and he stares silently back at her from his loftier position, knowing she has a point. He commands her to bring ‘these allies’ but to do so quickly because when they depart, they’ll wait for noone. Immediately, White Tiger takes off, watched by Lord Anon, who is patrolling the area. He has his eyes on her.
In New York City, at Oracle Inc., Iron Fist is explaining his recent adventure to his teammates, finishing off his explanation by telling them that they returned the key to S.H.I.E.L.D but he still has no idea what happened to his sister. It wasn’t the vacation he’d planned but he’d learned he has a family and is not alone. Listening to his tale are Jim Hammond, Oracle’s CEO, Luke Cage, the Black Knight, Thena, She-Hulk and Ant-Man. Luke explains things in simple terms; they are his family. She-Hulk grins and says that actually he’s more client than family so far as she’s concerned. “Love you too Jennifer,” Danny replies with a thumbs up. Suddenly, they are interrupted by White Tiger, who has returned from meeting the High Evolutionary. Her body is enlarged and, in mid-transformation, her muscles are particularly pumped from the exertion her journey has taken out of her. She begs for their help, telling them she promised the High Evolutionary, her master, that she would help take back Wundagore from Exodus.
Jim Hammond is angry and tells her that she shouldn’t have done that. They have other assignments, other priorities, other clients waiting on them. Danny asks him to hold it. He thinks that maybe it’s time they decide where their priorities lie. Are they Heroes for Hire or Heroes for Hire? Jim replies that they have obligations and if they choose not to honor them then they may as well disband the H4H. He turns and watches the fish swimming outside his window as Danny tells her a teammate has asked for help and he’s going to give it. Fifty years ago, he adds, he himself would have done the same thing. Temporarily speechless, Jim turns and tells them that he’ll cover them for twenty-four hours; then he’ll need them back there. If they’re not, he’ll disband the team and they can do as they please.
White Tiger has by now calmed down and reduced her body to its normal size. Iron Fist asks her if they can speak a moment. He tells her that he’s already been to see Misty, who told him about the confrontation they’d had. White Tiger looks embarrassed as she turns to him, saying that she is sorry. The feelings she has, love and jealousy, are strange and overwhelming. Danny says he can appreciate that but she has to understand that he loves Misty. He values White Tiger as a friend and as an ally and wasn’t aware of her feelings. He doesn’t want to hurt her but he can’t encourage her either. He asks if she understands. She slinks away from him, head bowed, replying, “That the one I love does not love me? Yes, why this should be so? No. The rest is of no importance now. My lord, the High Evolutionary needs us and we must go.”
Over at the castle on the Hudson, the High Evolutionary is performing experiments on strange creatures, using very hi-tech machinery. A large skeleton lies in a tank, filled with a green solution, and skulls and other body parts bubble away in smaller flasks around him. Lord Anon descends the steep staircase behind him but, before he gets halfway down, Wyndham asks him what he wants; he had left orders not to be disturbed. Anon doesn’t apologize, but informs him that Quicksilver has not yet come back after returning the Avengers Quinjet he had borrowed. He asks whether they should wait for him. The Evolutionary says that Maximoff has been a disappointment to him. He gave him charge over his Knights, yet he is always elsewhere, with the Inhumans, the Avengers, never where he should be.
Anon inquisitively asks what it is he is holding in his hand. Wyndham replies that it is something (a scepter) he created to house Isotope E, the only substance able to stabilize the erratic changes in his own body and that which the accursed Exodus most craves. It will allow him to channel its mutagenic properties into a beam, which makes it easier to control. “Fascinating," replies Lord Anon with a stare, his underlying malevolence managing to remain hidden. The Evolutionary stands before another huge tank with an evolved creature in it and tells Lord Anon to go and prepare for their leaving. They will not wait for Pietro Maximoff.
In the skies nearby, the Heroes for Hire are travelling in their Atlantean vehicle towards the Hudson River. Dane Whitman is asked whether he knows how to fly it properly and he replies that it’s not unlike the Quinjets he is used to. He’s still getting used to the controls but there’s nothing to worry about, though it might be safer if everyone was strapped in. Luke Cage is the co-pilot. Dane tells them that he’s been to the castle before, so he knows where they’re headed. The one thing that concerns him is coming face-to-face with Exodus again, after all, he’s learned about their shared past. Soon, as the vehicle approaches the castle, whipping up the river into a fine spray, he notices that they have a welcoming committee.
Standing guard is Lady Ursula. Brandishing a weapon, she demands to know what business they have there. White Tiger tries to calm her, telling her that these are the allies she spoke of earlier and asks for less hastiness from her. The other Knights, Sir Ram, Lord Gator and Lord Tyger, arrive and Sir Ram is surprised at their small number. From what White Tiger had said, he was expecting a battalion. Luke whispers to Danny, “Whoa! Get a load of these creature feature rejects, Fist!” White Tiger, standing before an imposing Lord Gator, informs her fellow New Men that their worth and value exceed their numbers. “You all, certainly, must be greater than you appear, yes?” she asks, again making another good point.
At that moment, Lord Anon appears having completed his share of the preparations. His scent is immediately picked up by White Tiger and Lord Anon halts, saying that he didn’t expect them to return so soon. With a growl, White Tiger immediately leaps at Lord Anon but is deflected as he takes evasive action and struck with his sword. He raises his sword and is about to kill her when Iron Fist takes him out with a foot to the chin, knocking the sword from his hand. “Attack one, attack all,” he cries. “So we believe,” replies Lord Gator as he sweeps the feet from under him.
Before any sense can be heard from any corner, an all-out brawl begins. Luke strikes Lord Gator with a right cross before the two groups of heroes find themselves standing facing from each other, aggression taking over from reason. They seemed evenly matched with the pairings being Luke Cage vs. Lady Ursula, Black Knight vs. Sir Ram, Iron Fist vs. Lord Tyger and Ant-Man/Ignatz vs. Lady Vermin. Luke yells, “Yo Fist! We need us a battle-cry! How about ‘Kick butt Heroes?” Danny replies that he should do it rather than say it.
Sir Ram is pleased that the Black Knight is at last someone to test his mettle but the Black Knight is no pushover, quickly attacking, asking Sir Ram to guess what the failing grade is. Iron Fist is swift and agile but finds Lord Tyger even more so. They leap over each other, Lord Tyger asking him if he knows the secret of a good attack? He answers his question himself. “Give your opponent no chance to counter-attack.” Iron Fist realizes he isn’t and wills himself to think faster.
Ant-Man, meanwhile, riding the deviant creature Ignatz though a little smaller than Lady Vermin and is concerned that a bio-electric blast might kill her. However, he finds he has little choice and lets her have it, shocking her with a painful blast which makes her fur stand on end and her body jerk violently. She quickly attacks, despite the pain, and uses her blasters to knock Ant-Man off his steed. Ignatz is downed but Lady Vermin can find no trace of its rider. A voice in her ear surprises her as Ant-Man tells her he got smaller and a little closer so he could use his zapper close to her brain. This time, the blast knocks Lady Vermin clean out and Scott changes to full-size, thinking that the fight seems wrong; as if someone or something is wanting them to fight. Lady Ursula meanwhile asks Luke if he is holding back but he replies that his grandma told him never to hit ladies. Of course, she never mentioned bears. He lands a left hook in Lady Ursula’s face but she barely flinches (sorry) and returns his punch with interest, sending him flying.
