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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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The Shadow Lengthens
The years that have followed the fall of Apocalypse have not been kind. The early promise of freedom faded in the face of bitter civil wars. And those who survived the fall often wished they had not. For their lot was hard and their memories short. Only by gathering for weekly services, do these people rekindle the histories of those who had partaken in the epic war. Woven by conjurers of both fact and fiction.
This evening, such a recitation of fact and fiction takes place again. Fossil, an elderly man with a haggard face, glassy eyes and rotten teeth is sitting at the center of a square. He is watched by several cloaked people, most of them looking impoverished. The man projects a psionic hologram of a man confined on a wheelchair – Professor X. Xavier is depicted as a saintly figure, with a wreath around his head and heavenly balls of light emitted from his palms. The audience members hold their breath as the Fossil begins spinning his tale.
His name, Fossil tells them, was simply Xavier. It can be said that he was the father of the Askani. It is said he was the wisest. A man whose teachings brought about the legendary first ones – the followers who fought the evil that infected their time. The narrator accordingly generates images of some of Xavier’s followers, such as the X-Men. As the years flowed by, others came to take the first ones’ place, as dark times overtook all and humanity’s diverse branches suffered much. But among them were those who remembered Xavier and his band that fought the good fight through the dark, dusty years. And they, who walked the path that would someday lead to the House of the Askani. “Askani” which means “outsider,” sworn to protect a world which greeted them with hate and fear.
Among the audience is a young, robed man. Rather bemused by the story he hears, the man, Nathan Christopher Dayspring, asks his companion, the flamboyantly dressed Tetherblood, whether he can believe this pipe. Tetherblood tells him to keep it down. He’s being disrespectful… again.
Fossil continues his narration. Generating an image of Rachel Summers, embroiled in a fight with a monstrous version of Apocalypse, he asks his audience to behold the “Bright Lady,” who was delivered to them from what could only be heaven itself, to face Apocalypse as the harbinger to his destruction. She who brought into their children’s prayers a new message: “thanks and please.” “Thanks for today” – since during the years of Apocalypse, none of them – neither mutant nor human – knew if they would survive. “Please for tomorrow” – acknowledging that for all the efforts of Apocalypse and his ilk, it could extinguish the one tie that binds them all: hope.
It is not the terrible visage of their cruel oppressor that all but silences the crowd. Rather, it is the very image of she who was mostly holy, Rachel – known in this time as Mother Askani – the leader who alone fought the evil that was Apocalypse and gave her life in that long struggle. All save one, who finds the image disturbingly familiar – Nathan.
The young man challenges Tetherblood whether he wants to see “disrespectful.” Tetherblood nervously replies he doesn’t. For of all those among him, Nathan alone was there when Apocalypse was destroyed. As a mere child, he stood side-by-side with his adopted parents, the mysterious beings who simply called themselves “Slym” and “Redd.” When the battle ended, these two vanished, returning to whatever far place they came from, leaving Nathan, as a boy, to find his own way. Abandoned by all who loved him, Dayspring views the world differently.
Ignoring Tetherblood’s pleas to the contrary, Nate stubbornly insists he will show him “disrespectful.” Interrupting Fossil’s recitation, he asks him to tell him – tell them all – what sort of “goddess” abandons her people to a life such as this. In the end, it was not Fossil’s legendary fairy tale “goddess” who overthrew Apocalypse. It was a handful of living, breathing people who gave their all, so that other could reap the benefits of that struggle. Taking off his cloak and revealing himself, he suggests Fossil look at them. Another shadow looms over the world, one which may prove greater than Apocalypse himself. And how do they meet the challenge? By holding services at night and turning over all their food and earnings to support the Canaanites by day? “Here we go…” Tetherblood wearily remarks upon hearing Nate’s outburst.
Fossil calmly points out that not every battle needs to be fought by the blade of a sword or barrel of a gun. Nate is annoyed by Fossil’s tone. He asks not to be patronized by him. He was…
Suddenly, he screams in mid-sentence. Tetherblood tends to his friend. In the crowd, they wonder whether it was the gods themselves who struck down Nathan for his heresy… or was it the government? A woman makes her presence known, escorted by two guards. She announces that this concludes their services for this evening. They are to go to their homes, secure in the knowledge the Canaanites honor and respect all religions. The elderly Fossil doesn’t immediately recognize her. A young girl whispers to him the woman is ‘Strator Umbridge and suggests they go.
In the years that followed, with Apocalypse’s dog soldiers to maintain order, a new group arose “for the best interest of the people.” Taking their name from the city where the revolution was born – New Canaan – the Canaanites now act as the official guardian to the populace, promoting peace, harmony and… profit.
Tetherblood mumbles to Nate, who’s still in pain, that he picked the absolutely worst time to spell out on him. He asks him what the deal is. Nate admits he doesn’t… it’s like his gut’s on fire. It happened before… it’s getting worse… Grimacing with pain, he suggests they get out of here before…
“…It is too late?” Umbridge completes his phrase. Standing there with her arms akimbo, she observes that Nathan was embarking on an interesting discourse. The administration encourages free thinking and would like to hear more. Tetherblood whispers that next time he says “let’s go to the southern coast,” they should go to the southern coast!
Soon, aboard the Canaanite patrol vessel, ‘Strator Umbridge stands before a giant monitor and reports to her superior, Tribune Haight. She debriefs him that they encountered a small gathering of dissidents… Isle Kin types. Nothing too radical, except for a pair of…
Tribune suggests she forgets about that. She has been reassigned. He wants her at the Temple of Control and he wants her quickly. Is he being sufficiently clear? Abundantly, Umbridge assures him. She asks him, though, what he wishes done with the pair of dissidents. Haight stresses she knows the options open to her: Incarcerate. Incinerate. Obliterate. He suggests she picks one and be done with it. “Understood, Tribune Haight,” Umbridge complies.
Meanwhile, Nathan and Tetherblood are kept in a holding cell, several decks below. Tetherblood speaks in Nate’s mind. He is aware of the strain involved, but with the guards upside, they need to psi-link. He’s wound up in worse situations with Nathan – well, not much worse – but Nate really went after it tonight. Insistent on his views, Nathan explains he just hates seeing those sheep following some dream that doesn’t help anybody. Tetherblood clarifies he isn’t talking about politics. From day one, Nathan has spat on Apocalypse like he took him down himself… personally. He’s asking Nate why seeing the hologram of Mother Askani set him off like it did. “The truth?” Nate replies. “No, lie to me,” Tetherblood’s snarky reply follows. Nate explains that the Mother Askani reminded him of someone he knew long ago…
Elsewhere, in a place that the legends say can no longer exist, a hidden sanctuary shelters the remaining survivors of the Sisterhood of the Askani. Though she is but a novice, Aliya came here to learn the ways of the Sisterhood, just as Madame Sanctity did before her, a charge of the Mother Askani herself.
The young Aliya enters a room, in which she finds Madame Sanctity floating as usual. Frightened and unnerved by the old woman, Aliya asks if she sent for her. Pleased to see her, Sanctity admits that seeing novitiate Aliya’s fresh face always brings a smile to her face. Aliya queries if there is… some way she can be of service to her. “In more ways that I could count, precious,” Sanctity responds. But for now, she needs Aliya to make ready for his arrival. “Who, Madame? If I may ask, whose arrival?” Aliya reservedly questions. “Why, the Askani’Son, of course!” Madame Sanctity grins. “The Askani’Son…?” Aliya whispers the name, as if testing it.
She thoughtfully exits the room. She had heard whispers that the psionic power which her teacher and mentor, Madame Sanctity, had harnessed, despite her training and precaution, had left her unbalanced. Until today, as Sanctity’s psionic laughter chills Aliya to her very marrow, Aliya had not listened…
New Canaan
As impressive as the Clan Canaanite’s transport vehicles are, they are dwarfed by the massive dry docking bays. Inside the anchored Canaanite patrol vessel, Nate and Tetherblood are still kept shackled in a cell, along with other arrested people. Tetherblood tries to remember how the woman who arrested them put it: “The administration encourages free thinking and would like to hear more.” He doesn’t get the sense they’re being invited for a few drinks. Still aching, Nate boasts that if it weren’t for these energy shackles, he’d have them out in… Before he finishes, yet again, he screams and kneels down. He tells Tetherblood he is sorry. This is another fine mess he’s…
“What is… is…” a voice telepathically speaks inside Nate’s mind. Nate is at loss: who the…? The proprietor of the voice is an odd-looking mutant. He wonders what use one has for a word such as “sorry.” Once the situation has presented itself, it is the situation which must be addressed, not the circumstance under which it was arrived at. Tetherblood intervenes and assures him both he and Nate would love to stand here and argue philosophy, but right now, what his friend needs is a physician. He suggests to the man to just waddle on out of here. The strange-looking, misshapen man argues that a physician would be of little help to Nate now. Nate’s condition is worse than even he had expected. “Expected?” Tetherblood exclaims, in confusion. Tetherblood asks the man if he’s got the man. His interlocutor reveals he is known as “Blaquesmith”. Since Blaquesmith seems to know so much about Nathan, Tetherblood asks him if he can help him!
At that moment, in what was once the city of New Orleans, there remains the skeletal framework of what had been a monument to ego. These – the first temples of the High Lord – were among the first places routed after Apocalypse had died. Stripped of whatever value they contained, they are now looming shells, a mockery of the man who built them. But even now, this particular temple is being revived as a citadel of pain.
Having set the temple ablaze, the man known as Stryfe casts a hard glance on an abject man, the last survivor of a group of people he’s already massacred, their corpses lying around in the temple. Desperate, the man asks him why he’s doing this. They sought only shelter… they’ve done nothing to harm him!
