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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Are you Sure?!
Franklin’s dream:
This the land of lost hope, a realm of nightmare. It mixes what was with what is to bring forth what is yet to be. The future of a lost and lonely little boy.
Reed Richards carries the dead form of his wife. Daddy! cries a  horrified Franklin. You killed her! You killed Mommy! Uncaring, Richards orders his son to leave. This is no place for him. With tears in his eyes, Franklin demands he explain. He killed them all! It was logical, his father explains. It was necessary. How could he know, how could he be certain?
Walking past the dead shapes of his teammates and She-Hulk, Richards replies that he is a scientist. He’s always certain. This time he was wrong! shouts the voice of a newcomer, also cradling a dead female form. Only it didn’t just cost him the lives of the Fantastic Four. He killed the X-Men as well! Behind Wolverine, the dead X-Men, Havok, Psylocke, Storm, Longshot, Rogue, Dazzler and Magneto are impaled, hanging from trees.
Wolverine gently puts down Shadowcat’s body, as he recalls that they came to Richards for help. Franklin realizes he is bleeding badly. Ignoring the boy, Wolverine reminds Richards that they trusted him. They put Shadowcat’s life into his hands. And because of him it was all for nothing.
Franklin asks him to please not hurt his daddy. Wolverine attacks, but Richards’ pliable body easily escapes him. Wolverine succumbs to his injuries and also dies.
He’s dead! Franklin cries. Then he no longer matters, his father replies as he walks up a set of stairs. Franklin asks him not to talk like that. It’s the way he is, Reed responds. Franklin tries to drag him back, pulling his stretchable body, begging him not go up to the bad place. He must, comes the reply and Franklin is forced to let go.
At the top, Reed lays down Sue an altar. Every step of his life, every decision he has ever made has led him inexorably to this moment. Franklin begs him not to touch the book. It’s the cause of everything bad that’s happened. The book he refers to – Reed Richards’ Journal State University – is held up by his father. This is culmination of his work, he announces as a sinister glow lights his face.
Tears in his eyes, Franklin begs him not to do this. Don’t make the scary face. With an evil grin, Reed pulls off his uniform to reveal armor underneath. Is it so difficult to comprehend? he asks. Victor von Doom and Reed Richard are but opposite sides of the same coin, twins in spirit that have finally irrevocably become one. With that, he completes the transformation and puts on Doom’s mask.
(Reality)
Franklin awakes, crying out daddy! in horror. He tiptoes into his father’s lab. He knows he’s not supposed to bother him when he’s working there, but he’s always working.
He had a dream, he announces. That’s nice, Reed replies, absent-mindedly while muttering something about calibrating anti-matter synergistic wave matrices. He activates the comm-link and informs Sue that something seems to be bothering Franklin. He is in the middle of some delicate calibrations. Would she mind taking care of him please?
Suddenly, an invisible force field shaped like a seat envelopes Franklin and flies him to the archive where Sue is busy. Amused, she asks him what he’s doing up after his bedtime. He had a dream, he tells her. One of his special ones? she asks and hugs him. She assures him everything is all right and that he’s safe with her. She asks him to tell her about it.
All the Fantastic Four were in this bad place, he tells her and the X-Men too and everybody but Daddy was dead. And he opened this awful book and he turned into Dr. Doom. Sue wonders whether this is normal childhood anxiety or a premonition of sorts.
She suggests he help her unpack those crates which have been lost since forever, since before she and his dad were married. Unpacking one crate, she finds her grandmother’s tea service and then Reed’s old journal. Franklin cowers in fear, shouting that that’s the book from his dream!
Sunrise over the coast of Muir Isle and Moira MacTaggart’s research center. Currently, the X-Men have sought refuge there. Alex Summers, their newest member, walks up to the Blackbird, greeting Rogue who’s been working on it. He asks if she needs a hand. Coolly, she blows him off. Angrily, he reminds her that she was an X-Man long before they came along. She has no business talking to him like that. Rogue shouts back that things have changed. If he wants a place with them, he should earn it the same way the people he’s replacing did, with sweat and blood!
Within the center’s crowded infirmary lie the few survivors of the Marauders massacre, named for the mercenaries who slew the Morlocks. Among the wounded X-Men are Nightcrawler in a deep coma, Colossus trapped in his armored form and finally, in a life support module, Shadowcat, locked in her phasing mode and drifting further and further apart. Her only way of communicating with the team is through the team’s telepath Psylocke.
Their visit over, Storm, Wolverine and Moira leave. Kitty is glad they’re leaving. She tries to be cheerful to buck up their spirits but it’s hard when they all know she’s dying.
In Moira’s office, Moira grimly states that the atoms of Kitty’s body are drifting farther and farther apart. In a matter of days, the deterioration of molecular bonding will cause irreversible brain damage.
That moment, Magneto contacts them with good news. He has learned of an experimental device by Reed Richards that may reverse Shadowcat’s condition. He means to contact him immediately. Storm reminds him that the Fantastic Four still consider him a supervillain. How will they ever learn otherwise if he doesn’t give them the opportunity? Magneto retorts. Richards is a rational and honorable man. He will know the truth when he hears it.
Meanwhile, speeding back from the port of Ullapool with a week worth of groceries are two other recent members of the X-Men, Dazzler and the enigmatic amnesiac Longshot. Longshot is fascinated by the ocean. Suddenly, he dives into the water. Dazzler lights up to find him. Glowing bright as the sun, she finds him as well as one of the missing fishermen from a recent shipwreck. How did he know where the man was? she asks while helping the two men aboard. Just lucky, he guesses, as he draws a blanket around their guest. Dazzler decides to take the fisher along them to Muir and misses his sinister smile.
Back at Four Freedom Plaza, Franklins is finally asleep. His mother wishes she were dreaming as well as she clutches her husband’s journal to her chest.
Reed enters and tries to surprise her. Coolly, she blows him off. She shows him the journal, asking if he recognizes this. He does. He thought it was gone for good. She wishes it had been, Sue replies stonily. She’s read it. She suggests he do so too, especially the pages relating to the rocket flight that transformed them into the Fantastic Four.
While he sleeps, Franklin projects his astral form into the living room. He wants to grab the book and run away, but his image form has no solidity. It can’t affect the real word – and in these heavy shadows he can hardly be seen. All he can do is watch, mesmerized by what’s happening – as the mouse is by the hunting cobra.
Downtown in Greenwich Village at Raglan’s coffee house. Downstairs is a bistro, and some of the best jazz in the city. Up a flight is an equally renowned reference library currently used by Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk. A waitress brings her some coffee and a snack and asks if she is working on a case. She’s done with the legal racket, Jen replies, but as a weird sort of fundraiser her old school is restaging the Magneto trial before the world court. She got conned into being defense counsel. The case looked open and shut at first. But the more she gets into it, the more complex it becomes.
As the waitress tempts her with some cake, Jen is suddenly bothered by the smell of a cigar coming from behind a shelf. Sticking her head through it, she asks the person to extinguish the cigar, only to see that it is Ben Grimm. Why is he hitting the books? Jen asks. He’s gotta recertify his pilot license, he explains. Did she mean that guff about Magneto? He’d quit before defending that creep. Everyone deserves a fair trial, she reminds him. Did his victims get one? he asks. Maybe things aren’t that simple, she replies crossly. She’s talking like she could get him off, he observes. Once a crook, always…
Their argument is interrupted by the sound of an explosion. It comes from a building site threatening to crumble. The two of them immediately race to assist. While She-Hulk props up the scaffolding Ben holds up the wall of the brownstone next door. Jen struggles with the scaffolding. With the whole structure unstable, it’s giving way.
Before that can happen though, the girders glow as Magneto uses his powers to lock the steel within the framework into place, preventing any structural stress from tearing the building further apart. He asks them for their assistance to restore the scaffolding to its original position. Jen is up for it while Ben grumbles that he probably blew the place up in the first place.
As the Human Torch joins them, Magneto orders him to weld the main girders and braces back into place. Johnny complies, realizing only while he is working that he’s taking orders from Magneto! When he hesitates, the Thing shouts at him that the “bum” is making sense. With the four of them working together, the crisis is soon past.
Later on the roof of Four Freedom Plaza, after Magneto has repeated the explanation for his presence, they discuss matters with Reed and Susan, who is holding Magneto prisoner in a forcefield bubble.  He agrees with them that they have no reason to trust him, save perhaps that he asks for it. That’s asking a lot, She-Hulk observes. Would he be as forthcoming, if positions were reversed?
Catch-22 he states. How can he prove that he is trustworthy, unless they trust him? He adds that he does not as for himself. Whatever their feelings towards him, Shadowcat and the X-Men have never done the Fantastic Four any harm. Richards’ device is her only hope. This is a bad time, Reed ventures. Tomorrow will be too late, comes the reply. Reed warns that there are no guarantees. The device is experimental. Too much can go wrong. Johnny carelessly suggests he give it a try: what could go wrong? Magneto agrees. Better the dimmest chance than no chance at all. He begs Reed to save Kitty.
Reed turns to Sue, who’s been standing aside, turning her back on him. He doesn’t want to go, but there’s a life at stake. There’s always a life at stake, she replies coldly, before telling him to do what he has to do. She’ll be here for him when he returns. Secretly, she wonders whether he is thankful for this emergency. It’s so much easier to deal with super heroic crises than the nuts-and-bolts of real life. Have they forgotten that the most heroic test of all is to be a good man or woman? Parents? A family?
Later still, three members of the FF, She-Hulk and Magneto are aboard the Fantastic Four’s plane on their way to Muir Isle. Jen refers to the FF uniform she’s wearing. She figured she never wear this outfit again, now that she’s back with the Avengers. Ben piloting the plane asks why she tagged along. Curiosity mostly, she admits. Who knows, perhaps Magneto has reformed. That’ll be the day, Ben snorts. If not and it is a trap, Jen continues, an extra set of muscles couldn’t hurt. She asks him if Reed is ok. He hasn’t spoken since she they took off. Ben suggests she count herself lucky, usually the problem is shutting him up. Jen walks back to sit beside the Torch, who’s looking daggers at Magneto.