Inside the castle, the High Evolutionary and Bova ascend the lab’s staircase as he hears noises above. He asks if the Knights are still practicing but Bova isn’t sure. As he gets topside, he witnesses the fight and asks Ant-Man what is the meaning of this. He replies that they came there as friends and something went wrong. The Evolutionary doesn’t suffer fools gladly and wields his scepter which crackles with the energy of Isotope E. Everyone stares at him as he tells them he will set things right. He says that though the Isotope is unable to permanently cure his own body’s destabilization, he can still employ its mutagenic properties to devolve them to subhuman. With this, he blasts the Heroes for Hire who scream as the Isotope rips through their bodies.
Lord Anon is quick to point out that White Tiger attacked him for no reason. He said he defended himself and White Tiger’s friends beset upon them. Bova shows concern for her fellow New Man, asking if they should help the White Tiger as she appears to be hurt but the High Evolutionary replies that she should leave her, leave them all. She was a traitor he says and they were her tools. They leave now for Wundagore, to take back what is theirs. As he turns and leaves, the Heroes for Hire are left confused and, despite still being in costume, have been devolved into savage apes.


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Crisis! (Siege of Wundagore Part 3)
At the headquarters of Oracle Inc., White Tiger is still being treated for the sword wound she received from the Man-Beast. Her carers, Iron Fist and Dr. Jane Foster, still have her strapped to a machine on a tilted table with foot holders and a waist grip, which keeps White Tiger relatively still while Iron Fist uses his chi to try and heal her. He holds her hand as energy crackles around them both, the pain causing White Tiger to convulse as the energy does its work. Dr. Foster watches her struggle as Iron Fist tries to keep her calm, assuring her that his chi will heal her, asking her not to fight it. Dr. Foster is amazed. She has seen plenty of people with the power to topple buildings but she rarely meets anyone with the power to heal as well as harm.
Elsewhere in the building, several of Iron Fist’s colleagues have gathered while the Black Knight is debriefed by Jim Hammond, Oracle’s CEO. He explains recent events and mentions that White Tiger attacked Lord Anon. Jim asks what manner of creature Lord Anon is and Quicksilver replies that they don’t know, as he is always encased in armor from head to toe. Neither he nor the Knights have ever seen him out of it. He adds that, when he returned to their headquarters, the Haven, after bringing White Tiger there, he found a group of Exodus’s Acolytes preparing to kill the rest of his team. He didn’t allow this and, when they later spontaneously re-evolved, the Acolytes teleported away, after finding neither the High Evolutionary nor Isotope E.
Jim, stroking his cat, understands but still doesn’t know why White Tiger attacked Lord Anon. White Tiger appears with Iron Fist, who has his arm around her shoulder, evidently recovered enough to speak. She tells Jim that she attacked him because he is a traitor. His scent revealed him to be the Man-Beast, the greatest failure and most implacable foe of her creator, the High Evolutionary, and whose destruction was the purpose of her creation. She continues to say that her creator is in great danger, himself advancing and regressing through the evolutionary scale, physically unstable.
Behind her, Ant-Man suddenly begins to take a turn for the worse, devolving once more into an ape-like being. His subhuman state causes him to fly into a rage and begin smashing things as Luke Cage tries to tell him not to panic. Lang roars and punches Luke in the face with his huge fist, which Luke feels, even through his steel-hard skin. He shrugs the effects off and returns the blow, striking Ant-Man’s stomach, which knocks him for six. As he lies unconscious against the wall, he slowly begins to return to his normal human form and the Black Knight tells Jim that they’re all evolutionarily unstable, and their only prayer of getting right is with the High Evolutionary and Isotope E. “Then that’s where you’re all going,” commands Jim.
Over at Wundagore Mountain, meanwhile, the Man-Beast stands over the fallen Evolutionary, laughing insanely whilst holding the scepter containing Isotope E in one hand and his sword in the other. Sir Ram furiously calls him a savage, unnatural creation and questions whether he has killed their lord and maker. The Man-Beast holds his sword to Wyndham’s neck and replies that he hasn’t, as that would be a foolish waste of prime hostage material. He tells the Knights that he knows the hate they bear him but so long as the High Evolutionary’s life is in his hands, they will obey him. Without warning, Lady Vermin leaps at him and uses her blaster to cause the Man-Beast pain and, when he reels from her vicious attack, Sir Ram, Lady Ursula and Lord Tyger waste no time in taking advantage of their opportunity. They leap at him as one, while Bova picks up the Evolutionary; Lady Vermin telling her that he stirs. Bova replies that they will get him to safety.
The Man-Beast, meanwhile, defends himself against the Knights by firing at them with the sceptre, which focuses his psi-blasts. He asks them to count themselves lucky, for if he didn’t need the Isotope for greater purposes they would now be devolved back to their animal selves. A voice behind him makes him turn abruptly as Exodus and the Acolytes appear. Exodus tells the Man-Beast that it is a good place to start, but why stop there. There are so many abominations in the world that need to be cleansed; that is why they seized the citadel and all of the High Evolutionary’s secrets many months ago. As the Kleinstocks, Scanner, Senyaka and Spoor look on, Exodus continues to say that it was very kind of them all to come and deliver themselves, their lord and the Isotope to him, asking if they thought they could sneak into Transia undetected.
The Man-Beast calls his name and Exodus introduces his Acolytes as all being servants of their lord, Magneto and his dream of homo superior’s ascendancy; a dream wherein Isotope E has a profound role to play. “It is mine,” screams the Man-Beast, “I have my own dreams and I will not share. You will be less than human.” With that, he raises the scepter and fires a bright green blast towards them, forcing Exodus to erect his psi-shields immediately. He commands his Acolytes to leave this to him, telling them to find and destroy the Evolutionary and his Knights. He informs the Man-Beast that he has placed a psi-barrier between them and will not fall to the likes of him. The Acolytes quickly attack the Knights present, Scanner high-kicking Lady Ursula while Senyaka uses his energy whips to put Lord Tyger on the back foot, smashing his shield as he curls the whips across the room, making him drop his sword. Scanner asks him not to destroy them all with his energy whips and to leave the rest of them some fun but Senyaka replies that he promises nothing but death!
Very high over the Atlantic Ocean, Thena and She-Hulk fly with the others, piloting their craft as they head for Transia. Thena says that she thought Jennifer only signed on as a lawyer and she replies that the situation’s serious and the Heroes for Hire were short handed; she was once an Avenger after all. Luke tells them that it’s lucky they can both drive as they were the only ones not exposed to Isotope E and it wouldn’t do for them to revert to subhuman in mid-flight. The Black Knight states that this is the reason he dare not summon Strider. He could destroy his own steed and thinks that he may be unable to call him again. Scott is probably the sorriest, wondering about his daughter, Cassie, and he frets over whether he’ll be able to go near her again. What if he reverts? What might he do to her?
Quicksilver reassures them, telling them not to trouble themselves. They will find the High Evolutionary and he will see to it personally that he restores them. He informs them that, before the Avengers and the Fantastic Four left on their respective missions, he arranged with them to have word sent to Lord Delphis, the Knights’ greatest scientist, currently residing in Arkon’s dimension. He will come to help.
Their destination is a scene of turmoil. Exodus and the Man-Beast are fairly evenly matched as they try and force the other to make a mistake. Scanner and Senyaka gloat about having forced Lady Ursula and Lord Tyger into a dead end, telling them that it is a good place to die, but Ursula replies that if they must die then they shall, but she and Lord Tyger have sought only a delaying action. Lord Gator continues her sentence, telling the Acolytes that it was to allow the cavalry to arrive. He and Sir Ram fly overhead on atomic steeds, blasting away at the Acolytes, which allows their comrades to flee to the armory and see what they can make use of.
