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

[Assistant]
A Shark in the Water
The glamorous Monet St Croix sits before a well-lit mirror in her dressing room, where she applies some make-up. Floor-to-ceiling cupboards and shelves housing her extensive fashions are displayed behind her. Her phone suddenly pings to life, informing her that she has a message from Sunspot. Roberto DaCosta's voice can be heard: “Business-voice time. I appreciate a stunt as much as the next hot young exec, but if you keep taking risks with my money, this party is going to suck for you -” Roberto's message is cut off, as Monet exclaims 'Next'. The phone starts tell her that she has a message from Sebastian Shaw – but she doesn't even let the message system finishing saying his name: 'Next' she tells it. The next message is from Charles Xavier: “ Monet. It is not like you to be evasive. Shame does not suit you. So I wonder why you have avoided my calls since Brazil” Xavier's voice can be heard saying. Monet listens as she applies her make-up. “I understand the logic behind your actions. And you were right to not attempt to save the laboratory – its absence is a setback, but not one worth starting a public brawl with our competitors over. But what I don't understand is... why you would play our hand so soon? The technology at the heart of our home office is not yet ready. You have raised questions, which has brought us the curious and hungry. Now they will want to eat. You would be advised to be careful”. Monet touches her phone as the message ends and remarks 'Stick to your own side of the dance floor tonight, Charles'.
At that moment, Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Angel stands naked under a rainfall shower in his bathroom. Washing his body, he suddenly hears Monet in his head calling out to him. 'Monet. This... is slightly invasive' Warren responds. Monet ignores his comment and telepathically informs him that she heard from Xavier. 'If we want to make him happy tonight, we need to shake some human hands and smile. He's not thrilled about Brazil. I know, you aren't either. I'm searching your head for a “thank you for saving me,” but I'm not seeing it' Monet adds. 'Thank you' Warren tells Monet, before confirming that he is not thrilled with having to scrap their plans. He adds that Sofia is devastated. 'She had a social media rollout two months from now -' Warren starts to say, before Monet interrupts: 'Who?' she asks. 'Wind Dancer. Sofia. Young, shot the commercial -' Warren explains as he steps out of the shower and wraps a towel around his waist. 'Oh. She'll be fine' Monet mutters.
Warren looks at his stubble that is appearing on his face and tells Monet that she needs to learn people's names. Warren then flaps his wings to shake the water off them. 'I can see you. That is disgusting' Monet tells him. 'Careful what you say about me. I'm your date' Warren reminds Monet. Monet tells Warren that they have a board to staff and a lot of interested parties. 'We have to be smart about this' she points out. Warren's face is now covered in shaving foam and he holds up a razor as Monet remarks that they just need to make sure they have more invitees than seats. 'Are you willing to get a little dirty?' she asks. 'I just got out of the shower. But you seem to know what you're doing when it comes to dirty' Angel smiles.
At 7:30 PM, in the Hellfire Gala staging area, several Multiple Man dupes are busy preparing trays of food and wine, while Madrox himself, wearing an elaborate green Gala costume. 'People, my good, fine men, what is this?' Madrox asks as he looks around the room. 'It's one night of work. I know you know basic etiquette because I made sure to learn it myself. Now, can we please, in the presence of our planet's greatest luminaries, manage to keep the trash cans from overflowing?' Madrox walks over to one of the dupes who stands by an overflowing garbage can and points at it, while asking the dupe if he has something to say. 'People can empty their own $#%&*!$% trash, dude. I don't care who they are' the dupe responds, frowning. Madrox puts a hand on the dupe's shoulder and remarks that everyone is an individual, and asks him what his deal is. 'I don't have a deal. I just like to stand up for the little guy' the dupe replies. 'Well, I don't know if you've heard, but we've gone corporate now' Madrox declares. He rubs his fist into the dupe's head as he tells him that they are going in a new direction. 'You hear me, Mr Organizer? Tonight is very important. Quit fighting, or you get absorbed'. The dupe protests, before a voice can be heard over communicator: 'Dr Madrox?'
Madrox leaves the staging area and touches the side of the glasses that he wears as part of his Gala costume. 'Miss Trinary. I appreciate hearing from you. Just wrangling the terrible temporary hires into shape. We're ready to go' Madrox reports. From a desk within X-Corp HQ, Trinary sits with her feet up on the desk, some food on the desk and a hot beverage in her hand, while several monitors glow around her. Trinary informs Madrox that she is piggybacking on Sage's gate data, and tells Madrox that all of waiter boys have earpieces, and that there are cameras in the hangar. 'I've caught at least one valet joyriding' she adds. Madrox asks Trinary if she stopped him, to which Trinary replies 'They're your staff'. Trinary's eyes go wide as she tells Madrox that Angel and Monet are hitting the green carpet at the east entrance. 'That's valet team Echo. Valet team Bravo, get moving!' Trinary orders.
As Madrox walks down a green carpet, photographers are on standby, as are several dupes. 'Dr Madrox, aren't you supposed to be with them?' Trinary asks. 'Uh, I sure thought I was' Madrox replies, before asking what is on the schedule this evening, and whether Angel and Monet are early. Trinary examines the schedule and discovers that it looks like a lot of people want to meet to discuss the board – Sunspot, Mastermind, Selene and some human called Sarah St John. 'Who is she? I didn't have any of this!' Trinary exclaims. 'How am I supposed to attend all these meetings and keep the dupes passing our coconut shrimp?' Madrox asks. Trinary informs him that it is a packed schedule, and offers to send him what she has. Madrox thanks Trinary and asks her to go ahead and give the catering team the same pep talk she gave the valet team, he could then catch up in time for the paparazzi.

'IT'S X-CORP' one of the paparazzi shouts as Madrox catches up to Monet and Angel on the green carpet. Monet is wearing a stunning red, white and black ensemble, with a spiked red fascinator resembling her Penance claws. Angel wears wide-leg white pants, blue loafers and a long blue jacket, unbuttoned, revealing his bare chest and stomach. 'Monet! Warren! Do either of you care to comment on the display in Brazil?' one of the paparazzi asks. 'Is this a deliberate attempt by X-Corp to destabilize human markets?' another asks. 'What's next?' another calls out. Warren quietly tells Monet and Madrox to keep their eyes up, smile and offer no answers. 'Hey! Were you going to wait for me?' Madrox asks.
'There you are. I'll have a French 75 and the gentleman will have -' Monet begins, turning to Madrox, who interrupts her and declares 'I'm not a waiter'. 'I know, but I'm thirsty' Monet responds. 'You really should be nicer to me, Monet. You destroyed my lab' Madrox mutters. 'When you see the new one, you'll thank me' Monet mutters. Angel shakes Madrox's hand: 'Doctor' he remarks. 'CXO. Good seeing you' Madrox replies, before asking what the plans are for this evening. Monet starts to walk away from Madrox, and Angel follows her, while turning back to Madrox, he tells them that they have meetings with potential board members back-to-back, and thanks Madrox for staffing the event with his guys, as that will make things go smoothly. 'It'll help when it comes to debriefing later too! I get to know what they know!' Madrox mutters to himself. 'I'll be right here' he adds.
Monet and Angel sit next to each other on a sofa in a quiet area of the Gala. Glasses of wine at their side, Monet smiles as she remarks 'Thank you for coming'. 'We're thrilled to hear you’re interested in the board' Warren remarks. Monet adds that it is highly competitive, but if they think they have something to bring to the table, they should let her and Angel know. 'We're only now just beginning to open up our offerings, and you never know what could be useful to us' Monet explains. 'We wanted to make sure we talked to you first' Angel claims.
At 9:00 PM, Neal Sharra a.k.a. Thunderbird sits across from Monet and Warren. Neal wears a pink suit as he smiles and thanks Monet and Warren, telling them that, as they know, he has had access to the X-Corp HQ since its inception, and that the internal workings were something he had a hand in powering from the start. 'So you did' Monet remarks as she flips through some papers. Warren is also looking through papers and tells Neal that they will certainly look through this and give him a call. 'You were highly recommended by Bishop and Sunspot' Warren adds.
Half an hour later, Robert Da Costa a.k.a. Sunspot, in his striking orange Gala costume, sits across from Monet and Warren, 'Did I recommend him? Whatever, I don't remember – I'm mad' Roberto exclaims, running a hand along his head. 'You were supposed to follow a plan and instead decided to gamble because it seemed like good optics at the time!' Roberto remarks. Monet asks Robert if he heard anyone talking about the destroyed lab – because she didn't. 'No one knows a thing about a supply-chain disturbance we couldn't defend. Instead, they're all just talking about our big shiny sky boat'. Roberto makes a small glow of energy around his fingers and smiles as he declares that he wants a board position, that he is buying in – right now. Monet reminds Roberto that they have his money, to which he mutters 'Well, you wait. I got money you haven't even heard of yet'.
