[Assistant]
Sixth story: Colossus  -  Seventh story: Good Judy  -  Eighth story: Early Thaw  -  Ninth story: The Man I Know  -  Tenth story: The Grey Ladies  -  Eleventh story: You Deserve  -  Twelfth story: Man of His Dreams
(6th story)'I mean, you're all “Mutant Culture is the Greatest Culture” now, but a NY slice? This is civilization's apex right here. Behold the alliance of cheese and grease, of David Alleyne! Your fiendish Krakoan science will never find its match!' Tommy Shepherd a.k.a. Speed jokes as he and David Alleyne a.k.a. Prodigy stand on the corner of a sidewalk, both holding a large slice of New York style pizza. David ignores Tommy's joking and asks him when he knew he was bi. 'I'm bi? Oh no! I had no idea!' Tommy responds, wide-eyed. David rolls his eyes and tells Tommy that he is trying to be serious. 'I know you are' Tommy smiles. 'And I think you think too much' he adds. They begin to walk down the sidewalk as Tommy explains that it wasn't a big deal for him – he crushed on who he crushed on and worried about what label fit later. 'Got to be honest, never did much worrying about the labels either. Or anything else, really' he adds. Tommy tells David that everything is easy when you don't think too much, as life is too short to waste time thinking.
'God, I wish I could be like that' David replies, glancing away. 'Well, that's normal. The whole world wishes they could be the wonder that is Tommy Shepherd' Tommy boasts, before asking 'Okay, Davey. Tell me. Tell me your ORIGIN STORY!' he exclaims, waving some pizza towards David. David explains that he spent the most hormonal years of his life in the X-Mansion. 'People will talk about having a crush on one of their teachers, right? Imagine if your teachers looked like the X-Men!' he exclaims. 'Oh, I am!' Tommy purrs, causing David to shove his hand into Tommy's face to get him to stop. 'Oh, please! It's not like that. Yeah, I imagine for adults, the X-Men are bisexual heaven, but not when you're in a hormonal hell. Imagine trying to pay attention when Emma Frost is your teacher. And the first time Colossus walked into the room, it was... I didn't have words, and I have all the words!' David exclaims, remembering that time. 'So, being me, I did research. You know me. I'm the sort to read around. A mistake'.
David tells Tommy that there is still some research claiming bi men don't exist, and that there was a paper saying bi men they tested registered either straight or gay. 'So... was I pretentious, or was I in denial?' David asks. Tommy throws his napkin into a nearby trashcan and tells David that this is why strongly recommends against reading. 'I may agree in this case' David mutters, before explaining that he looks at it now, and he can see why it is crappy science, and completely against how so many people live their lives...but then, when I didn't have a clue? It was poison'. David tells Tommy that he didn't want to be pretentious, as he knew he liked girls, so he was straight, and was close with Surge – but the problem with being bi, for him, is that it is easy to think you are straight – you just have to ignore everything that isn't.
David narrows his eyes as he informs Tommy that he did ignore everything for a while, and that he wonders how long that “while” could have lasted if it weren't for what happened next. Tommy listens as David explains that his powers let him have the expertise of everyone near him, and while he lost  that power for a while, at one point, everything he had ever borrowed was unlocked – he had access to everything at once – and this time, he got more. He got the perspectives, he got a taste of how people saw the world, saw each other and how they felt – not memories, just feeling. How they loved. How they lusted – and everything in between. He got to compare and contrast – what was similar and what wasn't. 'Don't give me that kind of look! I know it's weird...' David starts to tell Tommy, who speeds around to the other side of David and exclaims 'It is! That's why you have  to give me more than just hand waving. Example! Now!'
'Oh, right. Kitty Pryde. The pang was hers, and my pang was mine, but I recognized they were a similar species. By understanding her, I felt seen. I saw myself' David explains, smiling. Tommy then asks David why Colossus is called “Colossus”. 'He's got a real name. Like Ivanov Russianov or something, right?' Tommy remarks. 'Shuddup' David tells him, putting his hand on Tommy's face. 'I got perspective. I feel lucky. Thank god for other people. We'd all be alone without other people' David remarks. Tommy speeds around to the other side of David again, as David asks 'Who knows how many years it could have taken me to figure it out without that moment'. 'Yup. For a smart person, you're plenty dumb' Tommy tells David. David glances sideways and remarks that he hopes it is easier for the next generation. 'I had a lot of great mutant representation coming up, but not nearly enough queer rep' David explains. 'Hey, now you're both. Don't worry, Davey. Thanks for sharing your awful teenage Colossus crush. I understand what you're trying to tell me' Tommy assures his boyfriend. They hold hands and David thanks Tommy, before they kiss. 'You're saying you want me to go to the gym. No!' Tommy then snaps, while David rolls his eyes.