On their way there, they meet Bova and ask her if their lord shows any signs of recovery. Bova replies that she fears not, although she doesn’t know whether his unconsciousness is due to something that the Man-Beast did, or the stress of the rapid changes his body now endures. Lady Ursula picks up a ‘really big gun’ and replies, “Then we will fight for him!” Bova reminds her that the plain truth is they cannot hope to defeat both Exodus and the Man-Beast can they? Ursula, now sporting a host of accessories, turns to her and admits that they can’t. The attack on the citadel was a mistake from the first, but they must still find a way to destroy their foes and regain Isotope E. They will die to protect him and asks, “Is that not why we were created?” Bova replies by asking whether that is the reason they were created. She had always hoped it was for something greater.
Lord Tyger and Lady Ursula fly from the armory on their atomic steeds and enter the battle, finding Lord Gator and Sir Ram taking on a group of Acolytes in a vicious confrontation. The tall and muscular Javitz grabs Sir Ram’s steed and topples him but he draws his sword and prepares to defend himself from Gargouille, who swoops toward him. Melloncamp swipes at Lord Gator, sending even him rocking backwards.
As the fight continues, in Transian airspace, the Heroes for Hire and Quicksilver discuss plans for their arrival at Wundagore. Pietro tells them that the first place the Knights would go would be the armory, if it survived intact, as they would want weapons. White Tiger agrees. Luke asks Danny whether his iron fist might possibly have some healing power, which would stop them from reverting, but he replies that he isn’t sure. Overextending himself again might have adverse results like it has in the past. Luke says he doesn’t want that, it’s just that all his life he has battled for some dignity and respect. Reverting to subhuman makes him less human than he’s made himself. Danny reminds him that it’s only his body that changes. If the body fails, the soul remains and they are still who they are, and his is a great soul. Luke smiles and tells him that when they get back, they’ll have to find him a storefront and install him as a preacher, ‘cause he’s got the calling.
Once their craft arrives at the citadel, Quicksilver immediately carries out a reconnaissance. He says that there are signs of battle but no trace of the High Evolutionary or the Knights; and there is blood within the armory itself. The team head inside and White Tiger sniffs, finding signs of blood but not the Knights, and Pietro says that it’s probably Acolyte blood. She-Hulk doesn’t like the feeling she’s getting and her concerns grow when Thena holds up the Evolutionary’s helmet, which she found kicked to one side. There are traces of blood on it and some energy scoring. She-Hulk says this is definitely bad, at which point a voice behind her says that it depends upon your outlook. She looks over her shoulder and finds Exodus and the Man-Beast gloating smugly behind her. The Man-Beast informs her that, after a horrific first encounter, he and Exodus have come to a meeting of minds as it were, deciding they have much in common. Exodus adds that they have joined forces to share Isotope E, and their next step, he suggests, is to surrender.
White Tiger begins to change into her feral form but Iron Fist tries to calm her down, telling her that he knows she wants to kill the Man-Beast but they must first see where they stand. Astonishingly, especially for Pietro, he finds the Knights standing with the Acolytes. Lady Ursula tells him that they must do as they say. They have taken their lord and if they do not do their will, they will slay him. She bids him surrender. Quicksilver’s impetuousness takes over as he says, “What! Have we come all this way for nothing?” He rushes towards them, saying the battle is not yet joined, let alone lost. “Once I have Isotope E…”
Before he finishes, he is prevented from reaching the Man-Beast, who creates a shield with but a thought, and Pietro bounces away. The Man-Beast has plans for the Heroes for Hire but, before he can inform them what they are, the Heroes prepare for action; Ant-Man upon Ignatz, Thena, Iron Fist, the Black Knight, Luke Cage, She-Hulk and White Tiger, all standing in a large room facing overwhelming odds. Scanner leaps towards them, telling them that they don’t understand. The Knights have no choice and they go up against the combined forces of the Acolytes and the Knights. Luke remarks that he now knows how Custer felt.
Lord Gator has the first strike, left-hooking Luke Cage’s chin as White Tiger and Lord Tyger duke it out and Ant-Man once again takes on Lady Vermin. Iron Fist, meanwhile, knocks the breath from Melloncamp and She-Hulk uses her super strength to clear a path through several Acolytes. Carmella Unuscione uses her psionic exoskeleton to prevent Thena from breathing and she feels herself beginning to black out. Sir Ram once again takes on the Black Knight, to determine who the better swordsman is, whilst Milan takes out Iron Fist from behind. In the midst of battle, Luke begins to revert to his subhuman form and, as the fight rages uncontrollably around him, he begins to lose his self-control. Lady Ursula manages to knock the wind from the Black Knight, as She-Hulk finally succumbs to overwhelming numbers.
Though the Heroes for Hire fought valiantly, their numbers, in the end, just weren’t enough and they lie on the floor, beaten along with Quicksilver as a low growl starts to erupt from Cage. Suddenly, he stands, now in full subhuman state, and throws off several Acolytes, including Senyaka and the Kleinstock’s, shouting, “Still am Cage! Am Luke Cage.” He is trying to grasp onto the last remnants of his humanity but a voice nearby simply says, “So what?”
Cage sees Exodus and the Man-Beast standing a few feet away from him and Exodus taunts him, telling the Man-Beast that it is turning towards them, asking, “Should we be afraid?” The Man-Beast smirks as he replies that he doesn’t think so. It bellowed its name as if that meant something but, in truth, it never did. All it has done, he adds, is to show them its true nature. For all its posturing, it is simply another animal after all. Luke attacks with a roar but the Man-Beast blasts him with the sceptre, which not only knocks Luke unconscious, but also reverts him to his human state. With the battle won, the Man-Beast raises aloft the sceptre, which glows green with energy, and adds that it doesn’t matter; soon they will simply be carrion.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Danny and the Pirates
Nighttime in the South China Sea, three speedboats make their way towards a freighter. Once they reach the freighter, the highly trained assassins board the boat and silently make their way towards the control room where the man driving the ship sings “and the Captain said Brandy, you’re a fine girl…”
Just then, he is shot in the back of the head and the assassins inform their bosses that the bridge is secure. Entering the Captain’s room, a young lady carrying two sais informs the sleeping Captain that he better wake up, his ship is being taken over by pirates. Waking up, the Captain asks “pirates?” The young lady tells him yes. She is one herself. Her name is Sai. They are opening the safe for harbor fees now. Also, they require stone warrior woman. Denial, refusal, is death. For him, for all ship, he will come now.
Inside the radio room, the ship’s radio controller calls out S.O.S., S.O.S.! The freighter Corto Maltese is under attack by pirates. Repeat, under attack by pirates. Bearings… Before he can finish his thought, the radio room is blown up. Once it has been, the assassins inform their boss, Lionmane that the radio room is secured and that the communications are disabled. The safe is also opened and the stone warrior woman is being transferred.
Lionmane replies excellent and asks about the crew. They inform him that all have been accounted for except for the cook. Lionmane asks the cook? Popping out of a smoke stack, the cook thinks to himself take out the leader, the rest fall and proceeds to shoot Lionmane in the back with his handgun. Once he does, Lionmane’s assassin followers unload on the smokestack, killing the cook. Turning around, Lionmane tells his brothers not to be worried. The bullet is not made that can harm him. He then tells them to take what they are after and ago. Time is not their friend and they have appointments to keep in Madripoor.
At the Heroes for Hire headquarters, the Captain of the Corto Maltese informs Jim Hammond, Iron Fist, Colleen Wing, Cat, and Jim’s female assistant that just like that, they were gone. Iron Fist asks pirates, in this day and age? The Captain replies yes. They are not the first to be hit in this manner, he assures him. Every harbor has its own fees and they must carry cash. Some places require gold or silver or jewels. He also knew about the stone warrior woman. Mr. Smythe, sitting next to the Captain, explains that it was a large stone statue depicting Mulan, a woman warrior on which many legends are based. The statue was taken to England in about 1900 and was being returned. It is culturally very important.