Ben turns to Reed, asking him if something is bugging him. Reed asks him if he thinks he is … ruthless. Ben immediately replies that he isn’t ruthless so much as certain. Reed is the most certain guy he ever met. And because of all his work he’s absolutely certain that his conclusion is the right one, and being right, he’s prepared to do whatever’s necessary to resolve a situation. He guesses this is a kind of ruthlessness.
But… is he always right? Reed wonders. Pretty much, Ben replies, ‘cept for the one time Reed conned him, Suzie and Johnny into riding his rocket with him by telling them how safe it was. That was a mistake and it was a doozy. He always wondered how a big brain like Reed could forget about something as basic as cosmic rays. Concentrating on piloting, Ben doesn’t notice that his friend’s look has turned to one of utter horror at his words.
Eventually, the plane lands on Muir. Dr MacTaggert and Storm race to welcome the FF. Wolverine tags behind, snorting that he hopes their results are as impressive as their hardware.
Magneto exits first, asking about Kitty while the Thing and She-Hulk transport Richards’ rather huge device out of the plane, hoping the X-Men have big doorways. If they don’t, Jen and he will widen them, Ben remarks.
Storm asks where Richards is. They are ready when he is. Reed is still sitting within the plane, torturing himself with the possibility of making another mistake. His device is untested. Like his rocket was. The computer simulations are positive. But computers are only as accurate as the data they are programmed with. Garbage in, garbage out. He buries his head in his hands as he recalls that the simulations were favorable before their first spaceflight as well. He trusted them, and his loved ones paid the price. If history repeats itself, his arrogance may condemn an innocent girl. Or his caution will. Either way, he loses. He gets up when Ben looks after him. As he walks outside, he wonders where he is needed more, there or at home. Is that a question he should ask or an answer he should instinctively know?
As he exits the plane, behind him Franklin’s dream form manifests, clearly worried about his father. Still lost in obsessive thoughts, Reed walks past Moira and the X-Men without any acknowledgement, making even the Torch wonder what’s wrong with him, hoping it isn’t a marriage crisis between his sister and Reed. Wolverine grimly stares at Richards, causing Storm to comment why he’s doing that. Something about him doesn’t sit quite right, Logan announces. He doesn’t like it. Or him.
For the rest of the day, Mr. Fantastic conducts an exhaustive examination of his patient and makes the final adjustments to his equipment. Then at last, he joins the others, announcing there is nothing he can do. Angrily, Magneto shouts that he’s read the literature. This is precisely the sort of situation Richards’ mechanism was designed to deal with – the reincorporation of nuclear structures. It’s a process of molecular bonding, Reed explains with downcast eyes, but not of living tissue. Shadowcat’s condition is too far advanced. He dare not.
If he is afraid, they’ll do the job themselves, Magneto decides, using his powers to raise the device. They have the machine. They don’t need him. She-Hulk grabs his arm and applies a tiny amount of her strength, warning Magneto that this doesn’t belong to him. She suggests they resolve this in a rational manner, Ben catches the device and shouts at Reed that this is a heckuva time and place to get cold feet.
The Torch flames on, ready to attack, certain that the only language that mutant bozo understands is force. Wolverine immediately hits him in the stomach and warns him to mind his mouth and manners. Leave this to the grown-ups. Johnny flames off and crouches on the ground in pain.
Wolverine unsheathes his claws and Franklin secretly watching fears the worst: that Wolverine and his father are going to fight like in his special dream. Wolverine presses Richards against the plane’s hull with his claws, using the words from Franklin’s dream. They came to Richards for help. They trusted him. They put Shadowcat’s life in his hands. So you save her bub – or you die!!


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

[Assistant]
Truth & Consequences
Claws unsheathed, Wolverine has Reed Richards, leader of the Fantastic Four cornered and demands in a berserker rage that he save Shadowcat – or he’ll send Richards home in a box!
Storm shouts a warning and runs to separate the two. Magneto informs her that he’ll do it. He gestures, ready to use his powers on Wolverine. Distrusting him, however, the Things claps his hands, causing a shockwave that sends Magneto off-balance and briefly stuns him. The same shockwave sends Storm closer to the two combatants and she grabs Wolverine’s outstretched arm to hold him back.
The Human Torch comes to from the blow Wolverine dealt him earlier. Seeing Wolverine threaten Reed, Johnny fears the worst, believing his suspicions about Magneto were true. He flames on and fires at Wolverine, but that moment Storm falls into the blast’s path and her left arm is badly burned, much to Johnny’s horror.
The commotion has alerted Rogue who’s been working in the hangar. Before things can get more out of hand she lifts up the Thing and kisses him to absorb his powers. With this kiss, Rogue temporarily absorbs his psyche and powers. Instantly, as her body is flooded with the Thing’s awesome strength and transforms as her awareness is filled with the totality of his being. All he is and was, his dreams and despairs. She cries. She thought she’d be attacking a toad. Instead, she’s touched the soul of a prince.
Meanwhile, Johnny Storm crumples under Psylocke’s telepathic attack. Betsy searches for her next target before learning from the others’ thoughts that Wolverine started all this. She decides to split her concentration, using part of it to dampen Storm’s pain and another to calm Wolverine.
Not willing to be calmed, Wolverine shouts at her to get out of his skull. She-Hulk holds him back, astonished that an X-Man is helping them. Psylocke informs She-Hulk that his rage is too extreme. She cannot hold his mind, anymore than Jen can hold his body. He’s like an animal who keeps on hitting and kicking at Richards.
From the hatchway of the FF’s hyperspace plane, Franklin Richard’s astral form watches in growing horror as friends battle family. He wants to stop this with all his might, but no one can hear his anguished cries because he isn’t really there. Instead of jumping out of the plane at home, he falls out of his bed and awakes.
His mother is alerted by the noise and sees him crying. As she tries to comfort him, he tells her of his special dream. How his father went to the X-Men but wouldn’t help them. He describes his impressions about the battle, sobbing that something awful is happening.
Sue finally gets him to fall asleep again, silently apologizing for bringing him into this crazy life. If not for those horrible cosmic rays, they’d be a normal family and he wouldn’t have to suffer so. She wishes she’d never opened that book – referring to Reed’s old journal. Anguished and furious, she throws it away, fearing that Franklin may be right and it may destroy the Fantastic Four. She lashes out with her invisible forcefield, shouting that she hates Reed.
Back on Muir Isle, the three newer X-Men in the infirmary learn of the battle outside and decide to give their team a hand. The fisherman Dazzler and Longshot saved earlier is left alone. The moment they are gone, he reveals his true self that of a robot here to infiltrate the place.
Meanwhile outside, Moira steps between Wolverine and Richards, as does Storm who can barely stand. Her pain lies as raw across his senses as the acrid stench of her seared flesh and he finally pulls back his claws. While She-Hulk helps Richards up, Storm offers a formal apology, before begging that only he can save Shadowcat. He insists that he would help if he could. Rogue, still wearing the Thing’s form, suggests she simply absorb his knowledge or Psylocke can take the info from his mind. Storm forbids it even though she wants to. They mustn’t.
That moment, Havok Ali and Longshot arrive to see the fight is done. Storm begins to suggest the FF leave, when Longshot suddenly announces that something very strange is happening. To everyone’s surprise, the robot comes out of the infirmary, changing into a complete robotic form and announces that its mission is non-hostile. It then shifts to holographic communications mode and a familiar voice greets the X-Men and Reed Richards… It is a holographic message by Doctor Doom.
In a dramatic stance, Doom apologizes for the uninvited intrusion and for the deception practiced by his scanbot. He had heard of the X-Men’s recent troubles at the hands of the Marauder and was curious to separate fact from rumor. More importantly, he wished to determine whether or not this attack posed any threat to his interests. In learning of the X-Men’s presence on Muir Isle, he sent this construct to reconnoiter Dr MacTaggart’s facility. In the process, he became aware of young Shadowcat’s predicament. He believes he may be of some assistance. He can duplicate Richards’s research and construct his molecular reintegrator and with it save the child’s life.
For what price? Storm asks. Would that matter? Doom replies sardonically before assuring her that no price was mentioned. None shall be. He’s doing this out of the kindness of his heart, eh? Wolverine mocks. His reasons are his own, Doom replies sharply. And his offer should stand for itself.
Richards grabs Storm’s arm. She mustn’t! he implores her. Dealing with Doom is akin to striking a deal with the devil. Storm coolly retorts that whatever the X-Men decide is no concern of his. She reminds him that he has been asked to leave. Reed begs her to listen. Doom says there is no price but they’ll be in his debt forever. She’s responsible for her team’s welfare. She can’t go through with this.
Having had enough, Moira reminds him this is her land and, if the FF aren’t airborne in five minutes, she’ll see them arrested for trespass and assault. He’s done enough for today.
Doom reminds the X-Men they know where to reach him and ends his transmission. As the FF leave, She-Hulk remarks they are making a terrible mistake. The FF have left them little choice Storm retorts.
As they leave, Storm wonders why Richards seemed preoccupied but then loses consciousness as she goes into shock. The others transport her into Moira’s surgery.
Moira and Nurse Sharon Friedlander begin to work on Ororo’s serious burns. Kitty watches this from her “fishtank.” She saw Doom’s offer on one of the security monitors. She wants to live but not if it costs the X-Men their souls. Maybe she has to take the decision out of their hands…
In the meantime, Reed returns home, weary in body and spirit, wondering what’s wrong with him. He goes through the data of the reintegrator. Theoretically, this is precisely what Kitty needs. Yet an instinct made him hesitate.