His eyes lighting up with insanity and intelligence, Stryfe admits it’s true. Unfortunately, he doesn’t see it that way. The man and the other homeless people living in the temple exist, yet they are weak. And Stryfe has gone too long without bathing himself in another’s agony.
“Stryfe! That’s enough!” Ch’vayre calls him to order, as his hand rests on Stryfe’s left shoulder. Stryfe coldly retorts that Ch’vayre presumes too much in touching him – or has Ch’vayre forgotten, like the rest of the chattel on this planet, that Stryfe is the sole heir to the throne of Apocalypse?
Ch’vayre, who has proportionally grown in size in the last few years, wonders: is it difficult for a king to rule… without a kingdom? Isn’t this the reason for their being here? Stryfe answers back. To rebuild Stryfe’s kingdom? Ch’vayre nods that yes, that is why they are here. “And may God forgive me,” he adds in a lower voice.
Aboard the Canaanites transport ship, Tetherblood asks Blaquesmith if he’s afraid the guards might see them. Blaquesmith argues that the guards will see only what Blaquesmith wishes them to. He’s shifted all three of them in the space of time between one heartbeat and the next. For the three of them, time has stopped. “Now hold him still!” he commands Tetherblood. Examining Nathan, he explains that the Techno-Organic Virus, which ravaged Nathan’s body since he was an infant, has one advantage. It allows Blaquesmith access to what otherwise…
“Curious,” Blaquesmith unexpectedly remarks. Tearing apart at the metallic flesh of Nathan’s T.O.-infected chest, he discovers something is here that should not be. Nate asks him what it is. Blaquesmith extracts a glowing orb. Making to touch it, Nate observes this thing is almost as if it were alive. Tetherblood incredulously wonders how it could be alive…
The glowing orb escapes Nate’s hands and maniacally swirls and bounces around the room. Tetherblood admits he doesn’t like this… not one bit. The orb returns to Nate… and then it speaks in a flat, robotic voice: “Greetings, Nathan. It’s been a long time.” Nathan is surprised this thing knows his name – and even more, that it can speak. He asks who or what it is. The orb explains it is whatever Nathan needs it to be. Friend. Confidante. Professor.
Watching this exchange, Blaquesmith interjects and remarks it’s fascinating – but he fears he no longer has the strength to cloak them. As he passes out from the strenuous effort, a guard sees them and demands to know what happened here!
Elsewhere, high above the city, Tribune Haight converses with ‘Strator Umbridge. He urges Umbridge to look out on the horizon, at all they’ve been able to accomplish since the fall of the High Lord. For all of Apocalypse’s posturing about “the survival of the fittest,” where is he now to enjoy his long sought victory? Soon the Clan Canaanite will be stronger than even he dreamed!
Umbridge remains silent. Her silence is a sign, for as much as she yearns to ascend the Canaanite hierarchy, surely Tribune Haight knows that speaking this way of En Sabah Nur is tantamount to blasphemy. Haight shrewdly notes that Umbridge is ever one to think before she speaks. No wonder she’s gone so far in such a short time. Umbridge takes this as a compliment. “As it was intended,” Haight assures her. He asks her what she knows about the Clan Askani. Only what every other child learns growing up, Umbridge admits. The stuff of fairy tales her parents read to her before bed. They believed in them still. To Umbridge they were of stuff of history.
Haight offers her a drink, which Umbridge curtly rebuffs: not while on duty. Haight notes that her devotion to duty is admirable. He hopes she doesn’t mind if has her drink then… Gazing at the horizon, he wonders: what if he told her the Askani still existed? And that they are all that stand between the Clan Canaanite and the throne of their dear departed Apocalypse?
Umbridge is shocked: what?! Surely, he’s not implying that this… stuff of myths poses any actual threat! Haight is amused, seeing that one can get a rise out of her. He’s found that a soldier with ice in his veins is of little value under fire. What he is telling her is known to but a few. It was long believed that the last of the Clan Askani were eliminated in the Cloister slaughter, when the hated Mother Askani finally fell. Apparently, one or two strays survived, and have resumed teaching their ways to others. He needs her, ‘Strator, to stop from that happening. Certainly, Umbridge replies. But… how?
A holographic map of Eurasia is automatically generated. Umbridge is perplexed: Eurasia? They barely have running water, much less a government they could… Haight cuts her off. As far as this mission goes, the only government she needs to concern herself with is their own. This requires a certain… subtlety. Is she up to the task? “You needn’t ask, sir,” Umbridge boasts. Haight smirks devilishly: outstanding. He has one last thing to tell her: they have reports of a young man. Someone this “Sisterhood” has a high regard for. Their “Messiah,” to pick a word. If Umbridge should encounter the lad, she is to kill him. “As so ordered,” she assures him. May she be dismissed? “G’journey,” Haight wishes her – as they used to say!
As Umbridge leaves, she realizes she nearly showed him her hand. She has little belief in fate; less in coincidence. But if that young dissident they arrested tonight turns out to be who she now suspects he is, Haight may be reporting to her next time!
Elsewhere, in the open air entrance to the docking bay, the situation progresses from bad to ugly. Confronting Nate, Tetherblood and Blaquesmith, a guard argues they can save the administration the cost of processing these three by erasing them now, instead. Nate telepathically alerts Blaquesmith. Now that he is back with them, doesn’t he happen to have any other tricks up his sleeve? Tricks, no. Solutions, yes, Blaquesmith replies. With all but a psionic thought of his, the energy shackles fall aside. Blaquesmith urges them to go now. Nate is baffled: go? He can handle these guards and… Blaquesmith insists that Nathan’s destiny lies elsewhere. Nate mumbles that he doesn’t understand… Blaquesmith, more peremptorily, insists they go!
One of the guards realizes the three prisoners are unshackled. The guards immediately open fire. As their reports would later reflect, it matters little where the guards actually aim, as Blaquesmith acts a shield – apparently at the cost of his life. “Butchers!” Tetherblood rages, as Blaquesmith is seemingly shot dead. Nate reminds him that Blaquesmith bought them an exit, and like it or not, they’re taking it! They both jump off the platform of the docking bay.
‘Strator Umbridge joins the guards and orders them to hold their fire. One of the guards explains that the prisoners were escaping… Umbridge counters that she is not interested in her excuses – she wants them found! Another guard, with all due respect, emphasizes that after a fall from this height, there will be little more than ink stains for them to…
“Would you bet your very life on that?” Umbridge counters as she walks over to the edge of the platform and spots Nate and Tetherblood alive and well below, entering an escape pod. She commands her guards to have the tower dock all pods. No one gets in or out, unless…
Much to her surprise, the pod in which Nate escaped, takes off and away at an exponential speed. The dock systems warn of an unauthorized launch of escape pod unit nine. Umbridge ponders that pod broke free of a secured mooring and now accelerates at nearly ten times the velocity it is rated for. Whoever this young man is, he has just made her job all the more intriguing…
Inside the incredibly fast-moving pod, a surprised Tetherblood asks Nate what he’s doing. Nathan insists it’s not him, it’s the pod! Tetherblood tells him to stop it! “Stop?” a flat voice intercedes – it thought Nathan wished to escape. Upon hearing this voice, Nathan realizes it is that thing that was inside of him. Correct, the A.I. replies. It has taken the liberty of overriding this unit’s control center. Nate remembers that before, it said it could be his… “Professor”. Will it mind if Nate calls it that? The Professor cryptically replies that Nathan has always called it that.
“Not to bring up a sore subject,” Tetherblood interposes – but does anybody know where they’re headed? Nate reveals that before Blaquesmith died, he put a telepathic suggestion in his head – a sort of lifesaver, he thinks. So, unless either Tetherblood or the Professor says otherwise, they’re going in search of the last Askani!
Dawn. In Apocalypse’s temple in New Orleans, Stryfe rather compulsively asks Ch’vayre if it’s ready. Ch’vayre wryly notices that “patience” was never a virtue he could instill in Stryfe. Stryfe insists he just activates the unit, Ch’vayre informs him they should be on-line in three, two, one…
The synthetic unit known as Zero is activated. Its prime directive commences: the resurrection of the High Lord. “At last!” Stryfe enthuses. “We begin anew…!”


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

[Assistant]
A Tiny Spark
Nathan Christopher Dayspring was born in the twentieth century and delivered as an infant to this time-period in a selfless act of preservation. Dying of a Techno-Organic Virus that was introduced into his system by the mad Apocalypse, he was rescued by an almost mythical clan of women known as the Askani. With his adopted parents, who took the names of “Redd” and “Slym,” Nathan toppled the nearly omnipotent Apocalypse, casting an evil which had swallowed the land for centuries.
Time passed. Nathan grew up alone, Redd and Slym having long ago vanished. Like the planet itself, Nathan turned hard, arrogant, but somehow instilled with hope. Hope that the new shadow which eclipses this era does not suffocate its peoples – Canaanites by name – as Apocalypse once did.
Presently, Nathan Dayspring is in a milk bar, drinking from a watering trough. Tetherblood stares at him. Nathan, seemingly vexed, asks him what he’s looking at. He’s thirsty. “I’m sorry,” Tetherblood replies. Nathan rudely suggests he gets sorry someplace else.
In actuality, Nate and Tetherblood are buddies. As they pretend to cast each other angry glances, they discuss telepathically. Nate tells Tetherblood that his lead paid off. It turns out the Canaanites have been diverting food to eastern mines. Which means he and Tetherblood leave tonight to…
Troubled, Tetherblood interjects that he and Nate have to do one thing: talk out loud; no telepathy. Nate is baffled: talk? But he likes telepathy. Talking aloud, Tetherblood tells Nate to face it: the two of them alone can’t start a revolution. Insisting on carrying this conversation telepathically, Nate reminds him they’re not alone; they have Professor. Tetherblood argues that lads their age should be chasing women, not in some disgusting milk bar… Nate angrily wonders if Tetherblood’s turning against him also. Tetherblood clarifies it’s just sometimes Nathan acts as if she’s got vision and the rest of the world is blind.