At that moment, Trinary looks at one of the screens in front of her and asks 'Are you seeing what I'm seeing?' 'No. Of course not' Madrox's voice can be heard responding to Trinary. 'I'm not seeing anything good' Madrox adds. 'Sir?' one of his dupes asks, standing nearby and carrying a tray of champagne flutes. 'Put this on and have a drink' Madrox replies as he starts to remove his costume. Several partygoers can be seen nearby – Banshee, Sebastian Shaw, Nightcrawler, Polaris and Laura Kinney. Madrox tells his dupe that Monet and Angel keep dodging him. 'They've got board meetings – so why am I not there?' Madrox wonders. '... You're on the board?' Trinary asks. 'I've been extended an offer' Madrox claims as he puts his dupe's costume on. 'Neat. Me too' Trinary reveals. 'Are you kidding?' Madrox retorts. 'You became a doctor a month ago, according to your files. And aren't you married? Layla Miller – I don't see her in attendance with you' Trinary declares. 'Listen, you nosy little hacker -' Madrox starts to reply, but Trinary interrupts him: 'It was just a question' she tells him, before suggesting that he probably ought to go break up one of these meetings, as she is concerned their jobs are being offered to people who don't need them.
At 9:59 PM, Warren is dancing closely with Selene Gallio, the Black Priestess. 'Forgive me if I misconstrued the nature of our meeting, Selene' Warren smiles. 'You haven't – but our meeting doesn't start for another 30 seconds. You're dancing with me on your own time. But if you're not the patient type, I'll speak plainly' Selene states, while Monet looks on from nearby. Selene boasts that she has been making deals since before all of Warren's competitors were born – combined, and tells him that time is the one thing money can't buy. 'We both know some very wealthy time machine owners who would disagree with you, Selene' Warren responds. 'Don't get smart with me' Selene snaps. Selene leans into Warren and bites his ear lobe as she tells him that there was a time before agriculture when they didn't let men touch anything of value – they learned quickly to never let the hunters portion out the spoils. 'It's 10:00 PM' Monet declares as she interrupts the dance.
'Really, agriculture ruined everything. The second the men figured out that they could plant seeds in land they felt they owned, it all went downhill' Selene remarks. 'Fascinating' Monet utters, and Warren agrees, before informing Selene that they can't stay. 'I've got more insight, if you've got a seat for me' Selene announces as she starts to walk away.
'I really like her' Monet tells Warren. 'This is why we need a board' Warren frowns. Monet goes over to where Madrox is holding a tray of champagne flutes, and Warren tells her that they can't just disagree about everything and then Monet just wears down his mental fortitude until they do it her way. '... and I disagree' Monet smiles. Madrox receives a communication from Trinary, asking him if he is near the CXOs – as there is a bit of a disturbance on the terrace.
Outside, Quentin Quire, who is part of the X-Force security detail for the Gala, hovers in the air while telepathically forcing the Fenris twins – Andreas and Andrea Von Strucker – to the ground. The twins are both wearing gold outfits and Quentin tells them that they suck. 'I know you were invited as technical citizens of Krakoa, or whatever, but you suck. You're dressed like aerobics-themed LARPers, and you're nazis'. Andreas struggles against the psychic attack: 'This is unconscionable!' he protests, but Quentin just tells him to shut up. As Monet and Warren approach Quentin, he tells the twins that he can see they are just here to talk, but he can also see who they are here to talk to. 'And I bet they think you suck, too!' Quentin exclaims. 'I do' Monet agrees. 'All of you thinking the same. So close-minded as to not even consider what we provide -' Andrea begins, before Monet instructs Quentin to drop the control. 'I want them to listen up of their own accord' Monet explains as she crouches next to the twins, who are both rubbing their heads.
'We do not need to lower ourselves to doing deals with the likes of you' Monet informs the twins. 'Yes, you're very proud to hate us in public where your friends will see. What will you say in private when you need our money?' Andreas asks. Monet raises a manicured finger at the twins and tells them that they misunderstand: 'I am morally opposed to you. I find you repulsive. But here's what should truly terrify you: I also find you, and everything about your ways, obsolete. Even the sharkiest, most bestial, most amoral part of me wants nothing to do with you. You would merely drag us down' Monet declares. Warren squats down next to Monet as he points out that the Fenris twins are used to doing business with humans. 'They can use limited resources to control those beneath them. We don't need to choose between doing the right thing or the profitable thing. So if you want people you can throttle, you can go deal with them' Warren suggests.
Suddenly:, 'Am I interrupting?' a voice calls out. Everyone looks up to see a blonde woman in a black dress standing nearby. She smiles and states that she is of the belief that she is to meet with them all this evening – although it is possible her assistant could have double-booked her. 'Sara St John. Of course' Andreas remarks as he stands up. He suggests to her that they stay out on the Terrace. 'Our mere presence can be very distracting to some of those inside' Andreas explains. 'I see' Sara responds. Monet, Warren and Madrox turn and walk away, as Warren tells Monet that she is rubbing off on him. 'I'm getting tired of this party' he admits, before remarking that he feels like canceling on Ms St John if she is taking meetings with Fenris. 'Indeed' Monet agrees.
Monet then calls out 'I'll take a sparkling water -' to Madrox, who utters 'Monet. It's me'. 'Jamie?' Monet asks, realising it isn't a dupe who has been following her. 'Are you jerking me around, M?' Madrox asks. 'What are you talking about? And is this really a good time? Answer the second one first' Monet instructs Madrox, who asks 'How many board seats can there be?' Hands on hips, Monet informs Madrox that it is an offer, and they want him to consider it – but if it isn't right for him, then he shouldn't take it. 'Stay a lab rat' she suggests. 'Well, I don't know what it entails yet' Madrox replies. 'Exactly' Monet mutters. 'The lab's been a nice scape from -' Madrox starts to say, before Warren checks his watch and interrupts, reporting that he and Monet have a meeting.
At 10:40 PM, Monet and Angel follow Mastermind a.k.a. Jason Wyngarde past some ice sculptures.  Mastermind thanks the XCOs for agreeing to talk a walk with him. He remarks that there are so many gorgeous places on the island that go unseen. 'Too far from the bar for most' he comments. 'Of course. This is stunning' Angel responds. Mastermind suggests that it suits this fine gala – a staggering display of mutant wealth and an absolute testament to the power and glory of Krakoa. 'And you're going to have to do even better. I'd like to know how you plan to' Mastermind states, glancing back at Monet. 'There's old Mastermind' Monet replies, adding that she knew people would be showing up with questions, but she didn't expect them to all be “are you hiring”. She then asks Mastermind if he brought a resume for them to look over.
Mastermind tells the XCOs that they misunderstand, and boasts that he doesn't need them. 'Krakoa's own Hellfire Trading Company has put this big soiree on for the people. The best party they've ever seen. But it's state run, you know? Official. Not very cool' Mastermind declares. 'Ah. Remind me what's cool. Don't you have golf with Magneto or something?' Monet asks. 'Your image, X-Corp. Either of you focus it through a lens that shows people exactly what you want them to see...or they go digging in your trash for their own narrative' Mastermind smiles. 'Are you making us an offer, Jason?' Angel asks. 'I am the lens. And I'm merely making a demonstration' Masterminds replies, snapping his fingers – which makes the ice sculptures and the open space around them disappear – illusions. Monet and Angel look around as they discover they are in the kitchen, where Madrox dupes are busy cleaning.
'I see. Showing us the beautiful island and we've been in the kitchens the whole time. Is this your idea of a joke?' Angel asks. 'Image is everything in this business, friends. Monet, you certainly know, after your little stunt in Brazil' Mastermind points out. Monet listens as Mastermind tells her that it doesn't matter what she can or can't do, so long as it looks good – right? 'For example, the X-Corp base. It holds technology within that seeks to elevate X-Corp into entirely new fields. But not yet'. Monet narrows her eyes and tells Mastermind that it's now he who is confused, and asks if this is a threat. 'Oh, no. As I said – consider it a demonstration. If I could fool two of the best minds in the business, just think of what else I could do...for your image, of course'. Mastermind hands Angel his card and tells him that he will be glad to have it when he needs it. 'Please tell me this is the last meeting of the night' Warren whispers to Monet. 'The last scheduled one' Monet replies, before Madrox interrupts them and holds up his earpiece communicator as he informs them that Trinary needs to talk to them immediately.