Still pondering, he is suddenly grabbed by the Thing, who brutally throws him into the all. Working hard as always, saving the world, ain’t he the saint? the Thing mocks sharply. He’s seen the book, read his stinkin’ journal! But he’s an old-fashioned, traditional kinda guy. He wants the story from Reed’s lips to his face. He wants the truth!
He pushes Reed into another room where Sue, Johnny and Jennifer are already waiting. Johnny implores his sister that this has to be a mistake. They are talking about Reed here! Why doesn’t he listen to the evidence before shooting his mouth off, Ben suggests grimly. Sounds to him like the jury’s already in on this kangaroo court, Reed states equally grimly. If that wuz so, he wouldn’t be here and he wouldn’t be breathing, Ben replies.
Reed tells Sue that he thought this would be between the two of them. The others deserve to hear the truth, she replies. And this is the truth? he shouts, holding up the journal. You tell us, Sue replies. He knows where to begin.
Reed start reading aloud:
Although not a geneticist myself, my readings of the work of Charles Xavier convince me of the fundamental soundness of his theories that the human race is fast approaching an evolutionary watershed akin to the historical transition from Neanderthal to Cro-magnon… At the same time, my recent encounter with the extra-terrestrial intelligence, Gormuu, leads me to the inexorable conclusion that such contacts can only increase in the future. Thus far, we have dealt with individual beings – what will happen when humanity meets a hostile alien state? How will Earth defend tself?
On Muir Isle Wolverine slashes at the rocks like a berserker. Nice mess, Rogue observes as she joins him. Having fun? His only regret is that these are rocks and not Mr. Flamin’ Fantastic Reed Richards, comes the reply. Floating in a lotus position, Rogue points out that killing rocks won’t make Storm better or Kitty. “Rocks are here. Richard isn’t,” Wolverine points out. There are gentler ways of getting rid of anger and hostility, she suggests. She mediates her way, he mediates his, comes the reply.
Later at Moira’s home, the X-Men and Moira are gathered to hear Storm’s suggestion. Dazzler protests vehemently. Dr. Doom is the most evil and dangerous man in the world. How can they even be thinking about accepting his offer? When he’s the only game in town… Wolverine remarks. A rated game with marked cards rigged in Doom’s favor, Alison shouts back.
At the FF headquarters, Sue asks Reed if those are his words. Ben warns him to not even try and deny it. He remembers listening to him spout that same guff as far back as college. Those last few days, it was pretty much all he talked about. Just because some of this is true, doesn’t mean the whole book is, Reed defends himself. That’s what they are there to find out, Sue replies and orders him to finish the story.
Reed’s journal:
Is it a blessing – or a curse – I wonder. Having not merely a superior intellect and insatiable curiosity but the wherewithal to make even my wildest dreams reality? I have devoted my entire life --  and almost the entire fortune bequeathed me by my father – to an experimental rocket project… so that mankind may meet any other starfaring race, not on the surface of our homeworld, but in the neutral territory of space.
Disaster! The government wants me to postpone my flight – my spacecraft, they say, contains too much radical and untested technology, they require more tests before approving the launch. Don’t they understand, I’ve already tested every element of both design and construction, far more comprehensively than they ever could? I fear if I accept the restraining order, the “delays” will never end. My rocket will never fly.
My best friend – ace test pilot Ben Grimm – will handle the control. My fiancée, Sue Storm, and her kid brother, Johnny, insist on accompanying us as well. Brave noble souls. There are none like them in the world.
Reed closes the journal, speaking softly now from memory. He recalls how lift-off was perfect, but then they found themselves bombarded by cosmic rays that penetrated the shielding of the spacecraft as though it was non-existent. They aborted the mission and returned to Earth, only to discover they’d been irrevocable changed. They’d gained considerable powers, pledged to use them for good and so the Fantastic Four was born.
On Muir, Dazzler argues that she’s fought Doom. She knows first-hand what he’s like. Most of them have and do, Wolverine retorts. Moira points out that medically speaking their alternative is Kitty’s death. She can’t save her, Richards won’t. With Doom’s offer, the child has at least a chance.
He’s a devil, Alison insists. Do they think Kitty would want them to do that? Would they in her position? If you’re drowning, does it matter who throws you a rope, Rogue points out. Course it does, Wolverine remarks, that’s the point. Question is. Which matters more: Kitty or them?
At Four Freedom Plaza, Sue states that that’s the way things happened or so they always believed.
Reed reads aloud what is in his journal: Among the growing number of terrestrial enhanced power beings are certain to be a proportion manifesting anti-social tendencies – super-criminals. And while it is logical to assume some similar beings will devote their energies to pro-social activities, that process might well be facilitated by a person or group who would serve as both inspiration and example to the rest. We Fantastic Foursome will play that role. The genetic structure of myself, Ben, Susan and Johnny are such that when combined with a precise dose of radiation, all of us will manifest extraordinary abilities. For that end, I have shaped the hull of my spacecraft to capture and focus the specific radiation required for our transformation. I dare not ask their permission. Susan and Johnny are too young and Ben too hot-headed. They would not understand. They might well refuse. And the stakes – for the future, the world, the human race – are too high.
Johnny and Jen just stare open-mouthed, whereas Ben remarks quietly that he did that to them on purpose. Explains a lot. Like why they and not any of the other astronauts who came after. Sometimes he used to laugh how his big brain buddy could forget something as basic as cosmic rays. The joke’s on him.
He doesn’t believe that, does he? Reed asks. He didn’t, he couldn’t. Ben tells him to give him a break. He knew something was right and necessary and did not do what was required, no matter what the cost? He knows him better than that.
Sue takes his hand. She wishes she knew what to say. She wishes she’d never found that book. He has wishes too, but wishes are for kids. He’s a grown-up and knows better. He leaves. As do Johnny and Jen. Johnny doesn’t know if he’ll be back. What about her? Reed asks. Sue turns away.
Back at Muir, Storm finally speaks. She’s making that decision for herself alone. It is not binding for the others. Kitty is very dear to her. She would bargain with the devil himself to save her. And she shall. Not alone, Wolverine replies. If she’s in, so is he. Rogue agrees too and Psylocke speaks for the newcomers, promising they’ll stand with Storm to the end.


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

[Assistant]
By the Soul’s Darkest Light
Castle Doom, Latveria:
Dr. Doom holds the injured arm of the unconscious Storm, almost caressing it. He announces that the anesthetic has taken effect and Storm is no longer in pain. Her injuries are quite serious, he gloats. Second and third-degree burns, involving the entirety of her left arm and shoulder… the finest hospital in the world cold not erase this terrible scarring nor restore anything beyond minimal function. Fortunately for the X-Men’s leader, they turned to Doctor Doom…
He gloats that his bio-enhancer will stimulate Storm’s body’s natural healing process and, within the day, her arm will be as good as new. Energy engulfs the unconscious Storm. Watching, Psylocke grimly remarks to Magneto and Wolverine if they’ve considered what this device could mean to burn victims. How many could have survived if Doom had shared this secret? The two men nod in grim agreement.
Meanwhile on the parapet outside, Dazzler, Havok and Longshot take in the spectacular sights of the mountains surrounding the castle. Alex Summers admits this country is beautiful, adding it’s a pity that it’s ruled by such a toad. Longshot inquires why Havok is so hostile and Dazzler explains that Doom is a villain, one of the worst. Is it villainy to offer help to Storm or Shadowcat? the amnesiac hero asks. Alex assumes Doom wants to put the X-Men in his debt. Sooner or later – probably the nastiest way possible – Doom will collect.
Longshot reminds him that Magneto was one the X-Men’s greatest foes, is that why he became headmaster of their school – to do them harm? Wouldn’t put it past him, Alex mutters. Ali tries to explain that things aren’t so simple but is interrupted by one of Dooms’ robot guards giving off an intruder alert.
The robots take to the air as they detect an unauthorized uncodified biologically contact nearing, actually Rogue returning to the castle from an impromptu shopping trip, eager to show the others the traditional garb she’s bought. She’s totally surprised when she’s attacked.
Havok instantly fires his plasma blasts at the robots, figuring Doom probably ordered the ambush. Rogue begins to fight back herself totaling two robots, aided by a laser beam of Dazzler who jokingly calls Havok a show-off. Amused, Rogue notes that Ali always seems to be in a game of one-upmanship with Alex.
Finally, all the robots are trashed. Alex ironically commends Ali’s shooting when suddenly the three of them are surrounded by another group of very hostile robots. Before anything happens, they are joined by Doom walking towards them with his arm offered to Storm, her injuries clearly healed. Coolly, she asks them if they repay their host by brawling with his servitors. Angrily Rogue announces in a childish tone that they started it. She was minding her own business. Doom remarks that a mistake was made on both sides. This is, after all, his country. No harm will ever come to those who obey its laws.
High above in her tower is the reason for the X-Men’s presence: the X-Men’s youngest member Shadowcat watched over by her pet Dragon Lockheed. She was grievously wounded in a fierce battle with a band of super-powered Marauders. Since then, she can’t switch off her powers to phase. She’s effectively become a living ghost. Worse, her condition is progressive as the molecules of her body are drifting further and further apart.
Kitty has come to a decision. She wants to live but she refuses to let the X-Men place themselves in debt to Doom because of her. She phases free from her life support cell that’s been keeping her alive, an event witnessed by Lockheed and the astral form of Franklin Richards.
She doesn’t see or hear him, has only eyes for the morning star as she exits the towers and stands on a turret. She decides to wait for he sunrise then relax her concentration, let her molecules float free on the wind. That’ll be nice, probably won’t hurt.
Realizing what she plans, Franklin shouts “No” and begs her to come back. His Daddy will save her. This is wrong! He pleads for her to listen.