He then asks Mr. Hammond that he has heard of Mulan before. Hammond replies that he has never heard of her or it. He then says to Smythe to tell him what his clients want from Heroes for Hire. Smythe replies that he represents a consortium of insurance companies, all losing money to this Lionmane. Getting cooperation from the governments in the area is, ah, difficult. They suspect the pirates may be military units of one of the region’s governments doing a little, ah, shall they say… moonlighting? Iron Fist states that from what Lionmane said, they think the stone warrior statue is going to be auctioned off in Madripoor. Their sources suggest China believes Madripoor is behind the pirates. The Chinese are talking about mounting an expedition to retrieve that statue, and wipe out Madripoor.
Hammond quips that given Madripoor’s rep and history, maybe not a bad thing. Smythe replies no, if they are behind the pirates. His clients wish to be sure, and to see the pirates shut down. Iron Fist states to which end, they’ve started to assemble a special H4H team. He introduces himself as Iron Fist and he’ll be leading the mission. He then introduces Colleen Wing of Nightwing Restorations, one of his oldest friends and an expert swords-person. There is also the martial artist Shen Kuei, also known as the Cat. He has been active in the mercenary field and they may have contacts they do not.
Standing off to the side, Cat tells Smythe that it is so. In fact, they do not really need these others, only him. While he is not cheap, he will cost less than them. Is he interested? Shooting Cat a dirty look, Iron Fist says he thinks that’s unlikely. Given his somewhat checkered past, their clients were reluctant to have him on the team. He convinced them. He then tells Cat not to think of this as a solo job. Iron Fist then tells Smythe that they have one more member of their team. Someone who has recently been in Madripoor and knows what is going on there. He is a true master of kung fu, and most other martial arts. It is his honor to present Shang-Chi. Emerging, Shang-Chi tells Danny it is a pleasure to behold him once more.
Bowing, Iron Fist presents to Shang-Chi Colleen Wing, a sister in spirit. Bowing to her, Shang-Chi tells her that he has heard of her beauty and skill, it is a pleasure to meet her. As he walks by Cat, who has a cat tattoo on his chest, she doesn’t bow and says to him “hello Britisher,” she heard he got himself a tattoo. Shang-Chi replies “temporary only,” to blend into the world in which he then moved. He would not permanently defile his body in such a manner.
Shang-Chi then informs Hammond and the rest of H4H that as they may know, Madripoor was recently taken over by the former head of HYDRA known as Viper. The underworld itself, however, is still run by a woman calling herself Tyger Tyger. The stone warrior woman is to be auctioned off in Madripoor in 36 hours. Hammond proceeds to ask Danny how soon he can get his team to Madripoor. They’ll go as one of the potential buyers, spread out around the place, see who bids and buys, and what they can dig up about who put Mulan up for sale.
Thirty-five hours later, in a Madripoor warehouse, Colleen says to Danny that this stinks. Danny, in plain clothes, tells her it’s probably the harbor she smells. Colleen replies that she’s serious. Nightwing Restorations has seen a lot of illegal art auctions. It’s all done with computer hook-ups and wire transfers to unnumbered accounts. Central location, in person bidding, no one does it that way anymore. This smells of a set-up.
At that moment, a voice calls out well, well, the inestimable Shang-Chi. Jessica Drew then asks Shang-Chi if he remembers her, clings to walls, fires venom blasts, once known as Spider-Woman, working the private side as a P.I. now. She then asks him if he’s there on a “game of deceit and death.” Shang-Chi tells her that he is there with his friends. He assumes she is also there in regards to the stone warrior woman. Jessica tells him that she’s been asked by those who did own it to retrieve it or, at least, see where it goes.
She then asks him where “little Leiko” is. Facing her, Shang-Chi tells her that they are like two rivers, sometimes flowing together, sometimes flowing apart. Jessica says personally, she wouldn’t let him out of her sight. From the way he was looking around, he assumes someone he knows has gotten out of sight. Shang-Chi states Shen Kuei – Cat. At that moment, the auctioneer reveals the Mulan statue and tells everyone that bidding begins at 3 million dollars, no checks. If they are ready to begin… From the shadows, Wolverine watches the proceedings and pops his bone claws in anticipation.
Just then, members of the Chinese military burst through the wall of the warehouse. As they do, one of the commanders calls out attack, in the name of the People’s Democratic Republic of China. Grabbing the auctioneer by the throat, General Lo Chien states that they are seizing the stone warrior woman in the name of the Chinese people. When the auctioneer begins to protest, Lo Chien shoots him and tells him that he will be surrendering now.
At that moment, a number of thugs pull out their weapons and say “big mistake blowhard.” Madripoor’s their turf and they defend what is theirs. As the members of Heroes for Hire begin to battle members of the military and the Madripoor thugs, Jessica states that she’s certainly glad she’s been lumped in with all of them. This will do her rep there so much good. She then tells Shang-Chi to watch his foot. Shang-Chi tells her that his movements are precise. Stay where she is and she is in no danger.
As he fights, Danny remarks that he has one question – has anyone seen Cat? Standing behind on of the crates, Cat lights up a cigarette and watches what is happening. Shang-Chi answers no, but their opponents are many and they are few. Jessica says that they could use reinforcements. She doesn’t suppose the cavalry is coming anytime soon. Just then, Wolverine leaps into action and slashes through the members of the military and the thugs. As the heroes continue to battle, the Mulan statue suddenly explodes.
Holding a smoking gun, General Lo Chien calls out that the stone warrior woman has been destroyed. They, Heroes for Hire, blew it up rather than see it fall into their hands. He then orders his troops to fall back. They will return with their full forces to exact their revenge. Shang-Chi says to Danny that their covers blown and they’re going to be none too popular. They should get out of there. Danny agrees but asks to where. Wolverine tells them to follow him unless they feel like fightin’ the whole flamin’ island. With that, they make their way quickly out of the warehouse.
In a safe house that the mutant known as Wolverine keeps in Madripoor, Wolverine informs H4H that they are now persona non grata in Madripoor and the authorities will want to talk to all of them. Jessica remarks then they’re in a world of trouble seeing as how Mr. Logan there is married to the witch running Madripoor. Wolverine informs Jess that he ain’t there on Viper’s behalf. He still has friends there, even if she’s no longer one of ‘em, and Madripoor’s being set up. Danny then asks if anyone there knew the Chinese general who crashed the party. Jessica says that he is Lo Chien. He is a decorated general and very powerful man who inspires fanatical loyalty in his men, thought to be a man of intellectual gifts and great vision. If he says he’s coming back with bigger guns, believe him.
Danny thanks her for the information and then recommends that they pool their resources and work together on this. Jessica says they might as well, provided they really are Heroes for Hire. Her assignment went boom along with the statue. Danny then asks Logan what he says. Logan replies “no way he’s workin’ with you freakin’ amateurs.” When Danny asks “amateurs,” Logan tells him yeah, amateurs. They waltzed into a hornet’s nest without really thinkin’ things through. This is Madripoor, they play for keeps there. He’s surprised at Shang-Chi and Shen Kuei. They’ve been around the block long enough to know the ropes and Jess, she lives there. He then tells Rand that he’s a rank amateur in the spy game and that’s going to get him and everyone near him killed, no thanks. He’s outta there. They’re welcome to crash ‘til dawn but then he wants them gone. Try not to attract undue attention doin’ it and keep outta his way.
Once Logan leaves, Jessica remarks that she says they get out sooner. She’s not convinced Logan isn’t working for Viper, no matter what he says. She doesn’t trust him anymore; he’s not the man she once knew. Danny states that he guesses it’s time for Plan B.