Monet and Angel return to the Gala, walking past Pyro and other guests, Angel touches his earpiece and tells Trinary to talk to him. 'What do you see?' he asks. Trinary reports that she has Sage's gate data up, clocking comings and goings – and Fenris has just arrived. 'Again?' Monet remarks. Trinary informs the others that the Madrox dupes have eyes on Andreas – who is seen entering the bathroom – but not Andrea – and the two of them register on the gates as one. Monet turns to Angel and suggests that they may have to split up. 'Oh?' Angel asks. 'When we told the nazi mutants to $#%& off, I forgot about the trusting nature of our very valuable and secret headquarters. Our headquarters that isn't done yet' Monet explains. 'No' Angel utters. Monet rushes off, her headpiece falling to the ground as she turns back to Angel and tells him that their headquarters with no locks but Krakoan gates is accessible to any mutant.
At 11:30 PM, the X-Corp HQ hovers over an undisclosed location in the ionosphere. 'Welcome to X-Corp – Andrea Von Strucker' a computer recording states as Andrea enters the sprawling complex. Andrea runs down a corridor, her heels making a loud noise as they strike the floor. In the communications suite, Trinary reports that she can hear someone, and offers to check the gate data. But Angel tells Trinary to wait, as Monet is on her way. Trinary ignores Angel's message and steps out into the corridor: 'Hello?' she calls out, while Angel can be heard telling her to wait again. 'Monet?' Trinary asks as she peers around a corner – then closes her eyes as she discovers a gun pointed at her head. 'Oh, you aren't Monet' Trinary utters.
'No. But I know who you are. You're a criminal, Trinary' Andrea Von Strucker exclaims as she points the gun at Trinary. 'Go ahead and shoot me! These systems only talk to me, and I won't talk for you' Trinary declares. Andrea reveals that she is not here to understand anything, as someone else can break it open later – this is merely an acquisition. 'You know, even more  than amnesty, I enjoy that they wrote it into the law that we mutants can kill one another' Andrea remarks. 'Say hello to Krakoa' she exclaims, wide-eyed as she fires the weapon – but at that moment, Monet, in her Penance form, lunges at her and knocks her to the ground. 'Oh, Andrea! You're going to regret reminding me of that!' Monet exclaims.
'Andreas, where is your sister?' Angel asks at 11:40 PM as he and Madrox approach Andreas, who is talking to Sara St John on the terrace. Cyclops and Jean Grey can be seen several feet away as Andreas claims that his sister had to step away. 'Forgive me, Ms St John and I were just joining hands' Andreas points out as he and Sara shake hands. Andreas then boasts that Fenris Consulting will be too busy, so he will have to rescind their earlier interest in the board. 'Consulting?' Angel asks. 'Yes, I'm so sorry we didn't get to speak – my meeting with Fenris was delayed by their detainment at the entrance, but we've decided to go forward with their offer' Sara informs Angel. 'Ah... I'm sorry to hear it. Forgive me, what is it exactly that you do?' Angel asks. Sara explains that, publicly, she is developing new pharmaceutical technologies for Noblesse. 'You're familiar?' she asks. 'Yes, of course. That's JP Kol's new venture' Angel responds. 'Indeed. Mr Kol was an early investor in many of my ideas, and he's brought me on board in a larger capacity' Sara explains.
Sara continues, informing Angel that Kol wasn't sure if he was going to just continue investing in projects he admired or truly jump back into the game himself – but after Kol got a lay of the land since Brazil, he has opted to go all in. 'One can't really do pharmaceuticals right now without a mutant consultant. You understand' Andreas declares. Sara informs Angel that with Fenris Consulting and Kol's backing of Noblesse, her research is poised to take off. She tells Angel that it is a shame they missed the chance to work together. 'Perhaps next time?' Sara smiles. Angel remarks to Andreas that Sara seems publicly proud to be working with him. 'You wouldn't believe what we've been able to do for our public image. Let's take a walk, Angel. Shall we?' Andreas replies. They walk through a crowd of Hellfire Gala attendees. Captain Britain can be seen, and Colossus, too, as Angel informs Andreas that he expected to have competition among his fellow Krakoans sooner or later. 'You didn't expect it to be so soon?' Andreas asks. 'I didn't expect it to be so  shameless' Angel admits.
'I won't begin to appeal to your sense of morality, but if you so much as offer anything close to a state secret, you won't have to worry about your finances' Angel warns Andreas. 'She won't need that. She's a human trying to get rich off  of us – they can't help themselves. I could sell anything and call it mutant' Andreas replies. 'That's really something coming from you' Angel remarks as they walk past Sunspot and Warpath. Calling Andreas by his name “Swordsman,” Angel asks him where his sister is. 'Don't attempt to woo her. I wouldn't let her alone with the likes of you, Worthington' Andreas replies. 'No, I'm serious' Angel tells Andreas. 'You know where she is, and Monet and I do, too. So if we're here together, they're probably together too. And I think Monet is going to win that fight' Angel warns Andreas.
'You son of a $%#&' Andreas snaps. 'You're threatening my Andrea? If we weren't at this stupid party, I would kill you for that!' Andreas boasts, gritting his teeth and waving a finger in Angel's face. 'Oh, Andreas...we haven't been at the party in some time' Angel replies, before thanking Mastermind, who appears and snaps his fingers, and the Gala illusion around them vanishes. 'Happy to help' Mastermind remarks, as Angel and Fenris find themselves near the docks on the shore of Krakoa. 'You tricky bastards. Claiming the moral high ground only to trick me!?' Andreas exclaims, before asking where his sister is.
Inside X-Corp HQ, 'Aah!' Andrea calls out as Monet slams her against a wall. 'If you kill me, I will make hell on that stupid island -' Andrea threatens, while Monet lunges at her: 'You idiot animal. You'll be begging to die!' Monet exclaims.
'Where is my sister?' Andreas shouts as he takes a swipe at Angel with his sword. 'You tell me, Andreas. We both know it – spit it out. Admit it!' Angel exclaims, dodging Fenris' attack. 'You're pathetic' Fenris tells Angel, ducking for cover as Angel attempts to punch him. 'We made a big mistake. X-Corp was going to be open to all mutants. Anyone who wanted to manifest an idea. No office doors. Real open-plan work space. No doors. No locks. Just gates. Thank you for showing us how foolish that was' Angel declares as he grabs Fenris in a headlock, and pulls him into the air. 'Maybe in a few generations, we can change that' Angel wonders, while Andreas struggles to break free of Angel's grasp. 'Don't worry. We won't give you Struckers the satisfaction of waking up on Krakoa. Sleep' Angel utters as he renders Andreas unconscious. Angel drops down to the ground, telling Mastermind that he is tempted to dump Andreas in the water until he wakes up. 'Well done' Mastermind tells Angel. 'I appreciate your aid' Angel replies, before asking if they should leave.
At that moment, Monet, Madrox and Trinary appear on the shore and walk towards Warren and Mastermind. 'Looks like we both roughed up a nazi. And you say we have no synergy' Monet calls out. Angel states that they can't let Fenris provoke them like this, before admitting that this place was a special circumstance. 'Nonsense, Warren. It was necessary. And you kept your cool. No blue meanie or anything. You must be very proud of yourself' Monet tells him as she puts a hand around his right bicep and holds up a glass of champagne. Angel asks if Andrea got any intel, but Monet reports that she got nothing physical, and that if she saw anything, she won't remember it. '... did you kill her?... Monet?' Angel asks. 'No' Monet replies. 'Just “no”?' Angel asks. 'Synergy' Monet remarks, before telling Mastermind that it is good to see him. 'Oh, no. Your lovely gown' Mastermind remarks, looking at Monet's torn outfit. Monet and Trinary start to walk away, before Monet waves at Warren and tells him that she will see him at the office, bright and early.
Mastermind glances at Warren and tells him that it was good that he kept his cool. 'I appreciate your help' Warren responds. 'I didn't expect your help with this, but...' Warren begins, as Mastermind drops the illusion – revealing Angel has transformed to his Archangel persona. 'Of course you didn't ask. You shouldn't have to' Mastermind replies. 'That's the value of having someone in charge of image' he smirks.


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

[Assistant]
1st story: The Madrox Workflow   -   2nd story: Multiple Sabotage
(1st story)
(in flashback images)
Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man, was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico. His mutant ability of self-replication manifested at birth. From an early age, Jamie was fascinated by what the discoveries of science had to offer. Soon, his powerful duplication abilities were discovered by the world and put to use by some of the greatest minds in science and technology. Naturally inquisitive, he has always loved a challenge. A student of many fields and holder of dozens of patents, Madrox has always sought out all life has to offer. Jamie recollects what his duplicates learn when he absorbs them, making studying a breeze – you can call him Dr Madrox several times over! With a mind like Madrox's there's no telling what can be done. Everything from research and development to design and engineering, monitoring and lab development, and post-experimental analysis, is done at the hands of just one mutant. When the dupes are absorbed, Dr Madrox aggregates all of their information in his brilliant mind without even needing to call a meeting. That's the patented Madrox Workflow!