Lockheed roars to get the X-Men’s attention, successfully. Storm orders everyone upstairs and for Psylocke to telepathically find out what’s going on. Betsy contacts Kitty who refuses to listen. Betsy tells the others what Kitty plans. Her consciousness is too elusive for Betsy to hold. And she sensed someone with Kitty. A psychic entity of unimaginable powers.
Franklin realizes it’s all up to him. He promises everything will be okay. The nasty book won’t destroy the X-Men or the Fantastic Four. They won’t fight. They won’t die. He cries helplessly.
The sun rises. Franklin cries that he’s scared and begs her not to leave him alone. Finally, Kitty hears him crying and recognizes him. How did he get here? Why is he crying? Curled on himself, Franklin only begs Don’t go endlessly. Kitty considers.
When the X-Men arrive Kitty’s back in the life support cell. Franklin is outside “hugging” her/it.
False alarm? Ali wonders. She wishes, Wolverine replies. They just got luckier than they deserve. Why is Franklin there? Storm wonders. Doom joins them, asking if all is well. By tonight he will be ready. Doom will succeed where Reed Richards failed. This time tomorrow Ms. Pryde will be restored to perfect health.
Dawn in Latveria is the witching hour in New York where a lonely man, grown suddenly old and weary beyond words prowls the empty, cavernous halls of the building that’s a monument to his genius. And a mockery of it. He cannot sleep. Worse, he cannot think. The diamond brilliance of his mind is dulled. For the first time in his life Reed Richard doesn’t know what to do. He is lost, uncertain.
He sees a light in the bedroom and wonders if his wife is awake. He stretches his arm, reaching out to her, but Sue pretends to be asleep and he leaves. He looks outside the window. His wife, his other better self and yet he cannot face her. Can’t bear to see the hurt and hate in her eyes. All he’s built. All he’s and the Fantastic Four have become - destroyed by this book. His supposed diary which says that the accident that transformed him, Sue, her brother Johnny and his best friend Ben Grimm into super-beings was no accident. He did it on purpose. But he didn’t! Only they don’t believe him. And who knows, whatever his conscious mind decided, could his subconscious have betrayed him?
He leaves the book behind. He can’t go on like this. He always had the answer. But what use is his supposedly matchless intellect when the people he values most have lost faith in him? He hasn’t a clue how to restore it.
He passes Franklin’s room and finds the boy whimpering, lost in a nightmare. Sitting down at his bedside, he tells himself that so many awful things have happened to Franklin because Sue and he are members of the FF.
Franklin awakes. Frightened, he climbs onto his father’s lap. After some time, Reed suggests he needs his sleep. Franklin mentions his nightmares. Reed recalls what his father did when he was Franklin’s age and had nightmares. He told him a story. How about Saggy Baggy Elephant, Franklin’s favorite tale? Accompanied by his stretchable limbs Reed tells Franklin the story. Sue passes the room and becomes invisible not to disturb them and sees the two of them laugh together. With that sight her anger at Reed melts away.
Meanwhile in Latveria, in the courtyard Storm tries out the health of her arm in combat with Longshot. However, Longshot seems to regard the whole thing as a game. And instead of fighting, he keeps on evading Storm’s blows with his unmatchable acrobatics. With the exercise over, they decide to visit Kitty.
In Manhattan, Ben Grimm doesn’t know how long he’s been walking. But as usual his steps have brought him home to the lower east side and the street - Yancy Street – where his life began. All the while, memories collide with reality, what was doing battle with what is: Ben Grimm, college gridiron star, War hero. Ace test pilot. Prize chump whose best friend betrayed that trust and destroyed his life. He enters the Yancy St. Bar and is greeted by Cholly, the bartender who instantly recognizes that he’s in a poor mood. Cholly tries to make small talk but Ben is tightlipped, only complaining about how the neighborhood’s changed, not for the better.
Any objections to him staying a while? Ben asks. Cholly worries about him and offers some food. Ben just keeps on drinking, eating in between, not enjoying a bit of it as he envies the others, but refuses to talk. He drowns in self-pity, noticing how nobody wants to look his way. Him and Cholly go back past grade school. He’s never done him wrong, but even he’s scared if Ben’s going to bust up the place.
Normal folks living a normal life like his used to be till he became the Thing. He loved Suzie, but she fell for Reed. He loved Alicia, but she dumped him for the Torch. And why not, His skin is soft and smooth, Ben’s like concrete. Johnny can kiss her, be a man. He’ll never have a kid or grandchild, the Grimm family ends right here and according to Reed’s diary his best friend did this to him on purpose.
Finally, Cholly shakes Ben out of his reverie; it’s closing time. He asks if he should call him a cab but Ben declines, wishing to walk. As he gets to the door, the entire staff waits for him to finally blow up and emit a collective sigh of relief when Ben leaves without anything happening.
Outside Ben is in a lousy mood. Despite his drinking, he doesn’t feel even tipsy. Suddenly, he hears noise. Nearby there’s a car that wrecked into a tanker. The fire from the tanker is spreading. The cops are dragging back a woman who shouts that her baby is trapped in there.
The Thing instantly runs towards the accident site, grabs the burning tanker and tosses it into the river. Then he rips apart the car to get to the infant. He puts her into his soaked jacket and gets them both through the flames.
One of the cops thanks him, telling him he should be proud and the mother gives him a relieved kiss. Ben insists they would have done the same. Tried maybe, the cop points out, but not succeeded, not survived. The baby is delighted by Ben and he softens.
Meanwhile across town Johnny tries to lose his dark thoughts in flight. Trying to hone his precision, haunted by the injury he caused Storm. Finally, he lands at Alicia Masters’s apartment. His lover tells him to stop torturing himself. He tells her how messed up they are. He knows he should hate Reed but becoming the Torch was the best thing that ever happened to him. He loves this life. He loves who he is. But how can he tell the others? They still consider him the callous kid. She assures him he’s wrong. He is good and noble despite himself. He’s the man she loves.
Back at Four Freedom Plaza, Reed has finally put Franklin to bed and admits that life itself, human beings are more wondrous than all the wonders he’s seen. He’s humbled. Sue turns visible and hands him a cup of coffee. Finally, she smiles at him again. She tells him that the author of that diary couldn’t have related to Franklin the way he did. He was a man who used people, he would have responded analytically whereas he responded from the heart.
In Latveria, Doom is in the initial stage of the process, having the computer analyze Kitty’s molecules to begin reintegration. He raves about the device being a wonder and about how he improved Richards’ original. Psylocke, in the meantime, is busy keeping Kitty’s mind together with her telepathy, warning that she can’t do so much longer. Doom assures her confidently that he will save her before that critical juncture is reached.
Back in New York, Reed admits to Sue he is still thinking about Shadowcat. Magneto was right. The molecular re-integrator applies precisely to her predicament. Yet, Reed hesitated and couldn’t bring himself to use it. And doesn’t know why, Sue presses. He knows that the design is sound. Assuming there is a flaw, it must therefore be in the realization of that design. Yet his tests indicated none.
Angrily, he tosses his cup aside, reminded of the fatal spaceflight. Everything was perfect and safe, expect it wasn’t. Sue catches the cup with her power while Reed wonders whether Doom can find the flaw he can’t. Sue doubts it. Reed admits he’s lost. Doubts may be gone from her mind, but not from his. He decides he has to confront his fears. If that means going to Latveria and helping Shadowcat…
Want some company? comes a voice from the door. Ben has arrived as has Johnny and they are joined by a happy Franklin who hugs Reed. Reed doesn’t understand. They’re a team Johnny replies. And teams stick together, Ben continues though he still doesn’t look at Reed, instead asking Sue if they have anything to eat in this dump. He’s starving.


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

[Assistant]
A Matter of Faith
Sarcastically, Kitty Pryde paraphrases the song from the musical “Sound of Music” I am fourteen, going on fifteen, old as I’m gonna get. She realizes that tomorrow at the very last she will be gone. Her only hope of salvation is Dr. Doom, maybe the most infamous villain on Earth. To save her, the X-Men are going to put themselves in his debt.
She sees her dragon, Lockheed, lying dejected in front of the tube that houses her. She tries to get his attention but she is so far out of sync with reality she can’t talk. Angrily, she pounds against the walls of the tube, wondering why this is taking so long. Why can’t Doom get this over with… one way or the other?
That moment, Franklin Richards’ astral form makes his entrance. Lockheed checks him out. Remembering him, he licks his face, much to Franklin’s annoyance.
Franklin tells Kitty he would have been there sooner, but his dreamself only works when he is asleep and he was so excited that night he couldn’t fall asleep. He tells her his father is coming to save her, like Franklin promised. Isn’t that great? Kitty thinks to herself that Reed Richards already tried and said there was nothing he could do. Plus, there were a lot of hard feelings between both hero teams because of that. If Richards shows up, it could start another fight.
Franklin admits there is a bad part too. In his special dreams, he saw both teams die, with Doom the winner. All because his Dad found that old book that said he was as bad as Doom. The book part came true. He’s scared about the rest. Since he echoes Kitty’s own doubts, she begins to cry. Frank apologizes and tries to make her feel better by telling her a story like his dad did for him.
Elsewhere, the Fantastic Four’s hyper-space plane flies towards Latveria. Sue holds the sleeping Franklin, noting they are all as tense as before battle. Everyone expects a fight. And why not? She hopes the X-Men are still their friends, but Doctor Doom has been Reed’s bitter rival from before the FF even came into being. She should have left Franklin behind but, when he insisted it, somehow seemed right to take him along. She wonders what’s his dreamself is up to. Suddenly, a cup of tea is held under her nose, courtesy of the Thing.
Sue thanks him but who is flying the plane? Autopilot and Reed wanted some privacy there, Ben explains. Sue uses her forcefield to create a comfy chair for Ben. He notes how powerful she’s gotten and muses that a lot changed since the rocket flight gave them their powers. They’ve changed with the years, Sue agrees, why not Doom? Hate like his is a drug to a guy like him, Ben explains. Sorta gives his life purpose, focus, a goal. No matter what Doom does, he always sees Reed stealing his thunder, denying him his proper place in the sun. Maybe they should let him win once to get that out of his system, Sue remarks.