A woman watches them keenly from a distance. The woman tells her peer, ‘Strator Porus, to turn slowly and try to have a look at the cloaked man. Is he not the dissident with the price on his head? Porus and the woman approach Nate. The woman pats his back. They wish to have a word with him. Nate is startled: who the…? Tetherblood psionically alerts him to go easy; these are Canaanite ‘Strators. He suggests they just say goodnight and… “Sorry… They started it,” Nathan smiles mischievously. “Here we go again…” Tetherblood groans, predicting what comes next.
Half a world away, in a land once known as Egypt
The timeless Sphinx, defiled by Apocalypse as an effrontery to his lordship, still stands, although in ruin. It is here that the air pirate ship Gender Splay has come to dock. Her captain, the ruthless mercenary Marmelzat concludes another mysterious transaction, unaware he has aboard a Canaanite working in secret.
The undercover Canaanite in question, ‘Strator Umbridge, ponders it’s been months of posing in loyal servitude to the genetrash Marmelzat. Searching for something that may not exist, and instead watching illegal transactions. Umbridge currently operates under orders from the top of the Canaanite command. She exists to find and destroy “the stuff of fairy tales”… the hidden stronghold of the Clan Askani.
But ambition can be blinding. Umbridge does not realize how close she is to uncovering something far more dangerous to the Canaanite government. Below, the man who is having the transaction with Marmelzat – Stryfe – can hear Umbridge’s thoughts as if she were shouting. His motives will be kept secret until Umridge and the rest of the Canaanite sheep lie dead. Until he, Stryfe, the rightful heir to Apocalypse is returned to his throne.
Oblivious to Stryfe’s agenda, Marmelzat tells him their dealing is done. “For now, Marmelzat…” Stryfe cryptically replies. Marmelzat has seen many things in his day, but there is something about this boy, despite the gold he pays, which chills him to the very marrow. Ending his transaction with Marmelzat, Stryfe travels to an underground complex. “The rightful heir to the throne of Apocalypse.” In a world that was tortured by madness and foul reason, only one man could wish for such a thing. Stryfe was raised by Apocalypse himself with the hidden intention of using the boy as a host vessel for his own essence. He is a psionic of vicious power and an unparalleled lust for destruction – and the genetically cloned twin of Dayspring.
Underground, Stryfe reunites with Ch’vayre and happily asks him how they fare. Slowly, Ch’vayre replies. Stryfe hopes this fusion engine he acquired will speed their work. The day grows too long. He wants the ancient army of Apocalypse reborn! He wants the flower of his empire to bloom once more! Ch’vayre retorts that he is more aware of what Stryfe wants. Stryfe suggests that the old man do it, then!
It has been thus for years. In accepting the role of Stryfe’s caretaker, Ch’vayre thought he could dissuade Stryfe from his corrupted path. But despite the wisdom that comes with age, Ch’vayre finds he no longer has the will to complete any task, other than what Stryfe wishes…
Aboard the Gender Splay, the word travels quickly throughout the crew that the mission is completed. There will be gold enough for all – and that alone is good reason for revelry and debauchery. Umbridge watches them, awash with contempt and aversion. Only her loyalty to Tribune Haight could keep her amongst this loathsome lot. But even that wears thin.
Seeing her all by herself, Marmelzat wonders why she doesn’t mix it up. Umbridge justifies herself: she… wants only for a new adventure. Marmelzat reveals she will have her wish. Their next trip is to Ebonshire. Rejoicing upon hearing this location, Umbridge tells him she will make the preparations. At last, you decrepit heap of bile, she ponders – for in all this cesspool that is Eurasia, her sources tell her that it is in fabled Ebonshire, that she will find the survivors of the hatred Clan Askani!
Ebonshire
This is a legendary place where genetic handiwork on the local vegetation ran amok. The government claimed it to be uninhabitable and, as the years went by, it was all but forgotten. It would only be in an area such as this, that the last bastion of the once-strong Clan Askani remains, led by a woman who has taken the name Madame Sanctity. She is a direct disciple of the Mother Askani, a person equated by many as god herself. But with the Mother Askani long dead, her teachings are remembered by a scarce few, and thus interpreted as individuals will – individuals who can be corrupted, self-aggrandizing or even, as in Sanctity’s case, insane.
Sanctity is currently outside, majestic as she floats high above a group of awestruck people. She asks the nearby Askani novitiate known as Aliya whether she can feel how the local villagers give their psionic love to their holy shrine. Aliya nervously assures she can see that. But if she may, is it the way of the Askani to help those less fortunate and not profit from their… Nonsense, child, Madame Sanctity demurs. She and the Askani are merely conduits for the faith. If the local gentry wish to reward them, it is their decision to do so…
Novitiate Aliya is dejected. She turned her back on the world at large to learn the teachings of the Askani. As each night passes, she harbors a secret fear that she may have made the wrong decision…
In the milk bar, ‘Strator Porus again demands Nate state his business. And if he does not comply, they will be happy to continue this conversation at their local Temple of Administration. Nathan replies he’s seen their “Temple” firsthand. They are no better than the pens Apocalypse kept Nate’s people in.
So intent are the ‘Strator guardians in their work that they little realize they are speaking to a mere telepathic projection of Nate. The female ‘Strator asks Nate’s simulacrum to tell her more about his people, if he would. Nate’s psychic projection explains they are the ones who do most of the hard work and labor. Or maybe she doesn’t know.
Watching the scene, Tetherblood telepathically quips that Nate gives new meaning to the adage “you can’t be in two places at once.” The true Nate, standing further from there, asks Professor to give him a fix. The sentient techno-life-form that was literally plucked from Dayspring’s chest cavity, informs him that there are three more ‘Strators seated to Nate’s left. Nate mumbles it’s good to know. Professor deems the one called “Porus” to be non-telekinetic, i.e. Nate’s powers will have no effect on that one. It suggests Nate begins there. “Time to take out the recyclables,” Nate remarks with a devilish grin. Professor agrees.
Meanwhile, the female ‘Strator has begun arguing with the disobedient projection of Nate. She sternly alerts him that refusal to enter into a discussion with a duly-appointed official is not looked upon highly by Nate’s government. She thinks it best he accompanies…
Suddenly, much to her surprise, Nate begins to disappear. The true Nathan sneakily attacks Porus with his staff. That’s the problem with first-rate magic like his, Nathan banters – it’s wasted on children and idiots. Pandemonium quickly ensues inside the bar. Tetherblood warns Nate that he’s succeeded in alerting the seated ‘Strators. “So I see,” Nate replies. He dexterously climbs on Porus’s back. Quick! he tells Porus – he needs his weapon. He places his hand above Porus’s machine-guns and telekinetically provokes them to fire at the other attacking ‘Strators, seriously injuring all three of them. Nate sports a malevolent grin: poor Porus shot his own men! How is that going to look on his report…
Another ‘Strator sneaks up on him and clasps his face. He will accompany them to the local administrative office – now! Tetherblood interposes and asks the ‘Strator if he could have a word with him. The ‘Strator demands he stand aside. “I don’t think so!” Tetherblood snaps and brutally batters the ‘Strator to unconsciousness. Turning to Nate, he hopes he realizes this is another establishment they’re not going to be invited back to. Nathan admits that’s the price they pay. Tetherblood hopes Nathan now sees why they never meet any women. Annoyed, Nate wonders if that’s all that matters to him. A quick spin…
Someone in the bar claps in applause of their victory. It’s Blaquesmith. “Well, well, well. Look who fell in the well,” Tetherblood remarks. Nate is surprised to see him alive. Blaquesmith sarcastically wonders if mastering the obvious is the only thing Dayspring is capable of. Nathan insists they’ve done just fine without Blaquesmith and his Askani teachings. “Really?” Blaquesmith says and somehow manages to snatch Nathan’s staff from right under his hands, before he swiftly thwacks him with it. Blaquesmith has another aphorism for Nate: none are so deaf as those who would not listen.
The Professor, always offering Nate instructions and advice, informs him that Blaquesmith intends to up-end you. Dizzy and spread on the floor, Nate thanks the Professor! “You are entirely welcome, Nathan,” the A.I. glibly replies.
Blaquesmith brusquely helps Nathan back on his feet. Blaquesmith is cross: an entire world is waiting from Dayspring to emancipate them from an ancient evil, and Nate’s response is to engage in a brawl in a milk bar with the local specks. Tetherblood watches in awe. Few have ever spoken thus to Dayspring. In Tetherblood’s memory, he cannot even recall a single name. But clearly, he and Dayspring recognize a special quality to the mysterious Blaquesmith. For Tetherblood, anyone who can put Dayspring in his place has a free ride!
Pointing his finger at Nathan, Blaquesmith hopes he hasn’t risked all there is on the wrong individual; that somehow Dayspring does not realize the weight of the mantle he bears. Nathan insists that, if Blaquesmith wants him to do something, he’ll do it. There isn’t a fight he’s ever run from. Blaquesmith reminds him he left with instructions. Nathan was here to seek the Clan Askani. Nathan stubbornly retorts that Blaquesmith’s “instructions,” as he puts it, were so cryptic he couldn’t figure them out. Even Professor couldn’t decipher what Blaquesmith meant.