The next evening, on the South China seas, Iron Fist and Shang-Chi stands on a freighter. Shang-Chi asks him that this is Plan B. Iron Fist tells him “yep.” Hire a ship and let word drift out that it’s trying to get valuables out of Madripoor before the Chinese move in. Crew it with mercs and them and Jessica Drew and see if the pirates rise to the bait. Shang-Chi tells him good plan. Iron Fist asks “for an amateur?” Shang-Chi responds that a good plan is a good plan and advises him not to let Wolverine’s words afflict him. He is gruff but his heart is good, like another he knows, Black Jack Tarr.
He then tells Iron Fist that he knows his name means “the rising and advancing of a spirit” yet his path, from dealing with his father onwards, has not often allowed his spirit to grow. Putting his hand on Iron Fist’s shoulder, he tells him that this “mission” is not so important as the growth of his spirit. He would prefer him to be an “amateur” than know what he knows. Iron Fist tells him thanks but wonders to himself what he would say if he knew about his summoning K’Un Lun and the danger it puts the whole world in.
Interrupting the two of them, Colleen informs Danny that word’s just come over the radio that China is preparing to invade Madripoor. Colleen then asks Danny why he thinks the statue exploded. There were no grenades or rockets and the auctioneer seemed to know Lo Chien. Shang-Chi states that Lionmane’s men strike with military precision and Lo Chien commands a precision military unit. Iron Fist then asks that they’re saying that Lionmane may be Lo Chien, what’s his real goal? Jessica says to wipe out Madripoor? China, like several other governments in the region, has been looking for an excuse. Colleen asks Shen Kuei what he thinks. Cat replies that he thinks their ruse is now pointless. Assuming Lo Chien is Lionmane and that his true target is Madripoor, he will have no interest in their ship. Iron Fist agrees and orders the captain to come about and make for Madripoor.
That night, Iron Fist mentions to Cat that he never did tell him where he went to during the Madripoor fight. Cat replies no, he did not. Iron Fist tells him to tell him now. Cat asks why, does he not trust him? Iron Fist replies that he can toss him further than he can trust him. Cat asks if that’s a challenge. Keep in mind, last time they confronted one another, it was he who beat him.
Just then, the Heroes for Hire freighter is attacked. Once it is hit, Iron Fist calls out to his teammates that it’s going down and to abandon ship. As they leap off the ship, Colleen asks if they think the pirates took the bait. Jessica asks where their ship is then. Jumping into the water, Iron Fist asks Shang-Chi if he knows what happened to Shen Kuei. Shang-Chi replies he has nine lives. Landing in the water and seeing three sharks heading towards them, Shang-Chi thinks to himself that they just did the aquatic version of “out of the frying pan, into the fire.”


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Sold Out!
The H4H have put together a special team to investigate piracy in the South China seas, specifically near the island of Madripoor. The team consists of Iron Fist, Shang-Chi, Jessica Drew, Colleen Wing and Shen Kuei, aka Cat. Things aren’t going well. The ship they were on has exploded and the water they are in is infested with sharks. And, because this is the last issue, no one has to come back alive. Worried yet?
As a shark heads quickly towards Iron Fist, he thinks to himself that there is blood in the water and that it must be from some of the crew members caught in the explosion. The sharks are in a feeding frenzy. They can’t dodge them forever. Observing Shang-Chi punching a shark, Fist notices that he’s taking care of himself but the water softens his blows. His best chance is to concentrate his chi until his fist is as iron. When the shark charges him again, Fist punches the shark with all his strength and destroys it. He and Shang-Chi then use it to their advantage to get to the surface while the other sharks feed on their friend.
Upon reaching the surface, Fist asks Shang if he’s okay. Shang replies that he is, although he is saddened by his choice to kill the shark. Fist states that it wanted to kill him. Shang remarks perhaps, but there was no malice in it. The shark was simply being true to its nature. Perhaps in killing it, they are simply being true to theirs. Standing on a piece of wreckage nearby Colleen Wing stands with Jessica Drew and implores their teammates to hurry out of the water. Some of the fuel oil’s caught fire.
Once they get onto the wreckage, Fist asks if there has been any sign of Shen Kuei. Colleen asks “Cat?” No, although some of the crew members escaped. She then asks what he thinks caused the explosion. Jessica remarks that there is a tremor in the water. Just then, a large submarine emerges from the water and knocks over their wreckage. Shang states that it is a guess, but he thinks this caused the explosion on the ship. A further guess, but he would say that Lionmane took the bait. He tells Fist that his plan was successful, although not completely.
Standing on top of the submarine, Lionmane greets Iron Fist and states that he believes he was seeking him. Flanked by Sai, Lionmane orders his followers to take the four captives below and to guard them carefully. Do not take their eyes from them. Do not permit them to speak. They are dangerous but, perhaps, necessary to his plans. He then gives the order to kill all the other survivors. Watching the survivors of the ship being gunned down in cold-blood, Fist thinks to himself that perhaps Shang-Chi was right. Perhaps killing is being true to their nature.
And while the remnants of the H4H team are hustled into the submarine and it submerges to its new destination, back in New York, at Oracle, Inc. – headquarters for the Heroes for Hire – a different drama unfolds.
In his office, looking out the window, Jim Hammond is informed by his assistant, Mrs. Arbogast that someone is there to see him. Jim replies that the away team is late in checking in and asks if she could ask whoever it is to come back later. Arbogast informs him that is probably unwise considering it is Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner. He knows, the one who owns Oracle…
Turning around, Jim tells Namor that it is good to see him. Namor replies that he may not think so when he tells him why he has come – he’s sold Oracle, Inc. Enraged, Jim asks why. He thought he was pleased with what they’ve been doing there. Namor tells him that he has rethought. Oracle was founded to work on environmental concerns, and the Heroes for Hire operation drags it further and further away from that. He also no longer thinks it wise to channel Atlantean wealth into a surface corporation. If the world is to be saved, it will not be done by corporate executives. Jim asks what will happen to all the people who work there. Namor says no doubt most will continue to do so. There may be some cutbacks, but that is a given in any corporate restructuring.
Slamming his flaming fist onto the desk, Jim says blast it, these are people’s lives they’re talking about here. Good people who have done good work, who have mortgages and need health care and so on. They operate lean and mean as it is. They can’t treat them like chaff. Namor states that he will see that their needs are taken care of. If they are good people, they should be able to find other jobs and quickly. His first loyalty is to his own subjects. The fate of the employees, and of the Heroes for Hire, rests with Oracle’s new owners.
Back aboard the submarine, Iron Fist, Shang-Chi, Colleen Wing and Jessica Drew are shackled to a pole while they are watched by a nearby guard. Jessica whispers to Danny that she assumes there is some reason he hasn’t used his Iron Fist to free them from this yet. Danny replies two reasons. First, he used it a little while ago and need to rest. Second, it seems the best idea is to let Lionmane take them back to his base. He wants them alive for some reason, and they can better figure out their next move from there. Colleen tells him that if he tries and pretends this was all part of some plan, he’ll haul off and hit him herself.
The nearby guard yells at them not to talk. Shang then asks his fellow teammates if they noticed that the guard speaks only Chinese. Fist agrees and says that pretty much tells them who Lionmane really is. What they don’t know is that they have an ace up their sleeve. He doesn’t think Cat was drowned. Shang states that he agrees, but for different reasons and he doesn’t know that it is a good thing. Just then, the guard comes up behind Shang, punches him in the back of the head, and tells him no talk! Fist calls him a dirty… and remarks that maybe it is time for the iron fist. Shang tells him to bide his time, he is not hurt. Wait for the proper moment.
Hours pass, although the prisoners cannot tell how many. The submarine finally docks and the prisoners are brought out to get their first glimpse of the pirate’s lair.