Taking a metal stick and shaping it in his hands, Ben remarks that, while she is talking about Doom, she is thinking about someone else. She admits that this mission is so important to Reed. The stakes are so high. If something goes wrong and Shadowcat dies, he will never forgive himself. Is she expecting the worst? he asks. He has no confidence, only doubts, she replies. They are eating him up like a cancer. Why can’t he believe in himself like they do? They are talking faith, Ben replies. You either got it or you ain’t, and that’s a battle Stretch’s gotta win or lose all by his lonesome, just like the rest of the human race. Good or bad though, they will pull through. He is a brick she tells him. Nawh, he’s the Thing. He’s made o’ bricks.
Further forward in the plane, She-Hulk and the Human Torch are sitting. Jennifer seems engrossed by a fashion magazine but has noticed that Johnny has been silent all along, unlike his normally gregarious self. Johnny is tormented by his memory of accidentally dealing Storm a crippling injury with his power. He wonders how to face her and the X-Men, what to say.
She-Hulk asks him what he’s thinking of. Johnny tells her he was thinking of something his buddy Spider-Man once said: With great power comes great responsibility. He thinks now – maybe too late – he’s beginning to understand what that really means. She agrees that growing up and having to live with consequences is hard.
Johnny asks her why she is coming along, considering she’s an Avenger. She was in at the start, she replies, and maybe she can help. Plus, she respects Reed as she does few others. They broke the mold with him and she wants to see him get well. What she doesn’t understand is the thing between him and Doom. She hears they go pretty far back. All the way to college, Johnny replies telling her that Ben and Reed were roomies.
Johnny’s story, accompanied by flashback pictures:
Doom was a stiff and formal person. Nobody liked him and, after a while, nobody tried. Johnny attended the same school years later and talked with some of Reed’s old profs. They said it was like teaching a pair of Einsteins, or Mozarts or DaVincis. Both of them grasped any concept instantly, no matter how complex. Brilliance was second nature to them. The school computers weren’t good enough for them, so they built their own, revolutionizing the field. Day or night, they’d argue theories, wacko mathematics, physics, cosmology that even the school’s Nobel laureates had trouble following.
For Reed, this was heaven because he loved learning. And he planned, showing his buddy, Ben, the plans for a rocket he wanted to construct. For Doom, though, these debates were battles he always had to win. And knowledge the key to power. He even dabbled in the black arts.
At the same time, outside of class work, Doom was working in the dorm on some secret project of him own. One afternoon, Reed saw his notes and realized there was a fatal flaw in Doom’s calculations. He tried to warn Doom of the danger. As usual, Doom wouldn’t listen and threw Reed out. He went through with his experiment and, as Reed predicted, it blew up in his face. Doom blamed Reed for the accident. He couldn’t make a mistake after all, so it had to be somebody’s else’s fault. And he’d do anything to get even.
(present)
And the way Reed behaved since he found the journal, Johnny continues glumly, Doom may just have his chance. If Reed doesn’t regain his self-confidence, he’ll lose his next fight with Doom, before it’s even begun.
On the flight deck, Reed is left alone with the journal that started it all. He knows every word by heart. If only he knew his heart; his memories as well. How can so much truth add up to such a monstrous awful lie? If indeed it is a lie. Every thought, every theory every opinion in these pages is his. But the presentation is wrong, the order twisted. Yes, he often thought of the danger posed by hostile extra-terrestrials and sociopaths possessing parahuman abilities, and the need for a person or group to act as heroic paradigm and focus society’s opposition to these dangers. The FF became that example. Except the diary says their creation was no accident, but the culmination of a ruthless plan. His plan.
He tells himself, it didn’t happen that way; that, had he suspected any risk, he would have aborted that fateful spaceflight. But suppose there were warning signs and he chose to ignore them? Ben, Sue, Johnny were his closest friends, he couldn’t have betrayed them!
Suddenly, he notices that Franklin in his astral form has joined him. Franklin tells him he has visited Shadowcat and told her he was coming to save her. Franklin knows he will. He has to go back to her. See you soon. Reed tries to stop him, exclaiming he doesn’t know if he can save Kitty anymore!
Outside the wilderness of Doom’s castle, the X-Men are training. Wolverine seems to be alone when he is suddenly attacked by Longshot’s blades, which he easily deflects with his claws towards Havok and Dazzler on the turret. He orders them to deal with the blades and the two of them fire their powers. Dazzler is the one who hits the blades and she flashes Havok a triumphant smile.
Wolverine praises her growing control over that aspect of her powers. He hasn’t forgotten Longshot though, who is crouching on a tree and throws the last blade at him. Before he falls, Rogue flies him away. However, suddenly she decides this is a waste of time and tosses him down into the snow. Longshot is immediately delighted about the snow he lands in; another thing unfamiliar.
Why did she throw him? Havok asks Rogue. She replies that she counted on his luck powers guaranteeing a safe landing and suddenly angrily kicks a castle wall in frustration. She admits she hates waiting. Lord knows what’s going on with Kitty. Angrily, she exclaims for Doom to finally save her!
In Kitty’s chamber Franklin tries to tell her the story his father told him… but not having his stretchable fingers he can’t make the same shapes to accompany the tale. He tells her about her stillborn sister, admitting that, while he has friends, that isn’t the same. She thinks that she is an only child too. Both of them state at the same time that, if they had a sibling, they’d want them to be like the other. That moment, they realize they can hear each other, courtesy of Psylocke, who has psi-merged their thoughts so they could have a proper conversation.
The mood is spoiled by Doom, who asks how Kitty is. While Franklin hides, Psylocke explains that her own powers are maintaining the coherence of Kitty’s consciousness as the lifecell does her being. Doom announces that his preparations are complete. They can begin.
Kitty is scared, wishing someone could hold her hand. Even their new headmaster, Magneto. But he doesn’t care, or so she presumes.
Magneto is standing outside the castle, lost in thought. After Storm addresses him jokingly, he explains that roughly five hundred miles in the direction he was looking at is Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp where his parents and sister were murdered. Enraged, he reaches out with his power and grabs one of Doom’s robots. He should have died with them, he announces. And due west from Latveria is the Soviet city of Vinnitsa. There was a fire. He was injured saving his wife. His daughter remained trapped in the burning building. She was much like Kitty, his Anya. The most beautiful of children, two years old and she never cried. She only laughed with wonder and joy.
He uses this power to shape the metal into a sculpture of his lost wife and daughter. She burned, he tells Storm. His power was weaker then. He used it to save his wife, but couldn’t reach Anya. A crowd had gathered. He begged for help. They refused him. They saw he was a mutant and some called for him to be hurled into the same flames that consumed his child.
Too late, in rage and grief that ravage him still he came at last into his birthright. The absolute control over the forces and manifestations of magnetism that is the power of Magneto.
Calmer, he admits that, terrified of his power, Magda fled. How different might his life have been, if she had not. In that awful moment he lost everything.
“And is he now trying to cast away Shadowcat’s life as well?” Doom, via hologram, demands angrily. Why does he think he had Magneto remove himself from the castle? Doom continues. The reintegration process requires absolute precision, so much that it must be under total computer control. And thereby it is especially vulnerable to intense magnetic fields, of the kind Magneto generates. Another such outburst will have catastrophic consequences! The hologram disappears.
Ororo tells Magneto that they all wear scars and all make mistakes. But the past is done. What matters is who they are today and wish to be tomorrow. Easily said, he sighs, but so many insist on seeing only the Magneto that was. He strokes the chin of the Magda sculpture. The arch-villain, avowed enemy of humankind. He had his opportunity to square those accounts before the world court, he muses, but the trial was never concluded. Perhaps he should have gone back? Yet, to do so now would mean abandoning Xavier’s school when its students need him most.
Ororo interrupts his musing, pointing to the sky. The Fantastic Four’s aircraft is heading for the castle. Assuming an attack, Magneto fires a magnetic field at the aircraft to stop it. Angrily, Storm reminds him what Doom just said about the danger his powers pose to Shadowcat!
Inside Doom’s lab, Doom sees the computer’s magnetic memory fields disrupted by Magneto’s outburst. A moment later, his scanners reveal that the FF are there. He immediately assumes that Richards cannot abide the thought of Doom succeeding where he failed. He means to foil him, even at the cost of an innocent life. He orders the X-Men present to put an end to the FF’s interference, before it is too late.
Rogue asks Psylocke if she can telepathically take the FF out. Standing next to Kitty’s tank, the telepath explains she dare not. It’s taking all of her strength to maintain Kitty’s psychic cohesion!
Doom continues that, thanks to Magneto’s outburst, the primary computers are crippled and their only replacement commands the castle’s defensive systems. If he must use them against his foes, Shadowcat is as good as dead. They get the picture, Rogue replies and flies outside along with Wolverine. Doom urges them to hurry and wishes them good luck. Kitty throws him a dirty glance, sure that this is all an act.
Meanwhile, outside the FF leave their plane. Without a greeting Storm instantly asks why they are here. Shadowcat’s plight is no longer their concern. They’ve come to save the day, Johnny announces, then happily notices that her burns are healed. No thanks to him, Magneto replies in a steely voice and adds he should take care not to burn her again. That was an accident, the Torch replies angrily, and he’s got a hell of a nerve taking that attitude after making them crash!
Reed calls Johnny back and explains to Magneto they only wish to help. Magneto reminds him he had his chance. They begged him and he refused. Is pride more worth than child’s life? Sue asks Storm and reminds her how in the past the X-Men risked everything for the FF. Can they possibly believe they couldn’t do the same? Reed’s certain he’s found the key to saving Shadowcat.