Blaquesmith glowers at him and motions at his heart. The meaning of the words of Askani are spoken here, in one’s heart. Not in that organ Nathan refers to as his brain. Still at loss, Dayspring asks him what he’s talking about – the Askani are all long dead! Blaquesmith clutches a pipe and greedily gulps some milk. Satisfied, he stops and burps: sour milk. Addressing Nate again, he points out that if all Dayspring does in life is to respond to the world with questions, then he can expect little except advice from fools. As his form begins to fade, Blaquesmith again points his finger at Nate and reveals that in Ebonshire is one he seeks. There, a Clan Mother awaits his arrival.
Before he can reveal anything more, Blaquesmith vanishes like a ghost. Tetherblood opines that maybe that little guy, Blaquesmith, has a point. Maybe both he and Nate need a little direction.
In the far, distant desert land of Egypt, within the ancient stonework of the Sphinx, Stryfe tears apart a bloody, horribly disfigured corpse – another failed clone of the High Lord Apocalypse. “Bored. Boring. Boredom,” Stryfe grouches. Intimidated, Ch’vayre asks his Lord if he has a complaint. Stryfe yammers that his life has lists of them. Foremost, however, is the apparent inability for either Ch’vayre or this Zero unit to complete the appointed task and reanimate anything in the way of a suitable army of soldiers! Ch’vayre promises he will attempt to move with greater haste. Lost in his reflections, he fears that with each passing hour, Stryfe’s descent into madness…
“Have a care, old man,” Stryfe intercedes in Ch’vayre’s thoughts. Ch’vayre’s ability to block his thoughts from him weakens as Stryfe’s strength grows. Psionically lashing at him, he confesses he is momentarily at a loss as to why he shouldn’t crush his larynx! He so tires of Ch’vayre’s growing concern for the “huddled masses” that populate this ball of mud. He is the chosen heir to the throne of Apocalypse! And Ch’vayre will address him with the tone of respect that he…
The synthetic unit known as Zero addresses Stryfe. The android reveals that Stryfe’s own innate power can be furthered by another – and thus, reduce Stryfe’s reliance on other carbon life forms. “Another? Who?” Stryfe queries. Zero reveals it’s a member of the fabled Clan Askani – Madame Sanctity. Stryfe is both surprised and pleased. One of the old witches still lives? Fascinating…
Aboard the Gender Splay, as it crosses over the Great Sea, Umbridge is pensive. “And even the heavens shall rage against us,” she recites. Is it blasphemy to think that they could place themselves before fallen gods? She should not even entertain such thoughts. She needs the counsel of her Tribune. On her knees, she establishes contact with her superior: “’Strator Umbridge on authorized access line Shadow Rock”. He asks Tribune Haight whether he can bridge.
Elsewhere, Tribune Haight bathes in another victory for the New Canaanites. Student dissidents, ninety in total, were “disciplined” for their… inaccurate view of the government. Standing loftily with his armor amidst a battlefield infested with corpses, Haight bridges Umbridge’s message. He can only assume that she has completed her task, and that the remains of the hated Clan Askani are ash. Umbridge assures him they near victory, but…
Haight berates her: “near” victory is nothing more than a promise of false hope. Surely, Umbridge learned that much at the Academy. He needn’t remind her of the importance of her deed. The Canaanite movement roars ahead. It would be… a shame if she were left behind. Umbridge assures him he needs not even entertain this notion. When next they speak, the Clan Askani will return to the stuff of dreams.
She severs the link and gets up. She wonders if Haight noticed her hesitation. She tries to calm herself. She tries to remember the ancient texts she read as a child. They always eased her mind then. “Blow winds blow…”
In the sewers below the milk bar, Tetherblood blabbers about the ‘Strators. Whatever price Nathan and Tetherblood had on their heads… it just doubled. Nate thinks they have to talk. Blaquesmith made it pretty clear to Nate where he has to go and… Tetherblood offers to make it easy for Nate. This is something he has to do alone. Nathan wonders if he’s asking him or telling him. Tetherblood suggests they both know the answer to that. Dejected, Nathan hopes Tetherblood is not going to forget him. “Have we met?” Tetherblood exclaims. He reminds Nathan they’re linked. Got it? The two friends embrace for farewell.
Tetherblood lets Nate know that he’ll contact the resistance. He asks Dayspring to take care of himself. Walking away as he puts his cloak on, a smiling Nate insists he’ll be fine. Didn’t he hear? He’s the savior of the whole spinning planet! Tetherblood wishes him “g’journey.” And may whatever gods are left protect him…


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An Ember Glows…
In fabled Ebonshire, deep in the continent of Eurasia, Nathan Christopher Dayspring seeks something that should no longer exist. Ebonshire, where genetically-enhanced vegetation runs amok – so much so that it is believed to be uninhabitable. Nate is accompanied solely by the techno-sentient being he calls “Professor,” a veritable treasure trove of knowledge. It is here that Dayspring hopes to find the last secret stronghold of the Clan Askani, the mysterious sect of telepaths who will guide him on his path of destiny. A destiny upon which all depend.
Ebonshire currently stands tainted with dozens of human dead bodies, amidst the wreckage of an airship. Nathan questions the omniscient Professor: when it says bad, how bad? “Very bad,” Professor clarifies. However, since Nathan insisted on investigating the wreckage of this transport ship, Professor has accessed records indicating the vessel’s christened title: “Gender Splay.” Registered owner designate: “Columbus.” Although the Professor’s scanning indicates that the vessel was being used as a salvage ship commandeered by the buccaneer “Marmelzat.” Nathan asks where this “Marmelzat” is now. Professor reveals he’s dead – as is 99.9 percent of the crew. Nathan hates it when Professor is right.
Professor suggests Nathan finally listens to it and abandon this place. Nathan refuses: not as long as that .1% is still alive. While Professor believes Nathan’s intentions to be well meaning, this unscheduled stop hampers their journey to… “Oath!” Nate hushes it. Does Professor want to make itself useful here? Of course, Professor replies. Nathan asks it to give him a fix on whatever the thing is that killed all those people. As Nathan wishes, the A.I. complies. According to its sensors, the being designate “Daegon” has no weaknesses whatsoever. “That’s pipe! Everybody’s got a bloody weakness!” Nate yelps and, arms in hand, jumps down to engage the monstrosity that slaughtered the crew of the pirate ship.
“Fresssh meat!” the red-skinned abomination hisses upon spotting the last survivor of the massacre – the woman known as ‘Strator Umbridge. Before the abnormity gets its hands on her, Nathan intervenes, assaulting it with plasma bursts. Professor reports to Nathan that the plasma burst was one hundred percent ineffective against the creature! Unless Nathan’s intention was to give away his position and, in doing so, anger the beast, then he was quite successful.
Indeed, Daegon abandons Umbridge and now turns against Dayspring. Nathan argues that maybe he was just testing the beast, setting it up to see how it could handle a full barrage of telekinetically accelerated debris! Nate hurls the debris against it, but Professor reveals that the creature seems to handle it effortlessly. Still chanting “Fresh meat” incessantly, the monster grasps Nate’s throat. “Okay, I heard you. Fresh meat!” Nate grumbles. Professor reports to Nathan that his pulse blaster is destroyed by the monster. Choking in the beast’s grapple, Nathan realizes he’s got to risk it all here; push past the pain. He decides on full-out telekinetic burst: up close and in the face!
Unfortunately, Professor reveals that this was ineffective. Nathan has, however, aggravated his own Techno-Virus, as evidenced by the exposure of his left arm. Nathan’s estimated time of death is in forty seconds. “No!” Nate unleashes a terrible cry of agony. He vows he’s not going to die here! Not when he’s so close! “Nathan…” Professor interjects. It informs him that help has arrived.
A woman – Aliya – jumps down and confronts Nathan. Rather aggressively, she asks him to understand this: she has no use for pirates. Particularly those who find their way here to the hidden place. The intruder lives, for now, because she acts upon Milady’s every wish. “Nice to meet you, too,” an awestruck Nathan replies. He telepathically asks the Professor to give him a fix on her. Professor replies that Nathan is on his own here.
With a swift, single move, Aliya rips the monster in half with a psimitar. Nathan gets up on his feet and insists he’s not a pirate. Aliya is incredulous: she finds a gutted ship, full of dead pirates, and he’s the only one left standing. It’s undeniable that he’s both a pirate and a coward. Nathan exasperates: is there no speaking to her?
Without paying attention to his remark, Aliya discovers another one who still lives, though barely – Umbridge. Holding the unconscious woman in her arms, she remarks that the gods themselves must be watching over the pair of them. The Daegon that attacked their ship is virtually unstoppable. Nate mumbles that he kind of found that out for himself…
Before he proceeds further, he collapses from the strain of his fight with Daegon. “Pirate!” Aliya addresses him. She prays that he does not prove more trouble than he is worth. About to lose consciousness, Nathan studies Aliya’s face. He asks the Professor: is it his imagination, or is she not beautiful? Professor respond that on this they can agree. “Thought… so…” Nate remarks, before the world turns grey.
Elsewhere
A city on the eastern coast of the American continent, its name lost in the dust of antiquity. Legend tells that it was once the center of an empire and a place of power and fear. Now, it is only one of many cities broken beyond repair. It is said that Apocalypse – the High Lord En Sabah Nur himself – destroyed the city and took delight in its destruction. Since Apocalypse’s passing, a new shadow looms across the land – “Canaanites” they call themselves, the self-imposed rulers of the land.
Tetherblood mixes with crowd of impoverished, abject people meandering about the stairs of this half-demolished building. Canaanite officials, in their armors, supervise the crowd. Tetherblood thinks that, with each passing day, these Canaanite blood suckers grow bolder and bolder. He hopes Dayspring is all right. Although, thinking their last, best hope lies with his friend Nate is a slim hope at best.