(7th story)The Green Lagoon, Krakoa, where Victor Borkwoski a.k.a. Anole is behind the bar, making a drink. Jonas Graymalkin sits at the bar while other mutants at the Green Lagoon dance nearby. 'How about it, Gray? Another?' Anole asks his friend. As Gambit and Rogue dance behind him, Graymalkin smiles and tells his friend that would be terrific, but should also be his last one, as this dance party is exactly what he needs – this drink, not so much. 'Things have been tense, lately. It's easy to forget what we are fighting for' Graymalkin adds. As he shakes a drink, Anole asks his friend what he means. 'This is what we fight for, Victor' Graymalkin replies, motioning to the dancefloor, where Monet, Iceman and Christian Frost can be seen dancing together. 'For the right to dance and get trashed so bad you wake up with the worst hangover you've ever had?' Anole asks. 'For the right to celebrate, to be happy with family and friends. Take it from someone who spent two centuries underground – we fight for the right to live the way we want' Jonas explains, while nearby, Wolverine can be seen pointing his finger at Cyclops, possibly arguing, as Jean Grey looks on. 'To be ourselves in the light. To be safe' Jonas utters.
'Let me guess, Jonas. Victor is being detached and sullen yet again' Megan Gwynn a.k.a. Pixie smiles as she approaches the bar. 'Aren't bartenders supposed to be charming or good listener or something?' Megan asks. Victor smiles and claims that he is very charming. 'The Shadow King and all the misfit mutants wouldn't spend so much time with me if I weren't, right?' he asks, before telling Megan that if he had some help putting those glasses away, that might lift his mood. Megan goes behind the bar to help Victor, while Jonas tells him that they are just worried about him. Jonas points out that Victor seems to have closed himself off to the idea of ever meeting someone. 'When is the last time you went out on a date?' he asks. Anole looks shocked, before folding his arms and rolling his eyes as he replies 'What would we even do on a date around Krakoa?' As she stacks some glasses, Megan points out that they are on an island – so he can literally go for a romantic walk on the beach. At that moment, Jean Grey can be seen turning away from Cyclops and Wolverine as they appear to argue, with Wolverine popping his claws.
'I don't know. I haven't really pursued anything lately because I don't want to get my hopes up only to find out some guy can't deal with how I look' Victor explains. He tells his friends that he is sick of someone thinking they are interested then finding out his skin isn't soft, or they are turned off by how bumpy his arm is. 'I can't do anything about that' Victor adds. Jonas tells him that he has  to put himself out there, and that there are plenty of men who would love to go out with him if he just opens up a bit. 'Oh yeah? And when was the last time you opened up and went out with someone, huh?' Victor asks. 'Last week' Jonas replies. 'What? Really? You didn't tell me anything!' Victor complains. 'I will' Jonas responds, before telling Victor that he hopes he knows that he is his best friend, and that he wants him to feel loved and desired. 'I can't tell you what it means to have someone who understands me. I'd never have been able to adjust to this time if it hadn't been for you' Jonas explains.
Victor flicks Jonas with a towel, before they hold hands and look into each other's eyes. 'I love you. I'm so grateful to have a gay friend to talk to, and that it's you. It's so important to me' Victor tells Jonas. 'I love you right back' Jonas replies.
Suddenly: 'Hey, you going to be stuck behind the bar all night, or do you want to come dance with me?' a voice calls out. Victor, Jonas and Megan look over to see Akihiro a.k.a. Daken walking towards them – shirtless, of course. Victor tells Megan that she can go dance and he will finish up the dishes, but Daken smiles at him: 'No. Not her. You' he explains. 'No offense, Megan' he adds. 'None taken' Megan smiles. 'Me? But I thought you were with Aurora' Victor replies, confused. Daken points out that it is just a dance. 'I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious about that tongue, but if that's a no...' Daken smiles. 'Go. I'll cover the bar' Megan smiles as she pushes Victor towards Daken. At gthat moment, Jean Grey can be smiling as Cyclops and Wolverine hug.