After exiting the submarine, Fist says to Lionmane that it is impressive. Few governments could afford such a base as this, which makes him think that this is a government base. Which would make him the Chinese General Lo Chien, is he right? Removing his mask, Lo Chien replies that is more comfortable. He then admits that he is and remarks that it is time they are all honest with each other. In that spirit, let him introduce them his latest associate, Shen Kuei, also called Cat. Shocked, Fist asks but…?
Shang replies that he had thought as much. Still, it saddens him. He, Shen Kuei was once a man of honor. Cat informs him that he is what he has always been – a mercenary – for hire. He tells Rand that he does not pose or pretend to be a hero, as he does, although he also claims to be for hire. A hero for hire is an ethical contradiction in terms. Lo Chien says that he hopes that he is for hire. He may actually live if it is so. He then invites them to his study; they will be more comfortable there. Above, Wolverine smokes a cigar and thinks to himself all the trouble, sniffin’ out the truth, makin’ his own way there, and what does he see – flamin’ amateurs.
Inside Lo Chien’s private study, he informs the shackled H4H that he has dismissed all the guards but Sai and their redoubtable Cat. This talk is better done in privacy. He proceeds to tell them that they need to understand what he is doing and why. China’s communist leaders are old. At some point, the government will break down. The most powerful generals in China will make themselves warlords and China will again slip back into anarchy. He intends to make himself the most powerful of the new warlords and, eventually, ruler of China. Their piracy has been to raise money toward that end. Also toward that end, he has a proposition to them, and thus to the west. He wants them to take his message to their masters, to the clandestine lords of power. Tell them what he has told them; tell them Lo Chien will someday rule China. Those who are his friends now, he will treat as friends later. They will thank them for this intelligence.
When Jessica asks why he is framing Madripoor, Lo Chien informs her that the wealth he plunders there will underwrite his efforts. Besides, that haven of cutthroats and criminals deserves to be destroyed. Shang-Chi asks how much the Chinese government knows of what he does. Lo Chien replies that they turn a blind eye to his piracy and his plans for Madripoor. Of the rest, Beijing knows nothing. The only question left is – will they serve him? Iron Fist defiantly says no. The world does not need another like him. And they were heroes long before they were for hire.
At that moment, the chi that Iron Fist has secretly been gathering explodes through the manacles and then arcing form of Iron Fist darts all over the room, freeing his companions. Lo Chien says to the freed heroes that freedom is an illusion. They are still caught within his base and there is no escape. Just then, the sounds of an alarm permeate the air. Startled, Lo Chien asks the alarm klaxon? Who would be mad enough to attack this base? As he goes to leave, Lo Chien tells Cat and Sai to finish the fools, he is going to see what is happening outside.
As they attack, Sai tells Cat that she has the woman with swords. Cat replies have her; he will finish the job he started months ago and kill the Iron Fist. Preparing themselves for battle, Fist mentions that guards are also coming. Shang-Chi tells him they are his and for Fist to focus on Cat. With that, Sai attacks Colleen Wing while Cat delivers a kick to Fist. As he does, Cat tells him that he defeated him before in Symkaria, and he will do so again. At the same time, Jessica Drew and Shang-Chi work on taking out the guards. When Jessica warns Shang to watch his feet, Shang asks why, is there something wrong with his technique?
In the base outside, Lo Chien sees a number of people surrounding his base. Upon seeing them, he exclaims this is madness and asks who all the people are. Wolverine informs him that they’re the uptight and angry citizens of Madripoor. They came with him and they’re about to shut him down.
Inside Lo Chien’s study, Iron Fist takes the fight to Cat. While he does, he tells him that he defeated him before because he became distracted. Today, he is focused. Across the room, Colleen deftly dodges all of Sai’s sword attacks. She mentions to her that her swords are not her usual weapons and she uses them clumsily. So she will have to take them back and show her how they are used properly.
Outside, Lo Chien and Wolverine do battle. In using his claws against Lo Chien, Wolverine notices that the rumors are true. He’s also a flamin’ mutant, just like him. Lo Chien tells him yes. His claws cannot penetrate his skin, while he can grind his bones into paste. At that moment, Wolverine thinks to himself that this is a problem. His old adamantium claws might’ve gotten through, but now that his claws are bone… Lo Chien, determined, proceeds to continue to beat on Wolverine unmercifully.
Inside the study, Fist takes Cat out and asks the rest of his team how they are doing. Colleen, now with her swords in tow, has knocked Sai to the ground and tells Danny that things are under control and to go find Lo Chien. Outside, Lo Chien holds Wolverine up by the throat and says to him that he has heard of him and his healing factor. Can he heal with his throat ripped out?
Just then, Lo Chien is knocked to the ground with a punch from behind delivered by Iron Fist. Standing over Lo Chien, Fist remarks to Wolverine that he knows he’s only a “flamin’ amateur” but he thought he could use a hand, especially if the hand was the iron fist. Picking himself up off the ground, Wolverine tells him that he coulda taken him; still, not bad… for an “amateur.” Fist states that it looks like the base is almost secured, time to think about getting home.
Forty-eight hours later, at Oracle, Inc., the core members of Heroes for Hire are gathered in an office. Iron Fist angrily asks that Namor did what? Jim Hammond informs him he sold them out – lock, stock, and logo – to Stark-Fujikawa. And Mr. Honeybunch there is about to tell them their fate. The man sitting behind the desk corrects Jim that his name is Honeywell. He then tells them that while Stark-Fujikawa sees the benefits of having super heroes on the payroll, there are some changes necessary. Ex-cons projects the wrong image. Scott Lang (Ant-Man) and Luke Cage (Power Man) must go. The others may stay but they will select their missions from now on. Are there any questions?
Jim states that they’ve bought the company and they own the name, but they don’t own the people, and they certainly don’t own him. There’s no need to fire him, he quits and he’s betting the rest of them go with him. Jennifer Walters, the She-Hulk, tells Honeywell to keep in mind that all of them have severance packages. She is a lawyer and Stark-Fujikawa will make good on these packages or she will kick their butts, both legally and literally. They’re leaving now.
Outside the office, Cage tells the others that was fun while it lasted but he guesses nothing lasts forever. He then tells Fist that the team may be breakin’ up, but friendships don’t – remember that. Fist replies that he’ll remember. As they all go their separate ways, Fist says that he’s proud to know all of them and thankful they have shared this path together. Perhaps their paths will come together again some day. Until then, stay well, but, for now, good-bye.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
The Day The Earth Got Ill!
In the heat after the great confusion, a handful of the bravest, most intrepid, most valiant individuals were culled from the ruins and trained to defend the Earth in her darkest hour. They are the finest humanity has to offer. Their tale of triumph is a warrior’s aria that will resonate until the end of time. But this, this ain’t them.
A young group of heroes are busy fighting Dr. Doom and the Enchantress. Suddenly, a loud voice asks Mant to stand still. The camera closes in on him, but Mant soon gets impatient. He asks if he can move again, as this “primal scream” face is giving him a cramp. A final blast destroys the robotic, imitative bodies of the villains.
Panther Cub has had enough, and calls out to the wardrobe people. The scion of Wakanda commands them to rebind his “holy vestments,” which have gotten a little loose. Despite this, the producer, Blaze, thanks the team for their work, as it looked fabulous. Miss Thing is glad that it’s over, as she was beginning to feel her bloodlust bubbling. Blaze proudly calls every one of the Remnants a galaxy of stars. He wants them to promise him that if this isn’t going to spread that they don’t give up their status and an illicit tryst will!