Despite his common dress, Tetherblood is a vital link to the resistance. He alone knows of Dayspring’s plans and, while he may not believe in destiny, his faith is virtually unshakeable. Even now, Tetherblood’s attention is focused toward the future. For it is not often one can eavesdrop on Tribune Haight, a high-ranking official in the Canaanite regime.
Standing very close to Tetherblood, Tribune Haight is having a rather heated discussion with a stout blue-skinned individual called Columbus. Columbus snarls that Haight has still not answered his question. Haight warns not to take that tone with him. Or he’ll tossed back with the huddled masses from which he plucked him. Columbus agrees that no one could forget Haight’s kindness to him, but he cannot hide his unhappiness at Haight’s surreptitious hiring of his ship. The Gender Splay is now lost. Bridge-link went down on Ebonshire of all places, and he wants to hear about restitu…
Impatient, Haight grapples Columbus’ throat, almost choking him in the process. “You want…?” Haight repeats, almost in disbelief. Does Columbus think Haight gives the slightest degree of thought to what he wants, in light of a chance to rid the world of the last remaining member of those hated witches, the Askani?! “Oath!” Tetherblood spontaneously exclaims upon hearing this.
Just then, half a world away, Nate is hopping a ride on Aliya’s air skid vehicle. He asks her if she has any idea where they’re going. To safety, she replies. “And that’s…?” Nate insists. “Near. Pirate,” she still gives him the cold shoulder. Nate sighs. He swears he is not a pirate. He happened upon that ship and went looking for survivors. “You swear!” Aliya sneers. Then, what reason brings him to Ebonshire? Hesitating, Nathan retorts that’s none of her business. Aliya lets out an exclamation of triumph, as if Nathan’s unwillingness to reply confirms her allegations.
“What about you?” Nathan asks her. “What about me?” she snaps back. Nathan wonders what she’s doing with an outdated psimitar lance, driving an air skid that she couldn’t possibly have found fuel for in this region. In similar fashion, Aliya retorts that’s none of his business. “Women…” Nate demurs.
Speaking in Nathan’s mind, Professor has an observation. Nate assures him anything could help. Professor reveals that the air skid upon which they ride is not fuel-powered; it is being driven telekinetically. Nate is surprised: how is that possible?
Aliya telepathically intervenes in their chit-chat. Will they refrain from making noise back there? It is difficult enough to pilot this without their endless psi-prattling! Nate is aghast: she… she can hear them? How? Amused, Aliya haughtily replies there are things in the universe which she doubts he can comprehend. “Like… this?” Nate proposes as he grabs the psimitar. Incensed, Aliya demands he put it down! He asks him to hand it over to her – gently. He will only wind up hurting himself.
Professor notifies Nathan that its sensors indicate hostile life forms in this area. “Already on to them, Professor,” Nathan excitedly replies and stands on his feet, still refusing to hand the psimitar back to Aliya. Aliya protests that he does not understand. The psimitar is a sacred weapon. It takes years of study just to…
Nate decides they just give it a shot, shall they? He focuses his psionic energy on the psimitar and fires with it. Confused, Aliya contemplates this should not – cannot – be! None, but one who has been tutored in the ways of the Askani, can fire the psimitar. Who is this boy?
Nathan lunges at their enemy ahead – a crèche of enormous insectoids. Nate, without thinking twice, attacks them with the psimitar. Simultaneously, he asks the Professor to give him a fix here. Professor explains that he is being hopelessly outnumbered by an insectoid species known as the Loci. “But who do I appear?” he asks the Professor. The A.I. replies that Nathan’s bodily functions seem to be… “Not to you. To the girl!” Nathan clarifies.
A bit behind, still addressing him as “pirate,” Aliya now begs him, for the last time, to return her psimitar, so that they may escape this place! Nathan has a deal for her: she stops calling him “pirate” and he will give her back her harpoon. “Fine!” Aliya wearily accepts. Anything to set this battle straight. Handing her the psimitar, Nathan returns to the fight. He urges her not to worry about him, either; he’ll muddle through. With just his cunning, his daring skill, his… Joining the fight with her psimitar, Aliya grumbles if he must speak throughout the entire battle! Professor informs Nathan that it has analyzed the data with regards with “how he appears” to the young lady. Nate rebuffs him: they’re trying to win a battle here!
The Nile
She was one of the mightiest rivers. A force of nature that could not be tamed, but only respected. But Apocalypse respected nothing. Least of all, nature herself. Thus, what was once an artery of life for an entire continent, became little more than a toxic sewage dump for the former despot. Only a madman could wreak such havoc for so little concern for the consequences… and then build an underwater laboratory for some unknown purpose.
Inside this laboratory, Apocalypse’s sole apprentice and heir – and genetically-twisted doppelganger of Dayspring – the Chaos Bringer known as Stryfe inspects some corpses. He orders the synthetic unit known as Zero to focus its attention on a particular body. Hard at work, Zero reminds him that is completing his previous instruction, with regard to another carbon-based life-form. Stryfe demands he do as he says – now!
Stryfe wonders rather desperately how it is that he should come to this. He was born to rule this world. Instead, he finds himself saddled with some ridiculous android as his sole ally. Sorely in need of these long-dead legions of Apocalypse reanimated, so that they may storm the forests of Ebonshire, and capture the very last Askani who hides there.
Ch’vayre, Stryfe’s aide and once caretaker, watches from a distance. How well does he know the width and breadth of little Stryfe’s schemes. Only now, as he stands cloaked from even Stryfe’s power, he wonders if he has the strength to do what he should have done years ago. May the High Lord forgive him, he ponders as he points his gun at Stryfe – but he is the one who raised Stryfe from a pup, who should now, at last, erase the threat of another dark one in the house of…
Dumbfounded, he suddenly realizes Stryfe doesn’t even register on the scope! “Shame on you, Ch’vayre,” Stryfe snickers, apparently aware of his intentions. The true Stryfe unveils himself, resting on Ch’vayre’s huge shoulders. Psionically hurting his tutor, Ch’vayre gloats how odd it must be for the teacher to now become the student; for the parent to become the child. And like an errant child, Ch’vayre must be punished. He should learn that he and Stryfe are now and forever psi-linked. There is no thought Ch’vayre has that Stryfe cannot read. No sight before his eyes that might not be some illusion Stryfe planted there. Ch’vayre asks him why he continues to torture him so. Why not end this charade and kill Ch’vayre now. Stryfe explains it’s because he likes him. He’s not going to let a little thing like an assassination attempt…
“Wha…?!” he suddenly notices something and tells Ch’vayre to hold that thought. He sighs. “Zero! You clamoring container of synthetic cells and arteries!” he puffs, seeing a reconstructed helmet. He puts the helmet on with a smile. If you want done something right… he remarks. He joyfully asks Ch’vayre to tell him the truth: does he think this is a little much?
In Ebonshire, Aliya and Nate continue their battle against the giant insectoids. Aliya will give him this: he fights well. Nate quips that she should him when he’s not handicapped by having to watch her back! Aliya glibly replies that he’d be twice as slow, then, since she is doing more than half the work. Nate confesses it was just a little while ago that he was thinking about stealing a kiss from her, but now he’s of the mind to…
He suddenly howls with pain, as one of the Loci skewers his shoulders. “No!” Aliya spontaneously exclaims, as she sees this. Enraged, she tells the black-hearted beasts to pray to whatever gods they know – for, if they’ve killed this young man, she’ll see to it the lot of them becomes extinct! She renews her attack with extra viciousness. The injured Nate quips that he didn’t know she cared. Aliya tells him not to flatter himself. She fights at the behest of Milady, and for no other reason. “Oh. Great,” Nathan grumps at the sound of this.
Later
It is nearly dawn when Nathan and Aliya reach their destination. The locals and the merchants are still in their beds. Yet despite the avenues being empty, the view of Ebonshire is still overwhelming, even to one as jaded as Dayspring. Aliya notices he is quiet at last – or has he simply run out of things to say? “As impossible as that now seems,” she adds telepathically to herself. Nathan tells her he heard that. He asks the Professor if this is the place he thinks it is. Professor instructs him to simply proceed and they will get the appropriate information.
Nathan is admitted into the inner sanctum, where he encounters Madame Sanctity, the most adept of Mother Askani’s disciples, afloat in the air. Some say she is the most powerful among them; it is certain she is the most insane. Aliya asks her Milady to forgive her, but she did as requested. Aboard the fallen transport vessel there were but two survivors. A woman who needs medical attention – and this man. Professor tells Nathan that if he’s ever going to listen to it, now is a good time. It alerts him that he is the presence of a very powerful psion. Perhaps the last of her kind. Nathan realizes he… has arrived? Or, another way to look it, Professor suggests, is he that has just begun.
Nate kneels down with respect and asks Madame Sanctity of the Askani to teach him the way. Aliya is aghast with his blasphemy. She tells her Milady she had no idea. No male has ever dared… “What is… is, child,” Sanctity replies with a famous motto of the Askani. She confirms that their guest will learn the Askani teachings – but not from her. Sanctity has other concerns. He is going to learn from young Aliya. She reveals that Aliya’s charge is special. For he is the one foretold… the child of the first ones brought from antiquity through the currents of time by the Mother Askani herself to save them in these dark, deadly days. For in truth, he is the… Askani’Son!
“Oath!” Aliya gasps.


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A Bright And Shining Light
Two thousand years from now, in Ebonshire
Madame Sanctity, one of the last of the mysteriously powerful scions known as Clan Askani, presides over a unique ceremony. Her novitiate, Aliya, is present. No truer test of her loyalty has she yet endure. All the pomp and circumstance is in the name of one young man: Nathan Dayspring. A mutant gifted with awesome powers of telepathy and telekinesis, here he takes but the first step of a life-long quest. One which will inevitably transcend time and bring him to modern era as the warrior called Cable.