'So what do you say, handsome? Want to dance?' Daken asks, smiling as he extends a hand to Victor. 'Sure. But only if Jonas can dance with us' Anole replies, pointing at Graymalkin. 'The more the merrier' Daken replies as he takes Anole in one hand and Graymalkin in his other. The lights flicker and music continues to play as the three men move onto the dancefloor. Jean Grey can be seen dancing with Cyclops and Wolverine. Nearby, Christian Frost, Storm, Jubilee, Gambit and Rogue are all dancing. Mirage, Monet, Bling, Iceman and Chamber are dancing together, too, while Graymalkin and Anole both smile as they dance with Daken.
(8th story)Meanwhile, at Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters...
'Make them tighter, Bobby! The soft gauze construction prevents the bands from chafing!' Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Angel calls out to Bobby Drake a.k.a. Iceman, as Bobby kneels beside Warren, adjusting the straps around his legs that keep his wings restrained, pinned to his back and down his legs. 'How do you stand it, Warren? It must feel like wearing a girdle!' Bobby tells his friend. 'That may be, little friend – but it's better than giving away my identity to the human race!' Warren replies. Bobby stands up and adjusts the straps around Warren's shoulders as he remarks 'If you ask me, nobody would care if they found out about us!' Warren brushes Bobby off: 'Nobody asked you, sonny! Juist keep taping!'
Warren puts a shirt on and starts to adjust his tie as Bobby watches him and asks him how come his parents don't know about his wings. 'They didn't sprout till I was off at military school' Warren explains, adding that when he was there, he just kept them under his uniform – at first. He explains that is why he left school, because he couldn't afford to face a phyiscal exam. Bobby sits on the bed in the bedroom and rests his head on his knee which he pulls up to his face. 'Do you really think it would be that bad if we told? If people knew?' Bobby asks as he watches Warren comb his hair. 'That'd be the end for the school... for us...' Warren responds.
Suddenly: 'All set, high flyer?' Jean Grey a.k.a. Marvel Girl asks as she enters the room. 'The Professor's right... the world isn't ready' Warren tells Bobby, leaving Bobby alone in a dark room, sitting on the bed and hanging his head.
Another day: 'Wow' Bobby gasps as he watches Warren fly up out of the school swimming pool. The sun glows down on Warren, his wings outstretched, water glistening on his muscular body. Bobby sits on the edge of the swimming pool, hanging his legs in the water. He looks over as Angel drops down to the side of the pool and starts talking to Jean. They smile at each other and embrace – and suddenly, the entire pool turns to ice.
Yet another day: 'Now we will see, Xavier, how firm are your foundations... when the wolf is at your door!' Magneto, the Master of Magnetism, exclaims as he flies towards the Xavier School, several missiles under his control. 'The time is come at last, Charles – to make you – understand?' Magneto begins, suddenly finding himself distracted as he looks down and sees Bobby, sitting near a statue surrounded by trees, away from the main campus. Bobby is crying, and rubs the tears from his eyes.
'Don't be afraid' Magneto calls out as he lowers himself down towards Bobby. 'Holy geez!' Bobby calls out, surprised. 'Despite your headmaster constantly flinging them at me... I have no wish to harm children' Magneto remarks.
'You literally just had... missiles?' Bobby remarks, still crying. Magneto tells him that sometimes missiles are how grown-ups talk. 'What is your name?' Magneto then asks. Bobby sniffs as he tells the Master of Magnetism his name. 'I'm... DIFFERENT. And... I... It's... I know...' Bobby begins, putting his head into his arms as he continues to cry. Tears stream down his face as he looks back up, and turns away from Magneto as he utters 'It's a secret, it's not safe, and I don't want... he's so beautiful and he's... nice and I don't... I don't...' Bobby's voice trails off.
'Oh, Charles' Magneto sighs. He removes his helmet and crouches beside Bobby. 'I have been different all my life, child. Not like... well. But it is a thorny and lonely road to walk. Especially for the young' Magneto tells Bobby. Bobby wipes his eyes and looks at Magneto as the older mutant remarks 'We differ in methods. And it will never be “safe.” It never is. But we will make a better future. A future less lonely for the different'. Magneto continues, stating that they will make a brave new world – and promises this to Bobby.
'Sorry about your missiles' Bobby remarks. 'Well. There will be other missiles' Magneto replies. 'And I think I got snot all on your cape' Bobby adds. Magneto starts to say that he should go before Charles detects him. 'He's... um. Actually not even home' Bobby reveals. 'Oh. Then perhaps I can stay a little longer. If you like' Magneto tells the younger mutant. 'Can I try on your hat?' Bobby then asks. Magneto looks at him and smiles, before putting his helmet on Bobby. 'Awesome' Bobby smiles from under the helmet.