It is unknown what might have come of the conversation, for that moment Rogue and Wolverine attack.
Rogue slams Wolverine into the Thing. So much for the peaceful approach, the Torch thinks. Looks like they have to knock some sense into their thick mutie skulls. Rogue grabs him by the ankles in spite of his flaming form. She tosses him into the snow and tells him to watch his mouth. Call them “muties” again, she guarantees he’ll never do anything again. Satisfied, she observes that the snowdrift snuffed Johnny’s flame right out. This is too easy, she gloats. They should beat on those chumps more often.
The Thing is down and Wolverine’s shoulders ache. Mister Fantastic threatens if Wolverine has hurt Ben… L’il fella like him? Ben asks as he gets up. If that lovetap was Wolverine’s best shot, he got nothin’ to worry about. Oh yeah? Wolverine growls, ready to use his claws. Yeah, Ben replies and knocks him on the head. Logan’s out like a light and Ben pats him on the head with a grin, wishing him sweet dreams.
Reed remarks that Wolverine was still too dazed from his initial impact to act as quickly as he did when last they fought. His adamantium claws could probably cut even Ben’s skin. They have to stop this madness. He doesn’t want to fight the X-Men.
Trouble is, closing in in a jeep are Havok, Longshot and Dazzler. She-Hulk lifts a rock to throw at them. Dazzler immediately shoots it apart. Rogue, in the meantime, has absorbed the Torch’s powers (which killed her outfit) and gets ready to attack She-Hulk and the Invisible Woman. Sue encloses Rogue in a forcefield bubble, taking away her air and snuffing out her flame, leaving Rogue a naked cannonball that the Invisible Woman uses to smash apart the others’ jeep.
They want to play rough? She-Hulk asks, facing Storm. Be her pleasure to oblige. Pity Storm lost her weather powers, she gloats as she grabs the other woman by the front of her coat. If she had them, they could go a round or two. Storm looks at her with cold rage and suddenly, out of nowhere, lightning lights up the sky, giving She-Hulk pause.
Magneto fires a magnetic blast at the plane. Too late Reed and Sue scream that their son is aboard. Furious, Reed attacks Magneto, believing him to still be a villain.
Suddenly from above, they hear Franklin’s voice. He is riding on Lockheed. Angrily, he tells them Lockheed came and got him when everybody started rough-housing. He tells them they are all acting like babies and should be ashamed. Kitty is fizzing away and this dumb rumpus is making her fizz faster! In agreement, Lockheed growls at the heroes. “Don’t they know she is dying?” Frank shouts, giving all of them pause. “Don’t any of them even care?!”
Up in the lab in her container, Kitty is almost gone, with Psylocke desperately trying to hold onto her, trying to give the hopeless girl strength and courage. Doom is more interested in the spectacle going on outside his castle. He considers having the Fantastic Four cast from his realm. He could easily shame them. Shadowcat’s death would be their fault, not his. And yet, suppose against all odds he saves her? Especially with Reed Richards looking on. What a coup to demonstrate once and for all which of them is truly the master!
As he sees the heroes walking towards the castle, he notices that Richard walks with none of his characteristic confidence. He enhances his suit’s optical scanners to see what he is clutching to his chest. Amused, Doom thinks to himself that this is a most unexpected but delightful surprise. Whatever else occurs here tonight, Reed is… doomed.
When the heroes have arrived in the lab, Doom tears into them for their behavior. How shameful that a child must remind them of their responsibilities. Had this interruption not occurred, he would have saved Shadowcat by now! Now, as things stand, thanks to their idiocy, he regrets he can no longer say that success is guaranteed. Storm shouts that he has their pond of flesh from them. He should save Kitty if he can.
Doom begins the process. The others watch. Reed strolls to the computer display terminals that monitor Kitty’s condition and the progress of her re-integration. Thus far, he observes, the process proceeds correctly. Doom’s done his work as well as he could himself. Perhaps better. Does that make him angry? Jealous? Is he so petty? He tells himself to stop thinking about himself. Shadowcat is the one in need. Suddenly, he shouts: Wait and freeze display two.
But the data stream is moving too fast. He orders Doom to shut down the process and then stretches his arm to pull the lever himself.
Doom points an accusing finger at him, shouting that, if the child dies, it will be on Richards’ head. And it will be Doom’s pleasure to see him punished to the full extent of the law. Getting in his face, Reed shouts at him to stop posturing. He’s made a mistake. Impossible! Doom scoffs. Ben backs up Reed and reminds Doom of the first warning Reed gave him back in college. Didn’t he learn his lesson then?
Suddenly from below, a voice shouts at them to stop fighting. The two geniuses look down to see Franklin standing between them. He reminds his father that Kitty is sick. Can’t he and Mister Doom wait till later to do more yelling? He then pulls at Doom’s cloak, asking if it matters if his pa helps, so long as Kitty gets saved. Isn’t that more important than being boss or proving how smart he is?
He looks up at Doom trustfully and maybe something within the villain is moved. He turns around, asking Reed to explain himself. Richards explains that the reintegration process allows for Shadowcat’s wild genetic structure but evidently the specific interaction of the device and her phasing power generate an ongoing feedback, infinitesimal at first, so small to be irrelevant. But as the process continues, the feedback increases exponentially. Eventually, it reaches the point where it destroys the organism.
Suddenly, he finds that the displays are spouting gibberish. The matrices were disrupted by Magneto’s actions. There is still a chance, Reed announces, if he plots the reintegration himself. Perform all the calculations in his head, instantly, with nor margin for error? Impossible, Doom scoffs. Sweating, Psylocke shouts at them to act now! She’s losing Kitty.
Reed tells himself he created this machine. Surely he can solve the problem. But he’d missed that feedback anomaly. It’s the sort of thing that can’t be predicted, only discovered and dealt with through experience. Just like the cosmic rays that transformed them into the Fantastic Four. Suppose he makes another mistake? He needs to be certain!
Enjoying every moment of Reed’s dilemma Doom purrs, asking if he can be of assistance somehow, while Sue inwardly curses Doom for this.
Reed admits he can’t drive that diary from his thoughts. Sue said he couldn’t have written it, but she is wrong. Ben said he could be utterly ruthless in the pursuit of what was right and necessary. Was the creation of the FF an accident or a deliberate act on his part? Suppose his subconscious prompted him to commit an atrocity his conscious mind would never countenance? He doesn’t know – and that uncertainty’s destroying him! He has to settle this, once and for all, or he’s no use to anyone!
Not poor Shadowcat, that much is sure, Doom taunts. The solution is at hand. Psylocke is a telepath. Have her read Reed’s innermost thoughts. That shall settle his doubts. But do so quickly or an innocent life will be forfeit!
He’s right, Reed thinks, that way he would know for sure. Holding onto the tank with a silently screaming Kitty, a straining Psylocke shouts at them to hurry! Reed realizes the flaw in Doom’ suggestion. If Psylocke helps him, Shadowcat will die! And even if she could do both, suppose her psiprobe confirms his worst fears?
Choose, Doom tells him.
Rogue suggest to Storm she could absorb Richard’s psyche and save Kitty. Ororo holds her back. That decision and its consequences must remain Reed Richards’ alone, she decides. Taking a big risk, Wolverine remarks. She has no choice, Ororo replies, and he knows why. Wolverine agrees. If Richards needs Betts to validate his life, if he has so little faith in himself, he’ll never get as good again. Deep down inside, where a person needs to be certain, there will always be doubt that will eat up his soul like a cancer.
Still Reed struggles. Suppose Psylocke learns the truth but lies to him for Shadowcat’s sake? How can he believe he? He doesn’t know what to do!
Holding Franklin, Sue notices that Doom doesn’t seem surprised about Reed’s dilemma at all. Suddenly, she realizes who could have written that diary if not Reed himself. Who knows Reed as well as himself yet remains a twisted doppelganger filled with hatred and evil? But she has no proof. Even if she had, she still couldn’t’ say a word. That would be as bad as having Psylocke scan Reed mind. To win that battle he has to cast out his inner demons by himself. The answers to who and what he is lie in the hearts of those he loves and in his soul. They require no proof, merely faith, which makes them the hardest answers of all.
Reed struggles and suddenly, slowly, he begins to smile.
To Kitty, the next few hours are a big blur. The next thing she knows, it is night, she is back in her tank and she can hear the sound of laughter, see flashes of light courtesy of Dazzler through the window.
In the castle, Doom is holding a party in style. Storm tells Reed they can never repay him, Funny, he thought that should be his line, he replies. If not for this crisis, who knows how things would have turned out? Saving Shadowcat catalyzed a lot of thoughts he’d been having lately. It enabled him to resolve a basic conflict within himself.
Shadowcat’s disintegration has been reversed, her molecular structure is returning to its normal configuration. It won’t be a quick convalescence. They’ll be letting the natural healing process run its course. But the prognosis is good. Her recovery should be complete.
Franklin cheers him. He adds that his mistake and Doom’s was trying to rush things along. Fortunately, that error was correctable.
At the buffet, Doom mocks how blithely Richards forgives. Everyone but himself, Sue shoots back. Under the circumstances, she states, addressing Doom, he’s behaving with uncommon grace. Even a gypsy’s son has some small awareness of the rules of hospitality, Doom replies glibly.
Sue remarks that her son had a prophetic dream of sorts before this adventure began. Fascinating, Doom comments. In it, he saw Doom and Reed merge into one, she continues. They are much alike, Doom muses, like Cain and Abel, David and Jonathan. What of it?
Jennifer notices the tense atmosphere between them and warns Ben to get ready.
Magneto moves towards Richards, commenting that in darker times they were bitter foes. He does not ask him now to forget what he was or forgive what was done. This day however, he acted the fool. He let rage and fear and mistrust rule and almost paid the most terrible of prices. He asks Reed to accept his thanks for Kitty’s life and his apology.  Reed grabs his hand, admitting the Magneto he remembers could not have said such words. He had too much arrogance to ever admit a mistake. Perhaps he misjudged him, he truly hopes so.