Maxi-Woman, taking a closer look at the fake Enchantress, wonders if her hips look like those of the villainess. Sterling notices that the photographer is on fire and thinks that somebody should put it out. Mant rather wants to know if Blaze really thought this was great. Blaze claims that he knows the bottom of his bells. A picture can say a thousand words, and this shot fits the Remnants to higher places. Mant can only agree. Sterling slides over to Maxi-Woman, wanting to continue their tête-à-tête from before, where he was explaining circling her cosmic globes and surfing her empyrean spaceways. Maxi-Woman sighs, as she told Sterling many times before: she isn’t human! Sterling thinks that’s fine, as… he isn’t either! See how much they’ve got in common?
At the same time, Panther Cub doesn’t realize he’s bothering Miss Thing, who’s reading a newspaper. He orders Thing to watch him disrobed, and that she must fulfill her female duties and… start sewing! Not responding, Miss Thing just kicks the tiny fellow. Blaze tells Mant to scratch his prior sentiment and insert revision. He thinks the shot is not exactly a pit, it’s more like camouflage: like when “large and lovely” wear vertical stripes. Mant agrees and thinks they need it, and mentions to Blaze that they are pretty new in the hero business. He doesn’t know if Blaze can believe it, but they don’t even have a team name yet. But, Mant can tell one thing for sure: they are going to be heroes.
Suddenly, the Elvis song of “Love me tender” can be heard. It’s the hotline! Maxi-Woman didn’t even know they had a hotline. Miss Thing suggests that somebody better goes to answer it before she kicks Maxi in her butt. Sterling jokes that, if it’s that telemarketer again, Mant can tell him they’ve asked to be taken off the list, and if they call again they’re going to sue them for five thousand dollars, as he’s out of vodka. Mant picks up the phone. A few moments later, he’s freaked out, and tells the caller that if there’s a God in heaven, the caller will tell him that this is a cruel joke!
A few minutes later…
General Darlegung sadly has to report to the heroes to look upon the work the criminal performed, and get really scared. Darelung’s best officers were massacred. The nation’s finest war machine, the Helicarrier… stolen. The most popular monument on the planet created by a sand-dwelling subculture, an Egyptian pyramid… defaced by placing funny glasses and a fake nose on it! While crunching on a carrot, Darlegung admits that this isn’t really SHIELD’s finest hour. He didn’t take a deep brain probe to figure out that they were dealing with a force of nature, something more than human. Something SHIELD couldn’t handle alone.
As the new team might have noticed, Darlegung continues, there’s a certain… dearth of actual heroes at the moment, so they decided to call in them. While Maxi-Woman tries look at her best and thinking she must use less rouge, Mant explains that they formed this team to handle exact situations, and to fill in the gap left in the wake of the departed heroes. He is glad the General called them.
Darlegung admits there’s also a second reason they called the new heroes. Upon reading their press release, SHIELD has cause to believe the heroes may have an edge. He opens a viewing screen. Maxi shouts out that the press release was her idea and even picked out the colors herself. She’s thrilled to hear the General liked it. Miss Thing angrily reminds Maxi about the time they discussed what would happen if she spoke out like that in public ever again? Maxi remembers, and apologizes. Mant wants to know what the General specifically thinks they can offer. Was it prompt service? The itemized billing? The free tote bag?
Darlegung corrects that it actually was knowledge. He explains that the man responsible for the carnage in Egypt is the same man who organized the new heroes into a team. He is their former leader… DEADPOOL!
The kids are startled by this news, as, in their eyes, Deadpool is the kindest, most noble, handsome, intelligent and most intelligent hero of the entire world. He was even a snappy dresser, and even Panther Cub trusted him since after all, Deadpool was the last Avenger. Darlegung mentions to have popped a truss himself when he heard about the news, since, after all, everyone reveres the great Deadpool. But, the kids can believe Darlegung when he claims that this news is no mistake. Darlegung shows the kids something his troops found after the accident: a sword. Mant defends that could be anybody’s sword. Maxi-Woman believes otherwise, as on the sword can be read, “property of Deadpool.” Mant refuses to believe that as anyone could have written it down.
Darlegung further reveals that the man who killed his agents is not their friend. He’s a sick and demented man. And SHIELD needs them to stop this sickness before Deadpool starts killing again. Miss Thing agrees and asks Darlegung how he wants Deadpool stabbed. Mant whispers to Mary not to get too enthusiastic, believing they are not ready yet, as they don’t even have a team name yet. Miss Thing doesn’t care about that, as the only thing they will need is the proper transport. Darlegung has just the thing.
A few minutes later, everyone sits into the Fantasticar! Panther Cub feels a bit down, thinking he is the only black member of the team and he has to sit back of the car. Everyone else is amazed at the flying car’s amazing speed, thinking they’ll probably be finished by lunch. Miss Thing asks Mant if he’s already figured out a plan about how to defeat Deadpool, as they’ll probably arrive in about five minutes. Hesitating, Mant mentions that he’s currently trying to narrate down some scenarios and battle strategies in his head, promising to inform everyone once they are there.
Mant thinks that this is just like that dream he had. The dream where he goes to his math test and leaves his pants at home and little Marjie laughs at him. He thinks this is happening right now, only it’s worse than Calculus, they are going up against Deadpool. And they know nothing. Mant wants to know how they are possibly going to be able to take down the man who gave them everything?
Mant remembers a time when he was talking to the Swordsman, a member of the Avengers. Mant was surprised that Swordsman wasn’t going to beat him up. He didn’t understand, not sure if Swordsman knew he wasn’t the real Ant-Man. Swordsman mentioned to Ernest that of course he knew. He doesn’t exactly carry off the suit as well as Dr. Pym did. Mant feared it was because his love handles giving him away. He promised that was because he had been working out. Swordsman sighed, asking Ernest why he took off his janitorial gear and decided to put on the Ant-Man suit. Mant claimed it was because he stopped coming to work and no one else seemed to care so someone had to do something.
Swordsman agreed. He explained to Mant that now, more than ever, injustice and greed threaten to crush this world. Swordsman mentioned he was the last Avenger and, if the treatment he was about to undergo for his cancer doesn’t work out, well the last Avenger will be a dead Avenger. He showed Mant a statue in honor of the Avenger, and explained to him that this world needs heroes. And heroes… they need a leader. And Ernest is that leader. Mant was surprised. Swordsman confirmed, as with the proper training, a diet and some diction lessons, he believed Mant has what it takes to carry on the legacy.
Mant wanted to know who he was going to lead. Swordsman explained that, in New Jersey, the once malevolent Super-Adaptoid has gained sentience and an identity. She is perhaps the most powerful android on the world and shall be known as Maxi-Woman. In New York, the son of a Wakandan valet has taken the outlawed name of Panther to avenge his missing king. He is a young liege in training. In Las Vegas, the residual energies left in the wake of the Silver Surfer’s passing have congealed, and taken on a shape, a form even, with sublime power and calls itself Sterling. In Canada, a woman who’d spend her life a victim finally fought back and won. She’s a warrior, with the remains of her attacker and is known simply as Miss Thing.
Swordsman claimed that these… remnants… from the Age of Heroes have great potential so long as a strong foundation is laid. Swordsman promised to teach Mant everything he knew, realizing Ernest would make him proud. Mant was up to the challenge.
Today, Mant still can’t believe he agreed. But still, Swordsman did it. He trusted him and trained him, even after the cancer went bad and stopped calling himself Swordsman and re-named himself as Deadpool. But still, the guy believed in Ernest and he isn’t planning on letting him down. Sterling asks Mant if he really believes Deadpool is the culprit. The guy was the model citizen, all meditate on this and fortune cookie that. Could it be really possible he has gone bad? Mant thinks it’s maybe possible in some hideous alternate version of their own world, but Ernest doesn’t think it will be the case in their reality. Deadpool is a hero. But today, they are facing a madman.