(present)
Technology TALKS, NorCal, where expo attendees make their way through the exhibition center. Among them, two very important individuals – Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Angel and Monet St Croix, sometimes called Penance. Both are XCOs of X-Corp. Above the exhibition is the X-Corp floating headquarters. Monet is on her phone to Warren and tells him that Madrox is in the air, and that his little monkeys are working their hardest. 'At 5PM local time he activates the IBG and we change the world' Monet adds. 'Let's hope he makes it happen' Angel responds to Monet. Monet tells Warren not to be cynical, and adds that Madrox is very dedicated these days. 'True' Warren agrees. They hang up their phones as they locate each other among the crowd, and Monet asks Warren if this is how he wants to waste their time. 'There's ten minutes to my next talk, I need coffee, and there's a line for the ladies' Monet adds. Warren informs Monet that Noblesse knows what they are up to, and that they are trying to get ahead of them. 'Did you see their copy for this thing?' Warren asks. 'Yeah, “It's here. Ionosp-here”. Ridiculous' Monet replies.
Warren suggests that Noblesse knows about the IBG and since they cannot build Krakoan tech, they are trying to get ahead of their launch by printing up a bunch of brochures to look like they had the idea first. 'It's a good idea. We should have done it' Monet comments, when suddenly, 'I pitched it, actually' a voice calls out. Monet and Warren look over as Sofia Mantega a.k.a. Wind Dancer appears alongside Trinary. 'It was in the second of my three pitches. The “Phase 3” section. Did you read the deck I sent?' Wind Dancer asks. Monet greets her associates and tells them that she is glad they picked up her invitations. In typical Monet style, she ignores the question Wind Dancer directed at her. Monet then asks where everyone is headed next. Trinary informs her that they are headed to “We TALK Tech too: Women's Perspective in Business”. 'Mm. My sympathies' Monet replies as the group step onto an escalator.
Warren asks Monet if it isn't nice that there is a place for the women here to network away from the masculine posturing. 'Or you could just quit the posturing and not send them to the tea garden while you misbeheave' Monet suggests, before telling Trinary and Sofia to have fun. 'You won't be able to get any real wheeling and dealing done there, but it's good practice' Monet adds. 'Monet' Warren begins, turning to her. 'I'm not going to that' Monet snaps back telepathically. 'You know they don't care about those talks any more than you do' Warren replies, smiling as he looks at Trinary and Sofia taking a selfie as they travel down the escalator. 'They only want to be there because I told them you would be there too' Warren explains. 'Fahhhh...' Monet mumbles, covering her face with her hands.
Shortly, Monet, Wind Dancer and Trinary arrive in the conference room. 'Wow. This is nice' Trinary remarks as she looks around. 'Tch. No, it isn't' Monet scowls, before stating that it is insulting. 'Sending us to day care as if we can't handle the unvarnished version of business' she remarks. Trinary says that she would rather talk with women, to which Monet tells her she would too – when they are actually given the keys. 'But these women very likely all work for men' she explains. 'Like that Sara  St john woman. She looks independent, but she's just the hand of JP Kol' Monet adds, before telepathically contacting Warren, asking him to keep her updated. She tells him that she will keep this connection open, and points out that she is going to be bored stuff here, so she may as well be in both rooms at once. At that moment, 'Warren Worthington?' a voice calls out – and at the same time, 'Monet St Croix?' another voice asks. 'Sorry – I'll call you back' Warren and Monet both tell each other via their psi-link.
Meanwhile, inside the laboratory of Dr Jamie Madrox, Prime, within the X-Corp HQ. Madrox stands on a balcony looking down into the lab and tells his dupes who are busy below that they are nearly ready to begin. Madrox communicates with another part of the headquarters, where Vulcan, Bishop, Neal Shaara the third Thunderbird and Sunspot are all connected to some sort of power core. Madrox addresses each of them and tells them that they each have unique abilities to harness and manipulate solar energy, and that together, it seems that they will be able to create a mutant circuit that will generate enough power to activate the Ionospheric Bandwith Generator. 'I can be many men and learn many things. But I cannot work alone! No mutant can! We need one another -' Madrox starts to say, when suddenly, one of the dupes holds up his mobile phone and tells him that he has an incoming call – from Layla Miller. 'Not now!' Madrox exclaims.
'Laaaayyyyla! How's my girl and my little baby boy?' Madrox asks as he looks at his phone, where he can see Layla and their son, Davey. Layla tells Jamie that she thinks today is the day, and informs him that Davey has been grabbing onto everything, and keeps reaching for things on the countertops. 'I think he's gonna walk today' Layla reveals. 'That's great. I'll keep an eye on the playroom monitor. Gotta go -' Jamie starts to reply, before Layla interrupts him, suggesting to him that he should come home early, as Davey will probably get right up on his feet to greet him at the gate. But Jamie tells Layla that he can't, as it is launch day, and the Technology TALKS event is underway. 'And we're the grand finale' Madrox explains, before suggesting that Layla should keep Davey on the couch so he doesn't walk anywhere until he gets home. 'He loves cartoons. The older and worse, the better' Jamie adds. 'I'm serious' Layla snaps. 'So am I, Layla' Jamie responds. 'Okay, so I'll tell your son to just stay seated until you're around for him' Layla snaps, pointing a finger at the camera in her phone. 'Layla, come on! I know it sounds crazy, but I don't trust a dupe to run something so vital -' Madrox starts to say, his attention focused on one of the dupes who show him something – but at the same time, Layla hangs up the phone, ending the call.
Jamie covers his face with his hands and tells his dupes that he is sorry about that, and that they will commence shortly. 'Doc? Something I can do to help the wife and kid? Maybe I'm a softie, but -' the dupe begins, to which Madrox tells his dupe that he will be more useful elsewhere. He then instructs the dupe to go home, spend the day and make sure he comes back so he can absorb him. 'It's really important I gather your memory data, okay?' Madrox asks. Madrox then turns back to the other dupes and tells them that they have their assignments, that they are not to deviate and not to use improvisation. 'Now we use our gifts to be men of science' he boasts. 'So let's not beef this'.
As the day goes on, Jamie tells his team that they are on the precipice of making history with the launch of the ionospheric bandwith generator. Jamie watches a video of his dupe playing with Davey, who walks towards him. 'C'mere, buddy' the dupe can be heard saying on the recording. 'We cannot miss a beat' Madrox announces, while his dupe picks Davey up, smiling, and holds him in the air. As Bishop, Sunspot, Thunderbird and Vulcan continue with their important work, Madrox tells them that joint capacity for solar-energy manipulation produces a new circuit, generating a massive amount of energy for the ionosphere around them. Energy crackles around the floating X-Corp HQ, as Madrox explains that with the locally empowered ionosphere comes bandwidth, and at an exponential increase. He points out that human companies have been trying to drive faster on the road, but they couldn't figure out how to add more lanes – he has, however. 'We have' he adds, while the video footage shows his dupe and Layla Miller smiling at each other.
Back at the conference, Monet pours a drink into two glasses while Sara St John sits nearby. Monet tells Sara that if she had to make time to meet with her, she is glad they found it somewhere private. Monet's thoughts reach out to Trinary, asking her where the dirt on Sara St John is. Monet hands Sara one of the glasses, while Trinary tells Monet that her entire digital presence is immaculate, that she doesn't exist outside of press releases – she is clean. 'I prefer to do business the old-fashioned way' Monet informs Sara. 'Like a man?' Sara asks, raising her glass. 'No one's that clean' Monet telepathically tells Trinary. 'Like a mutant' Monet corrects Sara, reminding her that she attended the gala with Fenris, who she caught sticking their fingers in her office. 'You left with them, too' Monet adds. Sara explains that the Struckers maintain that they were granted the same access to X-Corp as any other mutant, and that they had no reason to believe that their presence would be seen as disruptive. 'The Struckers? You mean the beloved children of Baron Strucker, the Nazi? Who followed in his footsteps? Listen to yourself. Did you know?' Monet exclaims, before telling Sara not to tell her, as she can find out what she knows for herself. 'Careful. Ever since the Hellfire Gala's displays -' Sara begins, as Monet connects her mind to Sara's. '- we've been taking necessary precautions against psychics' Sara reveals. 'Aaah!' Monet utters as she goes wide-eyed when her mind connects with Sara's.