(9th story)'My name is Kyle Jinadu, and I love this man' Kyle smiles to himself as he wakes, his husband Jean-Paul Beaubier in his arms. Kyle looks at his husband and thinks that people don't appreciate him – they see Northstar's cocky exterior and ask if he is  a jerk at home. 'They don't know my Jean-Paul'. Jean-Paul wakes and gets out of bed. Yawning as he rubs his muscular behind, covered by boxer-briefs that say “Ice Ice Baby” and have a picture of a snowman. 'They don't understand your sense of humor...your passion...or how bold you are when picking your moments to express yourself' Kyle thinks to himself as he sits up in bed, Jean-Paul turning to him and smiling.
As he sets out Jean-Paul's costume, Kyle thinks to himself that all sincere support should be appreciated – but even the X-Men don't always understand when Jean-Paul needs support, let alone how to support him. Kyle gets it – and he wants to be Jean-Paul's most fortified supporter in the storm of life. Northstar emerges from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. He smiles – then speeds about as he changes into the costume that Kyle set out for him. And like always, as Jean-Paul hugs Kyle, Kyle tells him 'Your love is beautiful, so don't be a jerk to people'. Northstar smiles, then flies out of their treehouse home on Krakoa as Kyle calls out 'Now got get 'em, you sexy elf!' and Northstar grins from ear to ear.
(10th story)Outside London, circa 1900, where the moon shines down from the night sky, as a train chugs along a set of tracks nestled between trees on a mountain. 'May I pour you a drink, Miss Adler?' a middle-aged man asks as he sits in a large red arm-chair. A chessboard is set out on a table between his chair and another red armchair, where Irene Adler sits. 'Tea will do, Professor Mo-' Irene Adler starts to reply, before he quickly interrupts her: 'Oh, my dear...How many times must I insist you call me James?' he asks her, before suggesting that he thinks she will want something stronger for tonight's game. 'White opens, of course' he adds. Irene clasps her hands together as she asks James if he intends to play a particularly mean game tonight. 'I would never go easy on your brilliant mind, Irene' James replies – to which Irene tells him to call her “Miss Adler”. Irene then moves her first pawn on the chess board. 'Tsk. Terrible opener' James tells her. Irene tells James that she isn't concerned, and that she has studied a bit of chess. 'I know how this ends' she utters.
James moves his first pawn and states that he will speak plainly. He remarks that as intellectuals and detectives in this fine country, they have long had a mutual respect for one another, and a disdain for criminals and killers. 'I do enjoy our chess games' he comments, before pointing out that Irene's consulting partner, a woman named Raven Darkholme – sometimes. 'She has a great many identities, and they're all very good. But she's been sloppy' James declares. 'I assure you she hasn't' Irene responds. Irene is about to make her next chess move, but James motions for her hand to move away and declares 'Oh, she has. And she has something I want'. He places two photographs on the chessboard. 'Don't let her feel shame – I have come into possession of some marvelous new technology. She couldn't have seen it coming. Nobody could have seen this coming. Especially not you'. The photographs depict Irene Adler and a blue-skinned woman – Raven Darkholme – locked in embrace and kissing.
'I suppose you can't see anything, so let me explain: These are photographs. But none you sat to have made. Someone watched you. You and Raven. And seeing what sort of monster she is, they saw fit to capture the image'. Irene offers no response, her small dark glasses covering her eyes. 'You'll have to trust me... it's quite damning. Not for anything so foolish as your relationship with her. Your inversion is of no interest to me' James remarks. He smiles as he tells Irene that as she is without sight, he is willing to offer her the benefit of the doubt. 'The woman you proclaim to love is no woman at all. She is a monster with eyes like a snake. But I offer you salvation' James claims. As Irene reaches to take the photographs, James offers to keep the “monster” at his estate for academic study. He tells Irene that she will be permitted to see her from time to time. 'After all, you will be living on the same property – as my wife'.