There is an expression which Dayspring remembers from his youth. It comes from Olde English, the language of his adopted parents, Redd and Slym. “When you cast your bread upon the water it comes back cake.” It means that if you give your all to your fellow man, you will be amply rewarded. Though Dayspring never sought such a reward, it was not until now that he understood the meaning of this aphorism.
Madame Sanctity addresses the people of the fabled Ebonshire and all those who have journeyed across Eurasia to this holiest of havens. She proclaims that today is a day unlike other. For today, they have among them the last, best hope for their planet. He who they anoint as “the Chosen One” – Nathan Dayspring, the Askani’Son! Ecstatic, the crowd responds by chanting rhythmically: “Hail Dayspring! Hail Askani’Son!”
“Rejoice, my faithful flock!” Sanctity shares in their adulation, sporting a smile of insanity. She wishes to tell them of the last action of her lost Mother Askani on the day of their tragic fall. How she plucked a child from an era long, long gone and delivered him unto them, to awaken here as a bright and shining light, to lead them out of the darkness of the past, and away from the shadow which lengthens across the face of their future!
“Pipe. The woman fills their heads with pipe,” Nate protests upon hearing Sanctity’s sermon. Aliya is surprised: doesn’t he want to join in the adulation of his holy presence? “In a word – no,” he retorts. He explains he came here to learn. The fight the good fight. But her Madame Sanctity… he’s making him out to be some kind of messiah to these people. He understands he’s probably speaking some kind of blasphemy to Aliya’s ears… Aliya reveals she, too, shares his doubts of Milady’s actions. In fact, she’s often wondered… she doesn’t know if she should say… about Sanctity’s very sanity…
‘Strator Umbridge – posing as a humble, servile woman – interjects in their discussion and offers to take the “young master’s” cloak. Nate complies, but asks her to do him a favor and call him “Nate.” He’s never going to be anybody’s “master!” Umbridge asks him to forgive her; she meant no offense. “None taken, Umbridge,” Aliya allays her. She telepathically asks Nathan to open his mind to her so they may speak in private. How many times does she have to remind him? Since Nathan saved her life, Umbridge seeks only his approval. Maybe, Dayspring agrees. But he notes there’s something about her that isn’t quite… right.
Watching them recede in utter silence, Umbridge realizes they are having a telepathic discussion. Look at them – Askani trash, she disgusts. They think themselves so clever, talking in the mindspeak language! Arrogant pups! She wonders if they could so carelessly turn their backs on her, if they knew they had taken into the very heart of their precious stronghold one whose sole allegiance is to the New Canaanites. For after today, the last pathetic remnants of the Clan Askani will return to the stuff of myths and the Canaanites will seize the upper hand left abandoned by the defeat of the High Lord, he who was Apocalypse! She immediately decides to establish contact with her superior, Tribune Haight. She asks him if he can bridge.
Halfway across the Great Sea, the Canaanite fleet – an armada the likes of which the world has not seen since the fall of the mad despot Apocalypse – hastens on its path to Ebonshire. On board of one of the ships, Tribune Haight bridges Umbridge’s call, although her navigational signal is quite faint. Umbridge explains that she dares not transmit on a higher frequency, without risk of detection. Haight counters that it matters little. Within hours they will make the Cloister slaughter of years past, where the hated Mother Askani herself died, look like a peasant’s picnic!
“Impressed, Columbus?” Haight asks his companion, a blue-skinned, disgruntled individual. Columbus bears witness to the dawn of a new era for them all. One where Canaanite rule will change the course of history – and return mankind to an era of prosperity unknown since the arrival of Apocalypse. Columbus grunts that if it makes Haight happy, then he’s content. It matters little, though, to the pirates and mercenaries Columbus brings Haight to the hidden land… as long as they get paid. Haight reassures him they’ll earn that gold and they’ll do it with a measure of respect that is due…
“Why, you lousy, stinkin’…” a voice is suddenly heard. Haight and Columbus rush to the source of the commotion. Exasperated, Haight asks Columbus what’s going in here; can’t he even control his own loathsome crew?! One of Columbus’ armored mercenaries – his features hidden – has incapacitated two fellow mercenaries. He introduces himself as “Plough” and reveals he overheard these two blokes he beat wanting to terminate Haight. Only he got to them first! Haight assures him that his efforts are laudable, then. He mentally keeps note to keep this “Plough” guy close by, when the warring starts…
At that moment, cloaked from any sensor the armada might have at its disposal, Stryfe, the Chaos Bringer – and unknown to him, genetically-cloned duplicate of Dayspring – flies right underneath the armada on his own small ship. Stryfe grizzles it’s sheer madness, that he, the rightful heir to the mantle of Apocalypse, would have to ride like some lowly tick, upon the backs of Canaanite dogs to reach Ebonshire! But it his destiny to reclaim the fallen throne, for he was chosen to carry on in En Sabah Nur’s name… and no uppity warlord will stop him!
Zero, the android and pilot of the ship, reports that it has logged one hundred and eighty-one minutes of Stryfe’s dissatisfaction – although it cannot fathom its value. Astonished, Stryfe wonders if that is sarcasm he hears in Zero’s voice; it truly is a remarkable creation. He warns the synthetic unit, though: offend him a second time and with a thought he will disintegrate every artificial cell in its body… is he understood?
Ch’vayre watches in silent despair. He wishes Stryfe’s dreams for conquest were limited to one android pilot and his feeble ancient teacher, Ch’vayre himself. Then, he wouldn’t dare contemplate switching off this ship’s cloaking device and learn how much more merciful it would be to this world if the Canaanites killed Stryfe now, before he could meet the last sister of the Askani and learn to master his power.
He suddenly realizes something is amiss. “Feeble is right, you useless fool,” Stryfe barks at him. Ch’vayre’s brain has so become so addled he forgets they are psi-linked and Stryfe knows his every thought – every traitorous, malicious, hateful thought. And since Ch’vayre no longer has a use for that empty shell of a mind, he knows he won’t mind Stryfe rearranging it! Lashing at him with ferocity, Stryfe literally fries his brain with but a thought. Ch’vayre utters one final cry before he drops dead to the floor.
Zero admits it does not comprehend Stryfe’s actions. Ch’vayre posed no real threat, yet Stryfe punished him without mercy; why? Because I could, Stryfe explains. And as Ch’vayre has suffered, so shall everyone who draws a breath suffer Stryfe’s legacy.
In Ebonshire, Nate clarifies that all he’s saying is that he’s not sticking around here long enough for Sanctity to turn him into some sort of mindless sycophant. Aliya only asks him that he does not judge all the teachings of the Askani and their core beliefs on… She pauses and a few seconds transpire. “On what?” Nate questions and turns around to face her. Aliya stands transfixed. Nate calls her name, only to realize she’s been mindwiped! The culprit telepathically taunts Nate: he was beginning to think he’s wasted his time on some kind of idiot. Incensed, Nathan demands the villain step out of the shadows and they’ll see which one of them is the idiot!
It isn’t the raspy voice which reveals to Dayspring that his “foe” intends no harm, but rather it is the sharp sting of a bo staff that reminds Nate his enigmatic mentor, Blaquesmith, has returned. After hitting him with the bo staff, Blaquesmith glowers at him. Did he or he not tell Dayspring his destiny lies here in Ebonshire? To educate himself in the ways of the Askani?
Nathan asks him where has been hiding. Did he know this great teacher he recommended is some halfscan with delusions of grandeur?! Blaquesmith reminds him that he never said Sanctity was the one. “Then who…?” Nate is at a loss – her, he asks, motioning at the still Aliya. “So then, which of us is the idiot?” Blaquesmith scoffs. Nathan insists it would have helped if Blaquesmith had told him she was the one. Why does everything he says have to be cryptic? Nothing is as simple as it seems, Blaquesmith snaps. Never – yet always. “See! You’re doing it again!” Nathan exasperates, his emotions betrayed by the sudden TK glow in his left eye. He promises that one of those days he’s going to crack open that head of his and…
Undeterred, Blaquesmith professes that the long path in Nate’s destiny begins with the first step. He wishes Nathan “g’journey” as his form begins fading away. Desperate, Nate asks him to wait! There’s so much he wants to ask him!
Upon Blaquesmith’s exit, Aliya is thawed from her mindwipe, oblivious to what has transpired. Hearing Nate’s pleas for Blaquesmith not to go, Aliya assumes the plea is meant for her. She stresses she’s not going anywhere – Dayspring was the one talking about leaving. Nathan tries to explain that he meant… He pauses, realizing the futility in explaining: forget it. Aliya asks him if he’s all right. He seems confused. Nathan replies she’d be too if… P>
“Nathan,” Professor – the techno-sentient being plucked from Nathan’s chest cavity and realized as little more than a voice in Dayspring’s head, as well as his friend, advisor and lifesaver – addresses him. “Professor?! Now what?!” Nathan rather impatiently replies. Professor believes the colloquial expression is… DUCK! Realizing the imminent danger, Nate dashes at Aliya and pushes her to the floor: “Aliya, get down!” The roof comes crashing down their heads.
Aliya, in shock, realizes that Dayspring threw himself on top of her. All at once, he is both arrogant and self-absorbed, and yet in the pitch of battle, totally selfless and willing to sacrifice his very life. She wonders what sort of man he is. And why is it she wishes to know him more?
Outside, the Canaanite armada launches its onslaught against Ebonshire. “Today, will be a day unlike any other.” As the bombs drop mercilessly from the Canaanite armada, the irony of Madame Sanctity’s words is not lost on the innocents below. For in this action, the Canaanites have escalated their desire for conquest to a new level. Until today, they preached only for the good of humanity and the unity of all faiths. Yet this gathering of Askani worshippers in far off and carefully hidden Ebonshire posed no immediate threat to their realm. Assuredly, now that will all change. For the world will soon learn that they may have traded one fallen tyrant, only to be handed over to the mad workings of another.