Nearby, Wind Dancer asks Trinary if Monet left the talk. 'I can't say I blame her. I forgot that I find most of this corporate talk pretty distasteful' Trinary replies. Wind Dancer asks Trinary if she is changing her mind about wanting a seat on the board, but Trinary tells her she isn't, as X-Corp can be different – at least, she hopes so. Wind Dancer then tells Trinary that people online really like her, that she has a good buzz in a lot of circles. 'You're like a deminist Robin Hood. It plays fantastically' Wind Dancer smiles. 'You know that only some people say that about me' Trinary corrects Wind Dancer. Trinary tells Wind Dancer that she is good with those things, finding the good angle, but that she talks to these things – computers and phones. 'They can't help but tell me when they feel the crackle of people's hate for me' Trinary explains. 'What kind of $#%& friend would tell you that?' Wind Dancer asks. 'You talk to enough computers. You also need people' she points out. Looking through some hi-tech glasses, Trinary announces that she felt a strange piece of tech activate. 'It's a psychic reflector! That's got to be Monet!' Trinary declares as she begins to run down the corridor, with Wind Dancer flying behind her.
Outside, dozens of attendees at the expo raise their cellphones above their head and take photos as the X-Corp HQ can be seen. 'Sunspot? Shaara? What's going on?' Madrox calls out. He tells them that it looks like they are starting to overclock from here. 'Hello?' he asks, but gets no answers. 'We're only 20 minutes from launch. Someone tell me what's going on!' Madrox exclaims. One of the others starts to respond, but Madrox can't make out what they are saying, as the connection is faulty. 'Oh my God' Madrox utters, while another dupe steps through a Krakoan gateway, and Madrox realizes that he failed to account for range. 'We're generating too much power – we've had to vent out a blast of energy during the tests' Madrox announces. He scratches his head and frowns as he remarks 'But if we get far enough away to safely vent the extra energy, we'll be out of range for the bandwidth launch! We didn't account for – I didn't account for range!' Madrox realizes.
Madrox waves his fists in the air and calls himself careless, and declares that there is now no time to run the procedure. One of his dupes tells him that he remembered the manual vent, but that it is near the front gate. 'If someone goes right now -' the dupe begins. 'Now?' Madrox asks, turning to the dupe. One of the other mutants continues to try and contact Madrox, but the communication is garbled. Madrox then speaks into a communicator: 'Attention, X-Corp personnel: Whoever is nearest to the forward gate – the manual vent is two floors down'. At that moment elsewhere in the HQ, one of the dupes begins to run to a staircase. 'I'm on it!' he calls out. Madrox states that the IBG's manual vent is grounded for this level of potential voltage, and warns the dupe that complete disintegration is a possibility.
In the room where the core that Vulcan, Sunspot, Thunderbird and Bishop are powering, energy crackles around furiously, while one of the men shouts 'Hey, are we getting that help anytime soon?' Madrox responds by suggesting they keep sending overflow energy to Vulcan, and informs the men that he sent whatever dupe is nearest to the vent. 'It's a planet's entire ionosphere of energy, Jamie!' one of the men exclaims. 'Hold on!' the dupe calls out as he reaches the manual vent. 'Vulcan's doing all he can and more!' one of the men exclaims as Vulcan appears to be in agony absorbing the excess energy. 'I've got it -!' the dupe announces as he hits the switch to manually open the vent.
Outside, the crowd continues to focus on the X-Corp HQ. 'Looks like they've normalized. X-Corp appears to have their launch back on schedule' someone remarks. 'Did you see it glowing?' another asks. 'I thought it wasn't launching until happy hour' another exclaims, while a man in a black suit states that they are moving.
Back inside the X-Corp HQ, 'Truly, I believe I've managed an impressive quantity of energy' Vulcan comments as he, Thunderbird, Bishop and Sunspot follow Madrox into the area where the manual vent is located. Madrox coughs as smoke clears around them. 'Yeah. You did great, man' Madrox tells Vulcan, while realizing that he should have had someone ready to vent the overage. 'It looks like he couldn't handle it' Madrox adds, referring to the dupe. '$#%&. He had just gotten back from...$#%&!' Madrox utters, wiping his eyes. Sunspot tells Madrox that he is sorry. 'Is “sorry” appropriate here?' Sunspot asks. 'I know you destroy these guys on a whim all the time' Sunspot adds. Madrox tells him that he will be fine. 'I just... hate losing data' Madrox replies as he picks up a scrap of the dupe's labcoat which has a small badge on it.
Elsewhere as the expo continues, several people gather around Angel as he steps down from the stage where he was just speaking. One of them calls out to him: 'I'm an accounts manager at Marchand during the day, but I actually am developing an app -' they start, while another shouts 'Can I call you Angel? My problem right now is scale, and I need someone to help me with that. Honestly, I just want your advice' they claim. 'My dad said not to work with mutant investors, but he's done giving me money!' a woman calls out, waving at Warren. Warren holds his phone to his ear and asks Trinary if this can wait, as he has a crowd. 'No!' Trinary shouts as she continues to run down the corridor, with Wind Dancer flying at her side. 'It really can't. Monet tried to scan Sara psychically and Sara was wearing a psychic reflector. Do you know what those do?' Trinary asks 'Tell him it's like someone tried to “Monet” Monet' Wind Dancer suggests. 'I'm sure she reacted terribly to that' Angel replies, as he holds up his phone, while Trinary tells him that she is sending the surveillance footage to him. Warren looks at the recording, which shows Monet switching to her Penance form and lunging at Sara St John. 'Now she does this? With the launch in half an hour?' Angel mutters, before excusing himself from those gathered around him, explaining that something has come up, and he really has to put the fire out.
Down a seemingly empty corridor, Sara St John's high-heels clop against the floor as she runs. 'Voice note – Monet St Croix, X-Corp CXO. The Strucker girl said St Croix was a monster, but I didn't believe her. She tried to read my mind, and when my blockers activated, she turned into a... a beast' the shocked Sara remarks as she records herself. She runs into an office and hides behind a table. 'I believe her now. Yes. I do' Sara mutters, when suddenly, 'Gooood. I knew you were smart' Monet snarls as she enters the room in her Penance form. Sara clutches her handbag and tells Penance to stay back. 'I moved. Then you made a move' Penance explains. 'I didn't -' Sara begins. 'Yessss, you did' Penance snaps. 'Setting a trap is making a move' Penance points out. 'I didn't know you would -' Sara begins, but Penance tells her to be quiet, as she wants to talk honestly. Penance asks Sara if she is feeling honest now – about Fenris and the lab and about Kol's little case.
Penance leaps onto the boardroom table and warns Sara that there is nothing Fenris could have gotten on her during their little panty raid that is worth what it will cost her to work with them. 'Not a few ionospheric buzzwords, not any files, nothing. It's mutant technology. Mutant power. It's nothing you can replicate' Monet declares, reaching forward with her deadly-sharp claws, Penance tells Sara that she is doing her a favor – calling her an “idiot sack of blood” in the process. 'It was a dumb move to trigger this side of me. You might have gotten yourself killed...but my control is impeccable I'm not going to suddenly attack you' Penance announces, while Sara backs up against a wall. 'Fenris are consultants who can do whatever they want. And Noblesse is your competitor who wants to hire them. It's business 101, Monet' Sara declares. Penance responds by shoving her claws into the wall above Sara's head, causing Sara to scream and cover her face. 'You want to do business?' Penance asks. 'Here's a proposal – lose their number' she offers.
'Since you don't have a conscience to tell you this, I will: keep anyone with the last name Strucker off your list' Penance warns Sara, as she begins to revert to her human form. Monet adjusts her tie and tells her: 'Just so you know, you're not making a separate deal with Penance. See? I'm already in a better mood'. Monet then tells Sara to go, and that it is fine. 'Eat our scraps, chase our heels. In twenty minutes, we launch, and all your rush-job slick ionospheric PR will be a great appetizer for the main course: X-Corp's powerful mutant tech'. Monet declares. Picking up her handbag, Sara tells Monet that she thinks she is missing a larger part of her market. 'Krakoa doesn't test as immaculately as you think. There are still so many people who don't like mutants. There are so many mutants who don't like mutants!' Sara points out.
Sarah reaches into her jacket pocket and states that some mutants want to supress their powers and not be special at all. 'And you don't have to let them do that, but someone should' she adds. 'I have to be somewhere else' Monet replies as she looks at her phone, back turned to Sara. 'I thought you'd want to know Noblesse is developing new options for just that customer' Sara reveals. 'This one is a convenient injectable' she claims as she suddenly shoves what she pulled out of her pocket into Monet's neck – some sort of needle. 'Are you – joking? You.... fool...' Monet utters as she collapses to the floor. 'It still has some very unpleasant side effects in mutant trials – paralysis, etc' Sara claims, explaining that they plan to handle those before launch.