Suddenly, James reaches across and grabs Irene's hand: 'And what is your plan? To take this photograph and run? We were in the middle of a game' he snaps, before informing Irene that it is her move. Irene offers no response, she simply moves another of her pawns onto the board. 'You are rattled. Opening me to the fool's mate?' James asks, moving one of his pieces, he tells Irene that this is the easiest win in chess. 'Checkmate' he boasts. But, a moment later, Raven Darkholme reveals herself – she has been disguised as Irene. 'Keep your eyes on your little board, James. It's the only game you're going to win' Raven declares. 'Witch!' James utters. 'Dangerous monster!' James calls out, but Raven tells him that he has no idea what she is. She pushes the table aside and leaps onto James, grabbing his neck, she warns him that he is even more foolish because he has no idea what Irene is. 'You never were a move ahead of Destiny' Raven utters as she wraps her arms around James' face. 'No-' James begins – before Raven snaps his neck. A moment later, she hurls his body out one of the train windows, where it falls down into a ravine. 'No one ever is' Raven adds.
'Raven? Is it done?' the real Irene Adler asks as Raven returns to their room within the train. 'It's done. Of course, it's done, Irene' Raven replies. 'I would do...anything for you' Raven utters as she puts a hand on Irene's. Raven then kneels at Raven's feet and rests her head on Raven's legs. 'Never for me, Raven. Not me. Only for us. Another one who thought he was ahead of us. They always do' Irene reminds Raven. Raven looks up at Irene and puts a hand on her face as she asks her 'Will they ever learn? When will it end?' But Irene tells her beloved that she cannot see that it will. 'Then... let us never waste a moment that we are not at war' Raven replies, leaning into kiss Irene, who kisses back, passionately, causing her cup of tea to fall to the floor.
(11th story)Mars, or Planet Arakko as it is now known, where the Hellfire Gala after-party is in full swing. Polaris and Daken can be seen crossing the dancefloor, walking past Gambit and Northstar. Rictor can be seen walking in another direction, near where Synch and Aurora are dancing. Warpath is talking to one of the Stepford Cuckoos at the bar, while at the other end of the bar Warlock is talking with Sunfire and Kwannon – probably puzzling them both. Magik is at another end of the bar and looks over to see Karma a.k.a. Xi'an Coy Mahn sitting on her own. Magik gets up and walks towards her friend, passing Nightcrawler dancing with Mercury, and Synch, who has moved on to dance with Beast and Domino. Karma sighs, while Magik stands behind her and tells her to go ask Elle to dance before her pining sprains something. Karma is looking at Gabrielle “Elle” Diwa a.k.a Galura, a winged mutant who smiles as she dances near Pixie and Manifold.
'What? No – absolutely not, I – I can't!' Karma exclaims, turning to look at Magik. Why not? What's the problem?' Magik asks as she holds up two drinks. Karma hangs her head as she thinks about Elle. She tells Magik that Elle is graceful and charming, that she could have anyone and she knows that – but she's never arrogant or cruel about it. 'She knows exactly what she wants, and she doesn't bother wasting time. And I can't live up to what she deserves. I'm just... me' Karma laments. Magik hands Karma one of the drinks and tells her: 'First of all, that's absolute bull$#%&. You may not be as pure as the newly driven snow, but you are a good person. Secondly, it is not that serious – she's not, you're a catch and it's not like you're trying to get married'. Magik knocks back her drink and utters 'Unless...' to which Karma exclaims 'What? No! I just, with the things I've done, it seems... pointless'.
'That sounds defeatist and boring, and I won't stand for it!' Magik snaps as she snatches Karma's drink back out of her hand. Magik tells Karma to go ask Elle, or else she will play matchmaker. 'And believe me when I say no one wants that, because I will tell her every embarassing story I know about you' Magik warns Karma. 'I – I – I just can't, okay? If it happened, it wouldn't be real' Karma tells Magik, grabbing her by her arm. 'Because...?' Magik asks. 'Because I want it so badly. Elle's beautiful, intelligent, kind and when I look at her, she's so radiant, it hurts' Karma utters, looking at her hands. 'My desire, my feelings, are so powerful that they feel like a living thing in my chest. Sometimes I can barely breathe when I think about her'. Karma looks up at Magik as she reminds her that her powers are literally to control other people – to take their will, and replace it with her own. 'I would never want to do that to her, but what if I don't realize I'm doing it? What if I take away her choice?' Karma asks. 'That is... the most ludicrous garbage I have ever heard' Magik replies, putting her hands on Karma's head.