“Nooo!” Madame Sanctity shrieks, at the sight of this catastrophe. She will not allow them to defile this holy shrine! They will not take away what the Bright Lady herself bestowed upon her. “You will not!” she telepathically screams and lashes at the attacking forces.
There will be those who survive this day that will never comprehend what happened. How the Canaanite pilots, seemingly without a will of their own – pushed by Sanctity’s psionic powers – crashed their ships into one another. Seeing this, the dismayed Tribune Haight tells Columbus that he will not have this! He orders him to restore order to his crew, now. Columbus admits he’s open to suggestions.
Watching the invasion, a delighted Stryfe sees this moment as an opportunity. Magnificent – the Askani witch spins psionic energy like straw into gold. He vows he must have her! He must be as adept as she and then surpass even that!
Meanwhile, Nate and Aliya are buried in the debris below. Nathan agonizes: he’s never held a telekinetic shield so long. Aliya thanks him for saving her life. Nate’s left arm begins morphing uncontrollably as his Techno-Virus flares up from the strain. Nate asks the Professor to help him – his guts are on fire. Professor reveals it’s analyzing the situation as they speak; the Techno-Virus is advancing too rapidly. By the Bright Lady! Aliya muses. Now she sees why Dayspring rarely uses his powers. She offers to help him. Nate refuses: he didn’t even want her to see him like this. He can control it… he knows he can! Clasping his arm, Aliya assures him she knows he can, too. She urges him to concentrate. He has the strength of will to make his own body do anything. Nathan notices that she… she sounds so certain…
Suddenly, Aliya is shot at the shoulder by someone – ‘Strator Umbridge. Touching, Umbridge sneers with regards to their discussion. She mocks that she’ll almost have difficulty deciding which of you to erase first – almost. Aliya reminds her that she owes her life to them! Yes, Umbridge agrees – and that almost makes up for her own stupidity for not killing Dayspring when she first encountered him.
Desperate, Nathan asks Professor to give him a fix on this situation, now! Professor appraises the circumstances. Nathan’s telekinetic energy is spent. His companion is severely wounded. Nathan insists that he needs options! Professor concludes that, basically, they have none. Umbridge scoffs that this must be very exciting for them. They’re all so fond of invoking the name of the long dead “Bright Lady”… and now they’re about to join her.
Before she proceeds, she is shot dead by someone – the guard called Plough, from Columbus’s crew. Pointing his gun at them, he supposes Dayspring and Aliya will want to follow him now. Nathan notes that it doesn’t look like they’ve got much of a choice. “Nay,” Plough confirms.
Outside, the glory that was Ebonshire, the world where the genetically-engineered vegetation run amok, now teeters on the brink of ultimate ruin. The fabled Ebonshire, where the last bastion of Askani teachings stood, is destroyed. The once legendary band of telepaths known as the Askani is reduced to one slightly mad member – Sanctity. Caught in the battle, she asks Mother Askani to give her strength. She asks to be the vessel of Mother Askani’s glorious rage, so that they may smite the enemy and protect these hallowed halls! From his ship, Tribune Haight orders his men to fire forward thrusters – now! “By the Bright La…” Sanctity whispers as she is seemingly obliterated in a searing sea of blasts.
Witnessing Sanctity’s death, Aliya is devastated. She asks Nathan if he knows what this means. Sanctity was the last repository. She was the only one who could remember Mother Askani. All the hopes and promises that kept the Clan Askani alive through the centuries… they’re gone.
While Dayspring and the others watch as Sanctity is consumed in a fiery mass, the reality of the situation is something entirely different. At the same moment, Sanctity has been clandestinely brought aboard Stryfe’s ship. Stryfe, dressed in a full-body armor, complete with a helmet and cape, quickly joins the dumbfounded woman. Lest she wonders, he made all these witnesses believe she has perished; a martyr to her beloved cause. Sanctity immediately identifies him as a telepath, and one of enormous psionic energy. Coming from her, Stryfe takes that as complete.
Livid with anger, Sanctity wonders he has removed her from the battle. With the merest whim, she could obliterate him! “Have a care to whom you speak,” Stryfe suggests. For he does not offer a life of slavery and servitude, but a place at the side of one who is fated to rule this planet.
To her surprise, Sanctity senses that Stryfe’s psi-signature is nearly identical to the Chosen One. Stryfe clarifies he does not know to whom she refers – but Stryfe was chosen by the En Sabah Nur himself. And, though he is the proper heir of Apocalypse and she is one of the hated Askani, he sees that she revels in her power. She asks her to imagine what they could do… together. He removes his helmet and faces her. Sanctity notices that his resemblance with the Askani’Son is uncanny! She makes the fatal decision and accepts Stryfe’s proposition: “We could do much, boy, much.”
Aboard the lead Canaanite ship, chaos prevails. Haight and Columbus flee amidst the commotion. Columbus ironically suggests to Haight to chalk this one up in the loss category. He reveals he can get them to an escape pod. Haight suggests he does it quickly, then. For he who lives to fight another day…
Plough suddenly blocks their way, dragging along his two prisoners, Nathan and Aliya. Plough tells Tribune Haight that they most want to split and run just yet; not without these two hostages. Haight is delighted with Plough’s achievement: can it be that, in an ocean of fools, a pearl? He notices he’s captured both the so-called Askani’Son and one of those telepathic witches! The Canaanite destiny may yet be fulfilled! Nathan retorts they’ve won nothing today. For the world will hear of their actions and know them for the evil they are. Amused, Haight can promise one thing: they won’t be hearing it from Dayspring. “Isn’t that right, Plough?” he asks. “We’ll see,” Plough enigmatically replies… and he shoots Columbus dead.
Shocked, Haight demands to know what the meaning of this is! The meaning is that Height has been had, “Plough” replies and reveals himself as Tetherblood, Nathan’s friend. He remarks that being in the same province with Haight makes him sick. But he can fix that, too… He is stopped short of shooting at him by Nathan. Nate stresses he wants him alive. Haight states that if Dayspring wants him to beg for his life, he’ll be sorely disappointed. Hardly, Nate replies.
Professor notifies Nathan that it has co-opted the escape pod; they can exit on his say-so. Nathan thanks the A.I.; he’s just got one last detail before they go. He proceeds to kick Haight in the face, knocking him out. He asks him to remember this, long and hard. “Today is a day unlike any other.” While both have suffered great losses, Haight’s will prove to be the greater. For today, a line has been drawn in the sand. It won’t matter if it’s called Canaanite, or Apocalypse, or if it takes any other name. He leaves Haight alive to tell his superiors that as long as there is a darkness on this land, where man, human or mutant, is oppressed for his beliefs or forced into slavery by birth, there will always be a light to cast out the likes of them. They will be known as the Clan Chosen and they will be led by the Askani’Son!