Sara leaves the meeting room, closing the door behind her. 'There she is – where's Monet!? Wind Dancer calls out as she and Trinary rush over to Sara, who asks 'Ah! Ladies. You're the X-Corp interns?' 'We are not interns' Trinary retorts. Sara smiles and suggests that they walk together to the next women's Technology TALK – she thinks it is called “SquirrelBoss” with Doreen Green. Trinary tells her that they have a launch to attend, and that their boss is expected. 'Now step aside. Trinary can talk to cell phones, and yours is probably full of gross secrets' Wind Dancer exclaims. But Sara tells the young women that she thinks they misunderstand her. 'I am certainly not trying to stop you from finding where your boss is, but -' she begins, as Trinary and Wind Dancer push past her and enter the room. 'Monet?' Wind Dancer calls out, but all they find is a gaping hole in the ceiling. '- your guess as to her whereabouts is as good as mine' says Sara.
At that moment, at the X-Corp stage, a clock times down to the launch, while Angel stands on the stage and phones Monet, telling her that it is 4:58 and he is here alone. He informs her that Madrox said the tech was ready to go online at 5, and that he just has to hit start. Angel adds that Madrox said there were some earlier issues, but that now it is fine. 'Look, I know it's been you and me looking to fill this board, and we've been in the center of this from the beginning. But... these are competitive seats, M. If you can't show up -' Angel starts to say, before an announcer reports that the time is 5:00 PM, meaning it is time for happy hour and evening entertainment, courtesy of their Vibranium-tier sponsor, X-Corp. Angel tells Monet that he has to go, and hangs up the phone. Angel quietly tells himself that he never prays, because that seems silly from someone who looks like him, but that he will give anything for this to work. 'Amen' he ends his little prayer.
Angel smiles as he looks out to the crowd gathered before him. 'Hello and good evening, Technology TALKS Ten!' Angel calls out. The crowd cheers for him, and Angel thanks them. He states that the world needs more bandwidth, that the lanes of the information super-highway have been expanded in limited leaps forward, small but mighty steps forward on the road to a better future. 'As mutants, we learn early that you don't always manifest something when you want it. Sometimes, the power you can hardly imagine comes when you most need it' Angel remarks, before smiling and pointing upwards as he tells everyone to look up.
'That's our cue. For the launch!' Madrox calls out within the X-Corp HQ.
'... Look up!' Angel calls out again. But when nothing happens, he starts to tell the crowd 'Shortly, ah, very shortly, you will see -'. At that moment, Trinary and Wind Dancer appears on the stage and walk over to Angel. 'Where's Monet if she's not here?' Wind Dancer asks. 'What's happening?' Trinary whispers. She looks up and utters 'Omigod, it's not working!' Angel tells her to stay calm and to get him Madrox. 'I'd like him to explain why X-Corp's most crucial launch just publicly failed' Angel exclaims.
Inside his lab within the X-Corp HQ, Madrox hangs his head as he slumps to the floor.

(2nd story)
Outside the Roxxon Biotech Plant in Missouri. 'We checked with Monet and Warren, right?' a Madrox dupe asks as Madrox and four of his dupes stand on a hillside overlooking the Roxxon facility. 'Don't worry about them. And with our lab gone, it's been a while since I've done something like this' Jamie Madrox replies. 'Plus, it'll benefit X-Corp when we expose Roxxon's bad practices' a dupe suggests. 'Exactly' Madrox replies.
The group then splits off, with Madrox and one dupe making their way across the rooftop of the facility. Their mission is to acquire evidence of unethical mutant trials. 'Maybe this will get us other job offers. It's good to have more options' Madrox suggests. 'You make the decisions, man' the dupe replies.
Several dupes make their way into the Roxxon facility, with the mission if shutting down the distribution plant. 'Why aren't we going through the truck entrance?' one of them asks as they climb down a rung ladder into some large pod-like area. 'You can if you want to be greeted by armed guards' one of the other dupes suggests. Another opens a hatch, which causes another to mutter 'If I knew we were going swimming, I would have brought my speedo'. 'Someone slept during the mission briefing' the one opening the hatch complains.
Another dupe is on a mission to liberate the mutants, making his way through a ventilation duct, his clunking can be heard by several Roxxon guards who look up at the ceiling above them – and suddenly, several dupes fall into the guardsroom, landing on the guards. 'Oh, hey, that's my old barber' one of the dupes remarks as several of them look at monitors depicting the prisoners within the facility.

Madrox and his dupe take down a Roxxon guard, and Madrox puts the guard's vest and cap on. 'Cha-ching!' he smiles as he holds up the guard's access cards. 'Getting this?' Madrox asks his dupe as they make their way into another part of the facility where scientists can be seen working – one of them injecting something into a test subject, possibly a mutant, whose body is partly deformed. The dupe starts to take photos and tells Madrox that the whole world is going to know about this. 'Hey! Who let you in here?' one of the scientists calls out when they see Madrox and his dupe. 'Okay. We got what we came for!' the dupe points out throwing a large cabinet down a staircase and blocking the guards from climbing the steps and reaching them.
The dupes in the control room leave the room and march down the corridor, where they come across more guards. 'You know what time it is...it's CLOBBERIN' time for you!' one of the dupes jokes as they confront the guards and begin to free the prisoners in cells that line the corridor. 'Mutants are freed!' one of the dupes exclaims.
The other group of dupes swim through the water system, planting several bombs as they go. 'We're the Roxxon pool cleaners!' one of them jokes as they emerge from the water and encounter two large guards who appear not to be human. 'PILE ON!' one of the dupes exclaims as a dozen or so dupes leap at the large men. 'Keep at it, dupes!' one of the dupes calls out. More bombs are placed throughout the facility, and one of the dupes contacts Madrox Prime and the dupe with him and reports that the bombs are set. 'Let's go!' the dupe replies as Madrox and the dupes escape the Roxxon facility, and watch as the bombs explode.
'Let's speed up construction of Madrox's new lab' Monet St Croix suggests to Angel as they watch the footage that Madrox sent them. Angel smiles back.


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

[Assistant]
A Carrot on a Stick
Technology TALKS expo, in the Bay Area Convention Center. 'Madrox! I need answers!' Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Angel shouts down his cellphone as he stands on stage with Trinary and Sofia Mantega a.k.a. Wind Dancer. 'Hey, Angel?' Trinary calls out, but gets no response. From his lab in the X-Corp HQ hovering overhead, James Madrox the Multiple Man is with several dupes and tells Angel that he is working on it, and that it looks like they have some intruders on board. 'Intruders? Are you kidding me?' Angel retorts as he looks up at the massive HQ. Madrox tells Warren that he thinks they are already neutralized. 'Tell my they're not dead. Are they human? Is this nonsense?' Angel asks. 'Mr Worthington' Trinary calls out sternly, but still gets no response. Tense, Angel asks if Kol is trying to start a war. 'WARREN!' Trinary shouts. She quickly apologizes for yelling as she tells Warren he needs to look – as the readouts are blank and the tech is digitally unresponsive. 'But... it's working' the shocked Warren gasps as he looks over and sees that the Ionospheric Bandwidth Generator is active.
The crowd gathered before the stage look up at the strange generator which hovers mid-air. It is the heart of the X-Corp base, crafted from the cutting-edge mutant technology, this solar device expands bandwidth channels exponentially. Balloons float around the generator as doves fly past it. Underneath the generator is Jason Wyngarde a.k.a. Mastermind. He grins as he calls out 'Greetings, friend board members!' He announces that he and a friend wanted to attend the Technology TALKS event, but that the company didn't send him, so he and his friend had to buy their own tickets, and will be expensing the cost. 'Are you Mastermind? Like, the old one?' Wind Dancer asks. 'Yes' Mastermind replies, before telling the others to hurry, as he can fake a demonstration but by the time folks leave this party, they are going to want to have their communications online.
(Earlier)
'Thanks for inviting me along. I suppose we weren't welcome to attend with the white hats?' Selene asks as she holds up a coffee cup, sitting at a table across from Mastermind at an outdoor cafe. 'Everything's public relations now, Selene. We worried about this stuff less in the old Hellfire days' Mastermind replies. 'To the old days' Mastermind toasts, and they clink their cups together. Selene then informs Jason that she is reading surface thoughts, and she thinks the headquarters might be in danger. 'Now?' Mastermind asks. 'Well, not yet. Some of these security guards seem to think they're going to find a way on board. They want to take a hostage' Selene reveals. Mastermind looks over to one of the expo security guards and tells Selene that he is not exactly concerned about this fellow and his ilk storming the gates of X-Corp. 'Not all of them, no – but Noblesse did hire the security for this event. I think there may be a few genuine mercenaries among the goons' Selene explains. Mastermind suggests that he makes himself present at the launch stage, just in case, and as she reads from a Noblesse brochure, Selene tells him that she will meet him when she can, as it turns out one of their coworkers needs her.