Storm is hopeful this is a step into the right direction, while Wolveirne takes a more cynical view.
Back at he buffet, Doom urges Sue to have some Latverian caviar. Sue flat-out accuses him of writing that diary. This is like him. A cold man who thinks of others as pawns. He crafted that forgery, set this trap years ago, not caring about the damage it would cause, so long as it hurt Reed! Spreading a bread with caviar, he mildly replies that her accusations wound him.
Sue continues. If Reed had turned to Psylocke, he would never have been the same man. A smidgen of doubt would always remain. Effectively, this would have given Doom that victory he’s lusted after since college.
The X-Men get ready for battle.
A fascinating theory, Doom remarks. Does she have any proof? Sue asks if he has ever considered how deadly her forcefield can be if she decided to fight by his rules? Is this a challenge? he asks, her will and natural strength against his technology? With a dark smile Sue warns him to be careful. A lioness is most dangerous defending mate and cub and den. But there’s no need to speak of challenges or proof, because this match is over and they won!
She walks away from him to her family. Reed signals her to keep quiet not to wake Franklin and she thinks to herself that Doom took the hardest cruelest shot at them but they survived as a family and are stronger than before. And it is his tragedy that he will never comprehend why.
Franklin’s body is in dreamland, so his astral self visits Kitty in her tank. They dance and Kitty promises that she will be out one day. Maybe then they can hold hands for real. Franklin offers to visit from time to time when he’s asleep and both of them are happy for the moment.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
A Doctor in the House
In the underground nation of Subterranea, things are not perfect anymore. This kingdom used to be a beautiful world and it was perfect. It was a dream come true. However, no dream lasts forever, and the Mole King is learning that right now. A messenger rushes to the chamber of the Mole King and informs him that the attackers have broken through their outer perimeter and will be here soon. It won’t be much longer. As the Mole King realizes that his perfect world is gone forever, he tells his messenger to let them come. They cannot stop them.
Outside the palace, Subterranea is doomed. Hundreds of army soldiers die against the merciless group known as the Fearsome Four. With the Invincible Woman in lead, using her telekinetic powers to suffocate the legions of the Mole King, the Fearsome Four obliterate their opponents, as their leader, Dr. Doom, watches with a cruel smile on his face. As the It and Inhuman Torch use their powers to destroy the underground kingdom, a guard rushes to kill Dr. Doom, telling him that he won’t take them without a fight. They will protect their master till death and they are not afraid of him. Doom tells the soldier that he should be afraid, and then extends his liquid metal hand and eviscerates his opponent. There is a reason we are called the Fearsome Four, states Doom.
Nearby, the Invincible Woman uses her telekinesis to shred several guards into pieces, all the while stating that they are so disgusting that she doesn’t even want to touch them with her powers. The Inhuman Torch tells his mother to lighten up, as they have to protect the world from the bad guys. He then incinerates several of his foes. The Torch then sends the rocky It to attack a large monster that appears. The It takes down the creature with one mighty punch.
Soon, the Four break down the door to the Mole King’s throne room, with the It in the lead. Doom approaches the Mole King, armed with his staff, and tells him that it is time. He is the unstable ruler of a dangerous rogue nation. He ignored the will of the world community and now he must pay the price. The Mole King, not impressed with Doom, states that he thought Magneto himself would appear. However, Lord Magnus instead sends his flunkies. Doom tells the Mole King that he serves neither man nor mutant. He serves with Magneto, not under him.
The Mole King laughs and tells Doom that he is delusional. Doom can alter his own body and his companions with science and magic to try and keep up with a world run by mutants, but in the end he is only human. He is Magneto’s trained monkey, no matter what his powers are. His cage is just nicer than most. Doom reminds the Mole King that he isn’t even human. He will be exterminated like a mole.
Angered, the Invincible Woman asks the Mole King if he would dare speak to royalty like this. She then asks her husband for permission to kill him. Doom holds Valeria back, as the Mole King reminds them that he is royalty too. Doom informs the King that his nation is not recognized by anyone in the international community. He is a traitor and considered a member of the resistance. The Mole King scoffs at the mentioning of an international community and then claims that the “resistance” is anyone who isn’t in lockstep with the House of M. Doom is a foolish puppet.
Mole King then turns to face Doom and tells him that he would rather die a king then to live as a slave. Die you shall, says the bitter Doom. He then grabs the Mole King by the neck and tells him that he let him live to see his pathetic kingdom fall. Now your majesty, says Doom condescendingly, your time is up. He then snaps the Mole King’s neck.
The Fearsome Four return to Latveria, where they are welcomed by a parade. As they ride through the streets and waving to their people, Kristoff exclaims about how it’s nice to be on land instead of underground. His mother, Valeria, tells him to smile and sit straight up. These are his people and they should get a good look at their leader. Behind their caravan, the It is shackled and rolled in a cage. When they reach the palace gates, Kristoff asks his father, Doom, if they are done with government business and if he is excused. Doom excuses his son and tells him to enjoy himself.
Kristoff enters the pool area and tells his father that he will, with a wicked smile on his face. He turns to two bikini-clad women and tells them that they will be joining him. He asks them if they like parties, for he is throwing one in his suite soon. As he walks away with the two girls, Doom and Valeria watch. Doom wonders if he should have a talk with Kristoff as too many of his parties end with his girls in the burn ward. Valeria smiles and tells her husband to let Kristoff have fun before he grows up and picks up his responsibilities. The two then go on their balcony and look over their land. It is a beautiful world, and it is all theirs.
Later, Doom walks through his palace with the It, who he has on a leash. They inspect the feast prepared in the kitchen and then walk out to the courtyard, where a monument of Doom stands. He then leads It, whom he addresses as his friend, to his cage. He then tells his pet that he did well today. The timid It thanks his master, who pets him on the head. Doom calls Boris and tells him to give extra meat to It today, and to get him clean blankets and a clean cage. Doom then remembers what the Mole King said about Doom having a nicer cage than the rest of humanity. He walks away bitter, so Boris calls out to him about what he should do. Doom tells him that it doesn’t matter.
Doom then returns to his lab, where his acolytes report on their latest attempt to breach the dimensional gate into the land of dark fire. However, they have yet to come up with affective weapons against the demons, for none of them possess Doom’s sorcery skills. However, they have managed to fuse boron and radium atoms to create a new metallic element. Doom tells the scientists that he does not want metal elements. Liquids and gases are what they need. He then has them refer to one of his papers and asks what else.
The scientist then brings up Doom’s latest request to alter the It and, after doing some research, they found a paper by one of Doom’s old classmates, Reed Richards. Doom flips at the uttering of the name and screams that Reed was a fool. That is why he and his crewmembers are dead. However, since the scientist found Richard’s work so fascinating, all he has to do is mention his name again and Doom will gladly help the man meet Richards. Doom then takes his leave, ordering the men to come up with a more substantive answer for his return.
Doom then enters another room, where his mother is sitting by the fireplace. Doom greets his mother, who is happy to see him and asks how she is. His mother comments that it is a bit hot, which prompts Doom to become angry, as he does not understand why her attendants wheeled her chair so close to the fire. His mother, however, calms him down and insists that she is fine. She then asks him to sit and to tell her what he has been up to. Doom tells her that he had some affairs to take care of that she would not be interested it. It involves a rogue nation.
Concerned, Doom’s mother asks if he was running errands for that horrible Magnus again. Slightly offended, Doom tells his mother that he does not run errands. He went to deal with the rogue nation, because it was in the best interest of Latveria. He has nothing to complain about as he has everything. He has his mother, a devoted wife, a bright son, and he rules one of the most powerful nations. “One of,” says Doom’s mother, bitterly. She then apologizes and she does not know of what she speaks of. She only wants what is best for him, as he deserves the best.
Suddenly, an attendant arrives and informs Doom that a conference request has come through. Doom tells the attendant that he cannot take it now, but it is informed that it has come from the House of M. Doom leaves immediately, leaving his mother, who smiles wickedly.
Doom arrives in his war chamber and finds Pietro waiting for him on a monitor. Pietro greets Doom and informs him that Magneto requests his presence in Genosha. Doom smiles and declines, stating that he recently returned and has business to attend to in Latveria. He then tells Quicksilver that he will contact Magneto when he has time. He then ends the communication and heads to the door to leave. The door opens, and there stands an annoyed Quicksilver, who has arrived in Latveria thanks to his super-speed. Pietro tells Doom that he misunderstands. Magneto’s request… was not a request.
Some time later, Doom and It arrive in Genosha. However, he is stopped by two guards at the palace doors. The furry female guard informs Doom that he should stay where he is. They will inform Magnus of his arrival. Doom is not pleased.
Moments later, the gates open and Magnus and Pietro walk out. Magnus greets Doom and thanks his friend for meeting him. He then points to his two unconscious guards and tells him that his roughness was unnecessary. Doom begins to defend himself, but Magneto interrupts him, already knowing what he will say. Magnus turns to Pietro and asks him for some privacy. Quicksilver is surprised that his father wants him to leave and interjects, but Magneto becomes impatient and displeased with his least favorite child, and orders him to leave. He also tells him to take that… thing… away. Slightly offended, Doom tells Magnus that they call him the It.
In any case, says Doom, the brute cannot understand them. Magneto tells Doom that he does not understand why the man doesn’t use his science and magic to transform the creature into something more aesthetically pleasing. Doom watches as Pietro leads It away, and tells Magnus that It is a reminder of times gone by and enemies vanquished. Keeping him near amuses him.