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

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Out Cold, part one
'Welcome back! We've got  more evidence, folks – the kind they don't want you to see! Weeks after Orchis' heroic raid on Krakoa's Hellfire Gala... the mutant supremacist Iceman may still be on the loose! They say he was killed resisting arrest. But if that's true? Then why do we keep receiving reports of Iceman sightings? Mutants hate our way of life. Orchis helps us. Helps decent people. They're finally getting this mutant nonsense under control... so we can live in peace. That's why the public deserves answers! If Iceman isn't really dead as they claim... are any of us safe?' an announcer asks, as footage of students waving while their bus is covered in ice is shown. Civilians are being shown rescued from a chopper in the ice on a news report. Social media is abuzz with a glimpse of an ice-slide. A website has a blurry image of Iceman with the headline “Dead, Alive or Cosplay?” A selfie on someone's phone is shown, with several people standing in front of two people covered in ice, and finally, a video of someone carrying a flower with the hashtags “love” and “xperience”.In San Francisco:'X-Gene detected!' a strange Nanosentinel announces as it and several others begin chasing a man down a busy street. 'Go! Get away from me!' the man shouts as he pushes through the crowd. 'Lure in progress' another Nanosentinel announces, while a third states that a tertiary target has been acquired. 'X-Gene? Like from Xperience? But I – I quit! I don't take that anymore!' the man exclaims as he dodges a blast from one of the Nanosentinels which tears a hole in his vest. Someone holds up their phone to record the attack. 'Tertiary target acquired. Lure in progress' a Nanosentinel states. 'Get – get off me! Get back!' the person holding their phone up calls out as the phone is changed into a Nanosentinel. Someone notices that blasts are falling from the sky, and that whatever technology the blasts land on, is transformed into a Nanosentinel. 'You heard them – they hunt mutants! They shouldn't be after us!' someone else calls out. 'I'm no mutant – are you? Is she?' someone asks as they run from the attack. 'Who cares who they're after if humans get caught in the crossfire!' another asks.'Get the hell inside!' a woman shrieks. 'Don't let it touch you! Don't let it touch anything!' someone else calls out as people continue to run in a panic. 'Wait, it... it's fine...they're still just headphones' a man utters as his headphones don't transform. 'This stuff is all – it's frozen. What is it?' he wonders, looking at the icy substance that forms in his hand. 'An entrance, dude. Classic, right?' a voice calls out. Everyone turns to see where a wall of ice has formed, and from it, rises Bobby Drake a.k.a. Iceman. The crowd look up in shock, some of them look angry as Iceman remarks 'So – death machines in the streets? Terror from the sky?' 'Funny, hero! This crap's just raining down!' a woman snaps, adding that it is turning their things into killer things. 'One mutant here's bad enough – now we've got two? Are you trying to get us killed?' a man asks. 'Muties are the only reason we're in trouble – you'll just make this worse!' the angry woman shouts, before Bobby hears someone calls for help, and a Nanosentinel can be heard stating 'X-Gene newly detected. Primary target acknowledged. Hunt in progress'.“Primary target?” Bobby quotes. 'Thanks for the warm reception' he mumbles, while the target of the Nanosentinels continue to chase after the man they identified as a mutant. 'Retasking forces' one of the Nanosentinels states. 'Retasking? Good – go! Follow the other ones! Stop chasing me!' the man shouts at the Nanosentinels, as the Nanosentinels turn their attention on Iceman, and fly towards him. 'You brought them back!' one of the civilians shouts. 'I'll handle them, too. I'd say “freeze,” but, you know... don't move. Deal?' Bobby responds as he unleashes a wave of ice that rushes across the Nanosentinels as they approach, freezing them all before they can reach him.However, some of the Nanosentinels are still chasing after the man they have identified as a mutant. 'I – I'm clean, okay? Clean! Just leave me alone!' he shouts as he continues to run – then suddenly, he trips and falls. 'I'm not a damn mutant! Not anymore! Please!' he pleads as the Nanosentinels begin to form a larger Sentinel, and looms over him. 'X-Gene newly detected' the Nanosentinel states, while the man claims that was in another life, in the past. The Nanosentinel is about to strike – before it is engulfed in ice and frozen solid. 'Cool' the man smiles. 'You said it – not me!' Iceman replies as he smashes through the frozen Nanosentinel. 'You good?' Iceman asks as the man gets to his feet. 'Those drones were after mutants. I...I think it's the Xperience' the man explains, revealing that he used to take it, and that it gives you a quick hit of mutant powers – like for fun – or sex. 'Been years...but they say it stays in your system' the man adds.'Recreational mutant gifts. How could that ever go bad?' Iceman asks as he extends a hand towards the man. 'But it didn't... you showed up. You saved me' the man smiles. Iceman tells him that Orchis wants to have fun, but he refuses to let them. 'Call it my hobby – that and melting hearts' Bobby jokes. He smiles at the man and introduces himself as Iceman: 'Infamous mutant. Attention-getter. Primary target'. The man replies by saying 'I know' before he and Bobby grab each other and kiss. Some in the crowd gathered around them smile, others look unimpressed, someone records them. The kiss lasts for some time, before Bobby tells the man that he would love to stay. 'But you know how it is, guys like me...always over too soon'. Bobby then disappears as his form shifts to water vapor, leaving the man to touch his lips as Bobby vanishes.1,200 miles above Earth is the Bloom, the orbital base of the organization called Orchs. 'My ears are distressingly unfed, people. San Francisco. A report, if you don't mind?' an Orchis official addressed as Agent Pequod calls out as he sits in the command chair. One of the Orchis agents informs Agent Pequod that the Pollen Cloud performed well, up to a point. Another reveals that the Nanosentinels detected a lure mutant likely to attract the primary target, and fell from above, converting inorganic material into hunter drones on contact. A third office reports that the attack on the lure began one minute after detection, and neutralization was in progress. 'Until the Primary Target' Agent Pequod remarks as he watches footage of Iceman. 'Until Iceman turned them to freeze-dried dust. This...this is less than thrilling, people. We're here to covertly cleanse Earth's extant mutants. That's how the promotion comes!' Agent Pequod exclaims. He points out that Iceman insists on being their primary obstacle, and as such as their primary target. 'A death cloud? We can do better. I want new pitches on my desk – today!' Pequod declares. Two agents look at each other nervously as Pequod tells them that as drastic as Drake's methods are, if they can't kill Robert Drake... it might finally be time to call in the Cleaner.Meanwhile, in Antarctica, at the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility. A large ice-castle has been created, which towers above the icy wasteland, as a snow storm blows across. Footprints can be seen in the snow, and legs begin to form, as Iceman begins to reconstitute himself. By the time he reaches the doors of the ice-castle, his body has completely reformed. He slams a fist on the door, then “melts” his way through the door, like phasing through, while remarking 'That...was a close one'. He collapses to the floor, and tells himself that he loves pushing it. 'But hell, near death doesn't mean much...if you're not living' Bobby decides. 'And who's living...if they're not kissing the guy with the shoulders and the face?' he asks.Bobby snaps his fingers and snow begins to form in the boots that are nearby, and once of Bobby's ice-golems form. 'Little help, Clyde?' Bobby asks, and the snowy golem extends a hand to pull Bobby to his feet. 'I know, dude, I know. Don't give me that look – it was totally worth it' Bobby remarks, looking at the golem, who doesn't really have a face. Bobby declares that he got out into the world, flexed his stuff and met new friends to captivate, while dodging another Orchis bullet with a wink and a smile. 'They sure try!' Bobby exclaims, before deciding that he has come a long way from class clown. 'They said it, not me', he adds, to becoming Earth's star fugitive and hydrator of Arrako. 'Or Mars, if you're lame' he adds. Walking down a corridor lined with framed photos of Bobby at various stages in his life, Bobby remarks that he is modest.'Who am I kidding? After all I've done... modesty feels like hiding. And that's how Orchis wants us. Hidden. Scared. Quiet. People like us that way. Not everyone. But enough'. Bobby states, adding that there is a whole new world these days. 'Their world, almost. But I'm still here... even if Orchis almost got me at the Hellfire Gala!' Bobby exclaims.(in flashback images)Bobby remembers Nimrod injecting him with a cellular napalm, which hurt, like nothing he's ever felt before. But what's worse, Bobby decides, is that it was so quick, the pain took over, he could barely think. His cells were boiling to nothing, and the only thought he had was how much it sucked that Romeo was there. If that was the end of everyone's friendly neighborhood Iceman, well, then it wasn't him who'd have to live with it – it was Romeo.But Romeo kept going, which is a good thing. Bobby knows that he has been called an airhead plenty of times. But this time? Well, spread thin doesn't begin to cover it – that's if he was alive at all. Everyone thought he was gone, even what telepaths they had left. Everyone but Romeo. Romeo is Bobby's lighthouse, his empath. The more Romeo connects to someone, the more he feels for them, the more his power can affect them. Bobby didn't have any thoughts to speak of, but feelings, well, there was still just enough out there. Enough for when Romeo journeyed to Antarctica he literally “felt” for Bobby, and from those feelings he was able to pull Bobby back together. Romeo was the last face Bobby saw – and the first. 'Hey. You're late for the after-party' Romeo joked. 'That doesn't sound like me' Bobby smiled back.(present)'Speak up, Clyde – think he knows I'm back?' Bobby asks his mute golem as he opens another door. 'I know you're back, Bobby. I'm staring at your empathic display' a voice calls out from within the other room. 'Right – totally. Your little Iceman icon was just -' Bobby begins, to which Romeo asks Bobby if he is talking to that frumpy minion that he makes for himself. 'What? No' Bobby calls back, snapping his fingers he makes the ice-golem collapse into snow. 'Sorry, buddy. See you soon' Bobby frowns. As Bobby steps into the other room, Romeo can be heard telling Bobby that this is his life, his stronghold made of his ice – it's all him. 'And I know how you want it to be like before. And here? Close to me? It's easy to hold yourself together. But out there, you've got no anchor -' Romeo is interrupted as Bobby tells him that he gets it.'Do you? Because every single time you leave, you push the clock. I see it – feel it on my “Iceman icon.” You can't stay solid for long' Romeo utters. 'Sure. But you tell that to the people in Orchis' sights. Besides...I've got you to hold me together' Bobby remarks as he approaches Romeo, who sits on an ice throne, emapthic energies drifting around him. 'My King' Bobby calls out. 'That's absolutely not my job description' Romeo responds. 'And yet – there's your throne' Bobby points out, before assuring Romeo that he couldn't do this without him. Bobby adds that he couldn't be here without Romeo, as Romeo senses the crises, and points him where he is needed. 'I'm not just here for you. People like Orchis don't stop. First it's mutants. Now it's semi-mutants like Xperience users. Soon, it'll be Inhumans like me. Then what?' I won't let there be a “then what!”' Romeo declares.Bobby looks at Romeo and tells him that he loves the tough talk, and that for the next hour, he thinks he knows where he is needed the most. 'An hour? Since when do you need to repeat yourself four times?' Romeo asks. 'That's cold' Bobby smiles.In the Bloom, Agent Pequod tells his Orchis operatives that he read all of their pitches, which are gutter trash, and so they are going with his. 'Understood' one of the operatives responds, informing Pequod that they ran the numbers and projections look good. 'In most outcomes, the added personal stressors you suggest bring Iceman down' another agent adds. 'It's called lateral thinking, people. I can smell the promotion, can you?' Pequod remarks, before telling the others that one could say Robert Drake is a god – he certainly acts like one. But he was born, he was raised, he has a family, a childhood, all nice words for pressure points. 'We can't move forward with him alive. So forget mutant lures – go for the heart.' Pequod suggests they go for Iceman's home, Fort Washington, his mother, Madeline Drake. 'Praise be to Director Devo's discretionary budget. In an hour, we'll have a squad of tricked-out synthetic troops on site... in Iceman's old backyard. Long Island.There, in Fort Washington, Long Island, New York. Madeline Drake stands on the path leading up to her house as the sun rises over the neighborhood. Suddenly, the sky turns dark and a tornado appears. Trash is blown down the street, and Madeline braces herself as the winds push against her. Neighbors gather around and someone records on their phone as strange beings emerge from the tornado.Agent Pequod remarks that Drake has spent his life mastering two elements – Hydrogen and Oxygen. 'What do you think he'll do against the other 116? Good luck to the god of ice against Helium, the Unfreezable Man... and his Elements of Doom!'