Elsewhere within the expo, Sara St. John has injected something into Monet St. Croix, who has keeled over to the ground. 'It still has some very unpleasant side effects in mutant trials – paralysis, etc. but we plan to handle those before launch' Sara explains while holding a very large needle. 'Medical devices are really something these days, Monet' Sara adds. Suddenly, Selene enters the room: 'Go on, Ms St. John. You have an audience' Selene declares. 'The whole world can't stop talking about you. Yet every time I hear your name I'm disappointed' Selene admits. 'You. If you try to enter my mind, you'll regret it -' Sara begins, holding a hand up as if to warn Selene not to get any closer. 'Stupid human woman' Selene snaps as she grabs Sara's arm and pulls it backwards. 'You're smarter than the men, but you never do anything about it' Selene grins. Sara screams as Selene forces her to the ground. 'What are you doing? I wear that psychic dampener for my personal security' Sara claims as Selene finds the device and removes it from Sara's ear. 'You stupid futurists. Let me tell you something about the future'.
Suddenly, Sara St. John finds herself hanging upside down, chained to a large rock that dangles above a pit of lava. Selene appears on an podium with several hooded figures nearby, watching. 'The future promises nothing. The only thing we know about the future is that someday, you will die there' Selene calls out, before telling Sara that endless men like Kol will sacrifice her and march over her broken body while saying they did it for her. 'You deserve him while he does it to others – and he'll do it to you' Selene adds. 'What is this? What is happening?' the confused Sara calls out. 'My God, the flame hurts – this is real! Let me out, Selene!' Sara pleads. 'Don't worry, it isn't real. Just a... metaphor' Selene smiles as Sara appears back to normal. 'What did you just do to me?' Sara asks. 'Just a thought' Selene tells her, before she suggests Sara get out of here so she can help her coworker – or else she'll do it again. 'I hear they're serving free champagne' Selene adds as she crushes the psychic dampener.
Soon, 'Ugh...' Monet utters as she sits up. 'Ah, Monet, you're awake' Selene remarks, before telling her that it is time to move, and asks her if she wants a pick-me-up, while holding up a glass of champagne. 'I'm furious' Monet snaps, informing Selene that Sara stuck her with a free sample of what she is guessing is a new pharmaceutical they are developing. 'She caught me off guard' Monet adds. 'Happens to the best of us' Selene tells her. Monet stands up and takes the glass of champagne. Selene informs her that she checked in with Mastermind and that the launch didn't go off – but he is taking care of it. 'What?' Monet asks. Selene epxlains that Kol's men were embedded in some of the security, courtesy of Noblesse. 'Did you all miss that?' Selene asks. Monet informs her that everyone is a sponsor at these things, and X-Corp were the top-tier sponsor, which is how they secured the main stage launch. 'If didn't go anywhere Nobelsse spent money, we'd stay home a lot' Monet points out, before thanking Selene for her assistance. 'I assume this isn't charity and you'll want...something' Monet adds. 'Oh yes. Like that board seat. I like that you're already in my debt – it's my favorite way to make friends' Selene smiles.
(Now)
'Hey there, Angel, boss man. Just calling to update you on the situation' Madrox calls out from his lab. He informs Angel that he has dupes in tactical search mode, but that they are not finding anyone else, just that one team of humans that got on board somehow. He assures Angel that they got it handled, as Vulcan, Sunspot, Bishop and Thunderbird held their own against a couple of guys with guns. In another part of the X-Corp HQ, Sunspot, Thunderbird, Bishop and Vulcan stand over the Noblesse mercenaries as several dupes enter the room. 'We're fine, gentlemen – these lost little lambs couldn't possibly take us out. They just managed to distract us long enough to miss that launch window' Sunspot explains. 'They're clearly part of what was meant to be a stealth team' Bishop suggests, holding a gun towards one of them. 'Aww, did your buddies not show up? Get better friends' Sunspot suggests to one of them as he pulls their mask back. 'Can you get this thing online?' Angel's voice can be heard as Madrox enters the room where the mercenaries are being held. 'Of course!' Madrox claims. He tells Sunspot, Thunderbird, Bishop and Vulcan that it is go-time – as there are 30,000 Technology TALKS attendees right now who are watching reruns of the “Best of Mastermind”. 'Let's move!' Madrox exclaims.
Back at the main stage, Mastermind tells Angel that he would never be so gauche as to rush him, but that he is starting to get a bit parched from the illusory manifestation. Angel is still on his phone talking to Madrox, and asks him how the hell human mercenaries even got on board. 'I can answer that' a voice calls out. 'Monet! For god's sake – and Selene?!' Angel exclaims. Selene informs Angel that the security here had a multistep plan, that it involved using a depowered mutant hostage to get the bulk of their security team onboard, and she recovered their attempted hostage. 'I was caught off guard' Monet admits, while Selene reveals that she psychically convinced the others to get lose and forget the plan entirely, so when Kilk had some scouts drop in via plane, said scouts got stuck up there alone with an Omega mutant or two and without their expected backup. 'Fine' Angel replies before instructing Madrox to have his dupes hold the Nobelsse mercenaries for now and question them until their superiors decide to take responsibility for them. Angel then asks the Core Team to get the IBG online so Mastermind can take a well deserved break. 'And on Monday morning – I'm calling a board meeting!'

Monday morning, in X-Corp HQ. Angel, Monet, Trinary, Madrox, Mastermind and Selene are gathered in a meeting room. Angel stands in the center of a circular a couch lines the area, the others sitting on the couch. Angel points out that thanks to Mastermind and Selene's intervention they made it by the skin of their teeth. 'A lot of what went on at Technology TALKS would have destroyed anyone else, but we're doing better than fine. Aside from the original blip, we're not supplying most of the bandwidth to the world's top four telecom companies' Angel announces, adding that they have to do something, and can't just keep floating by, letting Kol take chunks out of them. Angel turns to Trinary and asks if they can have the room. 'Isn't this a board meeting?' Trinary asks. Angel rubs his forehead as he informs Trinary that the offer that was made to her was not previously vetted through proper channels, and that they have to reconsider an offer after they have reviewed her criminal record – if they have an opening.
Trinary hangs her head and folds her arms, unhappy, while Monet exclaims 'That is complete $#%&, Warren' Angel turns to Monet and tells her that he doesn't want to do this with her right now. 'You left me hanging. Your goose chase got you hurt and left me onstage with my pants down' he points out. 'Oh stop. The audience would have loved that' Monet replies. 'I don't even want my seat, Trinary can have it' Madrox announces as he stands up. 'Well, no, she's practically a child' Mastermind suggests. 'Compared to me, you're all children' Selene reminds him. 'SIT DOWN!' an unimpressed Angel shouts, slamming a hand onto a table. 'We are going to vote on things. Like a board. No more impulses. We need a plan. And then we vote on that plan' Angel declares. He tells the Board that Noblesse is gobbling up every deal they can to try to replicate X-Corp's tech – up to and including smaller companies they can cannibalize. Monet announces that she has a plan, and suggests that they make a deal. 'How?' Angel asks.
'We buy them out' Monet announces. She tells Warren that Kol and Sara and Fenris are pains in their collective ass, but that no company is a monolith, and human companies like Noblesse have ten shareholders under Kol who own more of his company than he does, so they would just have to find out who they are and what they'd want for it. 'I suggests we do the intelligence gathering on a Friday afternoon – people will pay less attention to us' Monet offers. Monet continues, telling Warren that if they are smart, they time it so that they do this simultaneously, with more than one psychic operating, and from there, they have to immediately act on it in places away from their offices, take exterior meetings before making the offer. 'If they balk, remind them – even accepting a private meeting with one of us is admitting disloyalty to Kol in a big way. We can ruin them for just having coffee with us if we choose. But if we make it a very lucrative deal, which we can... I think they'll take the deal' Monet suggests.
'After all, I have the power to see the things they want but dare not say out loud...shouldn't I at least offer it to them?' Monet asks. 'What if they don't accept a meeting and just turn on you? What if they need more convincing?' Warren asks, folding his arms. 'They won't. Call it a hunch' Monet replies, before telling Warren that it is corporate espionage – get Kol's board to see it out from under him. 'They've all got their own machinations, and they need money for them. Everyone does' she points out. Warren asks Monet if that is her plan – for her and Selene to get into the building, follow some psychic bread crumbs to pop open a few schedules and make their execs think the buyout was their own idea? 'I don't like the cloak-and-dagger of it. We're better than that. We don't have to do those things, remember, X-Corp?' Warren states. 'Fine then. Let's put it to a vote' Monet suggests. The board members then take some papers and begin to cast their votes.
After reading the votes, Angel reports that it is outvoted. 'So where do we start?' he asks. Monet then tells him the best news is that she and Selene already did it thiis morning.