The young heroes arrive at Deadpool’s airship. His assistant, Timmy, informs his master that infidels are approaching their Helicarrier. Deadpool, putting on his uniform, doesn’t care if they’re infidels. Even if the genius joker enters their kingdom, they can still stand to the side at the same time with mega-chests, as they are warrior poets. Poets with little blue balls. Deadpool opens his hand, and a blue ball reveals itself. He orders Timmy to let his heroes enter.
They do. Mant shouts at his troops that this is their moment of truth. He orders them to pull an Alpha Bravo pattern, Kirby spread with a dash of lime on the port side. Everyone goes to stand in their battle poses, but get the wrong idea and everyone hits each other. Everyone starts arguing, but Mant shouts that he can’t take the Helicarrier back alone and that they should all get it together and work as a team. Suddenly, Maxi-Woman screams and releases an energy beam. Her friends think she must be malfunctioning but, as the beam hits a security agent, everyone realizes they are under attack and thank Max for the quick reaction.
Miss Thing, in a full rage, attacks her share of soldiers, and Panther Cub and Sterling work together on their foes. Panther warns that his frocks are coming undone and asks Sterling if he has a safety pin. Sterling helps out and freezes Panther Cub’s attackers, and shouts at him to take his uniform to a tailor or something and have it man-made. They’ll never make an action figure of a hero whose costume doesn’t even fit. After a while, all of the soldiers are finally defeated. Mant congratulates everyone on a job well done and suggest to wait and explain his battle strategy. But nobody wants to wait that long and just head to the control room where they all think Deadpool is hiding. Mant tries to hold everyone back, but fails to and is left alone.
The others go through lots of hallways and find one last wall between them and the control room. Miss Thing and Maxi blast a hole in the wall and, upon looking through it, everyone is startled. Mant meets up with them and laughs, thinking they must be lost. Mant joins his troops and is also startled, when they find an awesome assembly of… nukes! The floor is open to suggestions. Deadpool enters, and mentions to have a suggestion. The heroes panic.
Deadpool and Timmy arrive, with Deadpool holding his sword and blue ball ready. He tells the heroes to shut down the reasoning center of their brains, pick up a sychophantic sidekick and eat lots of fatty food. Oh wait, he already did that, since Deadpool is now really fat and has a sidekick standing next to him. He forgets things sometimes as blue balls can do that to a person.
The heroes are amazed at how fat their leader has gotten, and Miss Thing can’t believe she used to fantasize about that body. Mant asks Deadpool if it’s really him. Deadpool recognizes Mant and takes a closer look at him. He smiles at how grown up Mant has gotten and is now even in charge of his own team, and Deadpool bets Ernest is even wearing big boy pants now. Mant asks Deadpool what’s up with all the murders he has heard about. Deadpool smiles, and asks Timmy what this means. Timmy shouts this means exposition time! Deadpool jokes that exposition time is the only way to tell a story.
It was only a few weeks ago. Deadpool was in a deep meditation trying to get his mojo working and trying to find a name for his team, when, miraculously, he slipped on a cosmic banana peel and attained Nirvana. It was complete bliss and integration with a universe. Along with seeing Robin Quivers nude and solving the Times crossword in pen, it was Deadpool’s third life’s goal. He should have shot higher. Instead of being one with the cosmic jambalaya, he discovered their entire universe is the product of Franklin Richards’ imagination. They are toys, figments, less than zero on a stick. A preschooler’s mental hiccup stuck in a little blue ball.
Panther Cub can’t believe that he, the pride of Wakanda, is just an imagination. He is nobody’s toy. Sterling tells him to check out the source, as he wouldn’t put too much stock in a lard-bottom like Deadpool wearing a feather on his head. Besides, you would have to have a pretty weak imagination to think of them as losers. Deadpool shouts that all he ever fought for was one big fat joke. It sort of put a crimp in his day, so he snapped, kablooey. Deadpool figured that instead of watching his cholesterol and keeping his life rated boring, he would tear through the dream, express all of the anti-social behavior that he had been repressing all those years. One would be amazed how many of the spandex-clan have serious frustration issues.
Deadpool explains he started with little trifles, pranks and such, but finally it hit him: the mother of all absurdities. His swan song. The punchline of this cosmic knock knock joke. Him, the alpha beta potato. Yadda, yadda. Now, he thinks it’s adorable the kids all sewed costumes for themselves and put on a little show the way they just did, but Deadpool is confident they can’t beat him as he taught they everything they know. He thinks they are nothing compared to his corpulent genius.
Most of the young heroes want to go back home, but Mant refuses. They are heroes, and they shall put this maniac down. He speeches that he’s not much for public speaking, but this is what they signed up for. This is one of those great challenges they hoped to face one day. This is the gum they will have to scrape off the floor of life if they’re going to be the good guys. Sure, he knows they aren’t coordinated, or that some of them aren’t that bright (heck Panther Cub’s costume doesn’t even fit his body), but hey, they are the Remnants for something! They’re leftovers from yesterday, left to protect tomorrow… today, as a team!
Everyone likes the idea of Remnants as their group name. With full confidence, Mant manages to re-group everyone and proudly shouts their battle cry: “Remnants… congregate!” It’s time they showed this psychopath why they are heroes. Sterling holds Mant back, and tells him to take a closer look at their adversary. They do, and find Deadpool sitting on a nuke!
Deadpool cries a little, telling Ernest that was outstanding. He feels like a father on a graduation day (unfortunately, a father with ugly children). But still, inspirational speeches take a long time to get out, and a leader really shouldn’t keep a super-villain with attention deficit disorder waiting. He mentions to have activated the launch sequence when Mant began his little speech.
Hesitant, Mant wants to know what about their final battle. He even made up a battle cry and everything. Deadpool jokes that despite that, they are still bush league. He suggests they start to get serious, as even though this may be A.B.S. universe, there is still some reality to this… reality. He throws a book at the Remnants, which is a transcription of his many years of hero-type knowledge. Mant grabs it, and reads Deadpool’s rule number fourteen: “when you’re the star of the book, you’ll always live to fight another day even if you screwed up real bad.”
This is not good. The nuke departs. Deadpool shouts that, no matter what happens, the kids should stay together. They shouldn’t let some Yoko-type like him suck the life out of him. They shouldn’t change their secret formula and never switch Darrens. And, when sales slip, the only thing they need to do is introduce a cute mop-top cousin to the public. In the end, it may be a tale told by an idiot signifying nothing, but you’ll know what’s so funny about peace, love and understanding if they get through it together.
The nukes all depart, with Deadpool sitting on it and laughing. Mant is upset a bit and Panther Cub thinks he should have joined up with the Young Allies instead.
Meanwhile, at the Moon…
Again, the Watcher finds himself lost in the pages of a book. His words are nothing in light of what comes. Again, a world, a universe, is rocked to its core, as he, Uatu, observes the grand machinations of the Celestial dance they call life and records it all. And again, he blows it all to kingdom come. Of course it was him, the man called Deadpool. It had to be him. In countless galaxies across fathomless eons, he is written about in journals such as these. Chaos. Mania. Death. No matter pocket universe, parallel world or paradoxical construct, every universe must have a Deadpool. The Watcher takes a look as the nukes approach the Moon, and pulls out his tongue. On impact, all the nukes explode and fireworks are left.
Back on Earth…
The heroes are amazed. Sterling asks Mant if this means they’ll have to give back the Fantasticar. Mant believes something like that might happen. Upon looking at the moon and green lights coming from it, and purple clouds surrounding it, Mant asks his teammates if anyone knows how to sew up a universe.