When Pietro and It are gone, Magneto asks Doom about the Mole King. His territory contains much uranium and vibranium. Did they negotiate a satisfactory treaty? Doom informs Lord Magnus that the Mole King was not cooperating. Not pleased, Magnus asks Doom if he is to assume he took violent measures. Doom informs Magnus that negotiation is irrelevant now. Their empires shall divide the riches. Indeed, says Magneto, before he tells Doom that he wishes to give him advice, as a colleague and friend. He is the first among men, but his ego and temper make a dangerous combination. He must be mindful.
Doom thanks Magneto for the advice, but is clearly put off by it. Magneto tells Doom that he looks forward to their next meeting. Doom then gathers the It and heads back to his jet. Once there, he angrily kicks It over how Magnus gave him advice. He then calls Magnus “condescending mutant trash” and kicks the defenseless It with every word.
It curls up into the ground and cries, which angers Doom, who knows that it did not physically hurt him. He orders him to get up as work must be done. This status quo cannot continue. The House of M must fall. The House of M will fall. From its ashes… as House of Doom will rise!


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Four the Hard Way
Victor Von Doom supposes that the origin of his quartet starts in the seas of Latveria, where a rocket capsule from an ill-fated trip to space landed. The capsule was recovered and immediately opened on the ship. The ship’s crew was all fantastically altered. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, and John Jameson were all dead and disfigured. It was this image that gave him an idea. However, there was one survivor. A monstrous rocky creature was pulled out, but that they had no clue what it was.
Ben Grimm asked Doom to kill him, but Doom decided not to with an evil smile on his face. He snaps his finger and orders his men to take the creature below. He has plans for it. Yes… the It. He would be the first member of his team.
The other team members he would create using ancient dark magic long forgotten. He chose the two closest people to him for the honors of gaining these powers: his wife, Valeria, and his young ward, Kristoff. He would be the final member of this team. They would have a combined power to rule the world. He would take back the world from the abominations that claimed it. They would be the Fearsome Four, and they would be unstoppable… except for a single problem… Magneto.
Doom enters his conference room and sees Magneto on a large video display, awaiting him. Doom greets the man, who thanks him for his valuable time. Doom thinks to himself that Magneto’s flaw was imagining himself as the master and Doom the slave. Magneto tells Doom that he needs a favor. Doom has done well keeping Latveria on the forefront of scientific and technological advancement. That is why he keeps him.
Suddenly, Magneto, realizing his slip of the tongue, corrects himself and restates that this is why he takes care to keep Doom on his good side. He is an indispensable… ally.
It was then and there that Doom decided that Magneto must die. Magneto then handed him the solution.
Magneto told Doom that he knows of his extra-dimensional research and Magneto was looking for a plane of existence to send some of his incarcerated enemies. There is scattered resistance to the House of M. He wants a few of those insurgents contained. Angered, Doom tells Magnus that, if he has enemies, he needs to kill them, not allow them to live. If he attacks them at once with swift power, they will fall. Magneto smiles and tells Doom that he understands, but he also knows that some enemies are too valuable to kill and it is prudent to let them live.
Quicksilver arrives at his father side, giving Doom a dirty look, and passes on some papers to him. His attention diverted by the news on the papers, Magneto tells Doom to look into the situation and find a suitable holding dimension, say, by the end of the week? Doom smiles wickedly and agrees. In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if it was by the end of the day.
Soon, in his labs, Doom watches as scientists continue experiments on the It. The beast cries in pain as the scientists work on him, but they soon stop as they see Doom. The worker informs Doom that he was able to retrieve some samples from the deepest level of the It’s silicaderma. A full analysis should yield much information about the cosmic rays. After learning more, the tasks of reversing or enhancing the transformation should be easy. Doom tells the man that the experiments can wait. He has need of the It for the moment. The woozy It gets up, and the scientist tells Doom that it might not be a good idea to have him walking around just yet. Nonsense, replies Doom, who then asks the It if he feels fine.
The It slowly asks Doom if these tests will help Doom find a way to change his form. Doom tells him that it was the general idea. However, he should not concern himself with such questions. Any answers would be beyond his intellectual grasp, and thus a waste of time. They have business elsewhere. The extra-dimensional transporter awaits them.
In the lab floors below, Doom is met by a group of scientists, practitioners of the dark arts, as well as his wife Valeria and ward, Kristoff. Kristoff greets his father and reports for duty. Valeria asks her husband if something is wrong, as this call was unexpected. Doom holds her and tells her that quite the opposite is occurring. They will make things right soon. He then tells his mages to turn on the transporter. The head mage tells Doom that the coordinates are tuned to his exact specifications. For his sake, replies Doom, they better be. The group then walks up the ramp and into the dimensional portal before them.
In another dimension, a group of human-like creatures sit and feast in their jungle domain. Suddenly, there is a flash of blue light and four more individuals arrive: the Fearsome Four. Kristoff smiles and wonders where they are, but Valeria, who is disgusted, asks if it matters. Doom tells them that they know what do to. Kristoff tells his mother that it does not matter in the slightest, and then screams “Hellfire On,” as he incinerates a group of people near him. The Invincible Woman uses her powers to crush her opponents and then causes another whirlwind to slice them up. The It simply uses his fists. The Inhuman Torch chases down the rest of the fleeing villagers and burns them all up.
Having had enough, Doom finishes the last few villagers off my impaling them with his claws. Valeria agrees and also finishes off the last few she sees. Kristoff complies as well, but asks who these people are. Are they insurgents? Are they alien invaders? Are they enemies of the state. Doom tells his son that they are target practice, nothing more. However, they did need to clear up some space and to prepare the battleground for the arena of triumph. This place and dimension is the key. This is the outermost plane that extra-dimensional transporter has been able to access. Reality is thin there, like air atop a mountain. The boundaries are weak. His sorcery is impossibly strong there.
The four warriors walk around the ruins of the village, as Doom informs them that the laws of science that are absolute in their reality are flexible. Like gravity, asks Kristoff? Yes, replies Doom, but he was thinking about another branch of physics altogether:  electro-magnetism.
He brought them all here for another purpose as well, as it is far away from the prying spies of the House of M. He needs to outline the plan to the only people in the world whom he trusts. Everything he has done in life is for a single purpose. He has tolerated every humiliation. He has studied every disciple in dark arts and science. He has built appropriate weapons and defenses. He has even studied the properties of the cosmic rays in hopes to enhance their powers.
This last statement catches the attention of the It, who is shocked to hear Doom speaking of enhancing powers. Doom orders the It to shut up, but he quietly mumbles that he thought he would be cured. Kristoff quickly shushes him as Doom tells them that he has been preparing for this day. Doom will ascend the throne and rule all of man and mutant kind. They must strike immediately while they have the element of surprise. They shall bring down the House of M, including the entire royal family. They will bring them here to this place far away from their unfair advantages of their mutant armies and robotic stooges. They will be the first family then, of the House of Doom.
Valeria takes her husband’s hand and agrees. Kristoff joins as well, though admits he always wondered why his father didn’t come up with a plan like this sooner. It begins to say something, but Doom dismisses his babbling as affirmation to the cause. He then tells them to follow him and to listen carefully.
Back in Latveria, Doom stands outside his jet with It. Suddenly his mother arrives and notices that he looks troubled. Doom is surprised to see his mother as she could catch a sickness out here. His mother dismisses the claim and asks again what is troubling him. Is he finally weary of being the lackey for that mutant Magneto? Doom tells his mother that he is, but he will never serve a mutant again. However, he still wonders about one thing. His mother asks him what it is.
Doom looks at his mother and tells her that his team is utterly devoted to him and they love him unconditionally, without question. He has a family and kingdom with all the riches. He is a very lucky man. Shouldn’t that be enough? Angered, Doom’s mother tells him to stop being foolish. He is royal blood and should serve no man. That is the way it should be. He should put the doubts aside and go to Magneto and do exactly what she says… kill the scum.
Soon, Doom arrives in the palace of Magneto in Genosha, where he and his family are greeted by Magneto, Quicksilver, and Magneto’s youngest daughter Lorna. Magnus is pleased and tells Doom that he did not expect to see him so soon. Doom smiles and tells Magneto that he is full of surprises today. Magneto kisses the hand of Valeria and tells her that she looks magnificent as ever.
Kristoff and Quicksilver greet one another, but Pietro goes over to Lorna, who whispers to him that she is excusing herself, as she does not like these awful people. In any case… this thing they call the It creeps her out. Lorna walks away with a bitchy smile on her face as the It looks at her with sadness.
Magneto asks Doom if the extra-dimensional transporter is ready. Has Doom found a suitable dimension for his penitentiary? Doom looks at Magneto’s hand, which is on his shoulder, and tells the man that of course he found one. He is Doom, after all. Did he doubt him? Magneto tells Doom that he did not. Doom informs him that it is perfect for his purposes. The dimension is remote, finite, inhabitable, but not hospitable. It is impregnable inside or out. Magneto asks if it is inhabited, but Kristoff chuckles and tells him that it isn’t anymore.
Magneto tells Doom that he would like to see this place. Doom tells him that it should not be a problem. His underlings are setting up a prototype in the labs below the palace and it should be up shortly. As the Fearsome Four walk on, Quicksilver stops his father and asks for a word.
Nearby, Kristoff tells Valeria that Quicksilver suspects, but the woman tells him to be quiet.
Quicksilver tells his father that his could be a trap. Of course it could, replies Magneto. Doom is treacherous, but is he suicidal? His band of circus freaks is not match for them. Many of the men operating his teleportation machinery are his men and have been for a long time. Besides, what chance does a man who turns into liquid metal have against the master of magnetism?
Magneto then turns to Doom and leads him to the lab. He is looking forward to this. The group reaches the lab, where the transporter is on-line. Doom tells Magneto that he is looking forward for this too. Magneto asks Doom if they shall enter now.
“Most certainly…” replies Doom as It, Kristoff, Valeria, and Quicksilver enter the dimensional gate. “…After you.”