(Earlier)
Monet arrives at Noblesse headquarters with two Madrox dupes dressed in black suits. She stands over the receptionist who speaks to Monet in French: 'He's in a meeting. May I have your name to add you to his schedule?' she asks. 'That's all right, madame. I'll find all of the details I need myself' Monet responds as she uses her telepathic powers to enter the woman's mind, discovering the schedule of the shareholder in question.
Monet leaves the Noblesse building and passes Selene, who is walking with a nervous-looking elderly woman. Monet and Selene both slightly lower their sunglasses, acknowledging each other.
Monet later meets with the man whose schedule she telepathically took from the receptionist, and smiles at him as he signs his name on some papers.
When things get difficult with another shareholder, Monet switches to her Penance form to convince him to sign the papers. Selene has difficulty with an old man, too – but she has no problems shoving the heel of her stiletto into his chest.
(Now)
'You and Selene spent your weekend...buying Kol out of his brand-new company?' Warren asks, folding his arms. Monet and Selene place two thick folders onto the table as Monet tells Warren that they bought out the people under Kol. 'None of the shareholders were very attached, truly' Selene smiles. 'What if we'd voted no? Are you two okay with this?' Warren asks, looking over at Mastermind and Madrox. 'Exceedingly' Mastermind replies. He points out that this war against Noblesse is the worst media angle possible – as Noblesse won't let anyone forget for a second that they are mutants. 'Would we want to?' Madrox asks. 'Lovely sentiment for bad PR' Mastermind tells him. Warren frowns and declares that the meeting is adjourned. 'The break-room bagel bush is fruiting. Help yourselves' he mutters. 'Except for you, Monet. I would like to talk to you in the executive lounge, please'.
Shortly, Monet enters the executive lounge, where she finds Warren is starting to remove his shirt. 'I thought you were going to lose your cool up there. I like that you didn't. It was the right move' Monet tells Warren. But, Warren informs Monet that he is furious. 'But I'm tired of being goaded into this in front of everyone. I need to know what you want from me' Warren remarks, asking Monet if she wants him to snap and embarrass himself, or if she wants him to just be reckless like she is. 'Or do you wish I wasn't here?' Warren asks. 'Oh, give me a break -' Monet starts to say, but Warren interrupts her: 'I'm serious, Monet. You've been trying to get me to snap and fight you since day one' Warren points out. Shirtless, he stands ready for a fight, telling Monet 'So here you go. Here's the meeting you've been wanting but have been too scared to ask for. I don't need to be a psychic to tell. You want to fight me, here I am'.
'Aw, you shouldn't have' Monet responds, slamming her powerful fist into Warren and knocking him backwards. Rubbing his jaw, Warren replies 'That's better' before telling Monet that he wants to be clear – this is not about anger or disagreement. 'We were taught like this, Monet. For humans, it might seem insane, but it's how we were raised' Warren states, kicking Monet in the face and knocking her backwards into a table. 'You were never in my class' Monet boasts as she takes flight and hovers above Warren. 'But when we were both young, and we had to learn how to understand ourselves? And who we were? We fought our classmates!' Warren exclaims. 'Yes, in danger rooms, you nostalgic lunatic! Not in the executive lounge of our billion-dollar headquarters!' Monet repliers as she shoves Warren against the glass dome which covers the executive lounge. Something happens, and the entire room becomes empty, as if it was projecting holograms. 'It is a Danger Room, Monet. What else would executives like us want?' Warren replies.
'I told you. This is how we learned how to defeat our enemies. Why stop now?' Warren remarks. 'You're so old-school' Monet tells Warren as they both drop to the floor, before Monet leaps at him and slams her high-heeled shoes into his back. 'Do you want me to shift into Penance? Do you want to shift too? Would it feel better to be the other guy?' Monet asks, before she pins Warren to the ground, resting a knee against his back. 'You might have a chance at beating me then' Monet points out, before asking Warren that if this is about Penance, well, she isn't the Hulk – Penance is a part of her that she draws upon, not something with control over her – not something she fights.  'As for you – is that what it's like for you? Struggling against it?' Monet asks, her face moving in closer to Warren's.
'Monet – you're so sure that Penance is worth accepting, aren't you, Monet? Don't you ever question yourself?' Warren exclaims as he shifts to his Archangel form, standing up, he sends Monet backwards, slamming against a wall, while his razor-sharp wings extend. Monet gathers herself and tells Warren that he has no idea the kinds of questions she asks herself. 'Do you think I need to lose control and become Penance every time I'm challenged?' she asks, dodging deadly feather-blades that Warren hurls towards her. 'Of course not' Warren repllies. 'But if Kol is dealt with, we need to trust each other before someone strikes again. And I need to show you that though I often resist becoming Archangel...I'm not afraid of him anymore' Warren explains. 'you idiot. You should be afraid of me' Monet retorts as she flies towards Warren.
'Listen! It's part of every cell now. Maybe Angel and Archangel – or Monet and Penance – were distinct once, but not anymore. Not for a long time before – and certainly not since dying on that solar mission and coming back. Something we both lived and died through!' Archangel suggests to Monet. Archangel blocks Monet's kick with his arm as Monet tells him that she isn't sure why he thinks their relationship ought to be so special, or why they are alike. 'It's business, Warren' Monet declares. 'I'm sure we'll turn on each other someday!' Monet adds as they suddenly burst through the glass dome above them. 'Wait – what's going on down there?' Warren asks as they end their fight mid-air. Monet looks over and sees what Warren is looking at. She tells him it is investors – with guns. 'Don't get shot in the head. If you die in front of them that's your retirement on Krakoa early. You can't be seen in front of humans again' Monet warns Warren. Warren tells Monet that he gets it, and that if they go out there with anything other than their best armor, it will be career suicide.
Down below, Andreas and Andrea von Strucker, the Fenris Twins, can be seen with Sara St. John and Jean-Pierre Kol. They are all wearing black costumes and armed with weapons. Andreas informs Sara that they are in. 'He can start whenever' Andreas adds. Sara informs Kol that they have hijacked the comms, and that he should go ahead and make his offer. 'They'll hear you' she assures him. Kol stands before a Krakoan gateway and greets X-Corporation. 'I came to find out you'd been to my headquarters, and I hadn't yet gotten the chance to see yours. Thankfully, Fenris here was happy to walk me through the gate. But I hope you'll invite me inside!' Kol calls out. The quartet begin to walk around on the X-Corp HQ, as Kol tells X-Corporation that previously they had been dealing with the professional Jean-Pierre Kol, as he had so many interests to protect – with his corporate portfolio, he couldn't just start a fight with mutants. 'But now I have been relieved of my corporate responsibilities. And I have come to find out from my consultants Fenris that you are violent brutes with no sense'.
Kol continues, boasting that he just wants to take what he feels he is owed, what X-Corp refused to give – and so he has opted for the hostile takeover. Kol points out that he has Ms St. John and her amazing technology with him. 'But you were right about one thing, Warren. I should retire. Once I've taken over your HQ, I can see it for parts to the hundreds of less scrupulous markets who wouldn't shed a tear over your absence'. Kol, Sara and Fenris all raise their weapons, while Kol asks 'Which young go-getter will be the first to come talk to me?'
In his lab, Madrox and several dupes look out at the commotion. 'What is going on? Is that Noblesse? Are we being boarded again?' one of the dupes asks. 'Yeah, apparently we bought Kol's company, so now he's out of a job and gone full crazy' Madrox explains. 'We're going to join up with the security guys up top -' one of the dupes begins, before Madrox absorbs him. 'No! Stop! If we're being boarded, I'm absorbing everyone before I lose your research. Get in line!' Madrox calls out, before realizing that there isn't time to absorb them all – and his research is going to be massively incomplete. 'Doc? We're coming too -' one dupe calls out as Madrox heads for an elevator tube. Madrox orders his dupes to stay here, as he is going to see what is going on, and then he will be back down for further direction. 'You stay here. You're my research' Madrox calls out.
Inside the elevator, Madrox contacts his teammates and informs them that he is heading up top to meet with the security team. Madrox hears Trinary in his ear-piece talking to him, informing him that Angel and Monet just went out the ceiling. 'Uh, okay, I just don't want to be the first one up there so -' Madrox replies, when suddenly, the elevator door opens and someone points a gun in Madrox's face – and pulls the trigger. 'He shouldn't have interrupted you' Andrea von Strucker remarks, holding the smoking gun. 'You were saying, Monsieur Kol?' Andreas asks. 'That I can do whatever I want with the X-Corporation's mutant trash and the world will cheer me on' Kol replies. Archangel and Monet look down in shock as they see Madrox's unmoving body, while Kol suggest 'Perhaps I'll even crash it into your smug $#%& island – once you're all dead!'