They look out to the middle of the dancefloor, where Elle continues to dance, surrounded by Iceman, Monet, Rogue, Nightcrawler, Mercury, Gambit, Northstar, Polaris and Daken. Magik puts and arm around Karma as she remarks 'You've done things you aren't proud of. That's true, and we aren't in the business of pretending bad things didn't happen. But you are a good person, and you are in control of yourself. You've fought long and hard for it. And – just as important – you have to be truthful about the fact that others did evil to you. Being vulnerable in any way brings that up to the surface, too'. Magik smiles as she reminds Karma that Krakoa is about new beginnings and second chances. 'You said you want her to be free to choose – so mutant up and give her options!' Magik declares. Karma listens intently, while bending a straw. She then stands up and strides across the dancefloor in her couture pink dress. Magik smiles and folds her arms as she watches Karma.
Karma passes Nightcrawler and rogue, and Magneto, Aurora and Khora, then Storm. Sweat forms on her face as she looks over and sees Elle dancing with Kate Pryde, Betsy Braddock and Jubilee. She approaches Elle and taps her on her shoulder. 'Ahem. Excuse me, but I was wondering if -' Karma begins, as Elle turns around and smiles. 'Yes' Elle replies, as Karma finishes speaking '- you maybe want to, uh, after this, go on a da-'. Karma is surprised as Elle wraps an arm around her and leans her face in towards Karma's. 'I already said yes, Xi'an. About time you asked'. Elle touches Karma's face and asks her if that is okay. 'Yes? Yes' Karma replies, before they kiss. Music continues to play as Jubilee dances with Gambit, Jean Grey and Cyclops cross the dancefloor, and Magik raises her glass and smiles as Karma and Elle continue to kiss and dance.
(12th story)Inside the Arbor Magna resurrection chamber on Krakoa. 'Here you are, Akihiro. Strange to find you so distracted by someone... who isn't me' Jeanne-Marie Beaubier a.k.a. Aurora remarks as she approaches the shirtless Daken who is sitting in front of a pod within the hatchery. Aurora wraps her arms around Daken and asks him who he is waiting for. 'Is it a secret?' she asks him. Daken tells Aurora that everyone has secrets. 'He's one... from a different life' Daken utters.
Memories flood Daken's mind as he remembers being naked and kissing Carl Valentino, and recalls that he had just broken out of boot camp when he met him. Daken was sure he was in this alone – then there was Carl, a mutant, like him. They hid in Sendai, Daken's home. Soon enough, they stopped caring about hiding, and walked with their arms around each other in public. Dkans hackles were up for decades. Carl was patient – he wanted to know Daken – and Daken sure as hell made Carl work for it as they grew into old men together. They lived, and they were never found out. It felt like a dream that Daken didn't know he wanted – and then, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1967 – Daken woke up to a one-night stand.
Daken remembers looking at Carl who continued to sleep while Daken pulled his trousers on. Thanks to Carl's mutant power, one night together was a lifetime. Daken wasn't ready for that and he ran. Carl kept living – while Daken kept surviving. Things were different back then, Carl's parents died, so he raised his brother and his sister. Carl never made made time for himself, but with his powers, he carved out nights of happiness – so he never confronted the closet. Carl was an oneiromancer, who controlled dreams – but always put his family's before his own. Daken spent fifty years down in the blood, while Carl spent that time with people who loved him. But Daken didn't know him – he forgot about Carl until the obituary. If all the humans could mourn him, then Daken decides that he could stop running from him. He tells Aurora that the paper said Carl died peacefully, and lived a good life. But Daken thinks Carl deserves a better one. No one knew what they had. That night, that life – no one but them. 'Carl compromised his dreams... and he never should've had to'. Daken earlier visited the funeral, and once them mourners departed, he popped his claws as he stood next to the coffin.
Now, in the hatchery, Carl Valentino gasps as he is reborn, emerges from the orange pod, his naked body covered in the goo that all reborn mutants are covered in. Aurora kisses Daken on the cheek, while Carl looks around and asks 'Is... is this Krakoa? I – I remember news from before... was I dead? I didn't think I'd make it here' he calls out, before he looks over and sees Akihiro. 'I... I never thought I'd see you again' Carl utters. 'Never's a dead idea for our kind. Look around... you're just getting started, Carl' Daken smiles. Carl smiles back and exclaims that it is beautiful here, before he thanks Akihiro, and suggests that a new beginning calls for a new name – and he has got some ideas.
Soon, at the Green Lagoon. Carl is now wearing a white and black costume, with a long cape, the inside of which sparkles and glows with shades of yellow, orange, red and purple. He also wears a black mask around his eyes. Anole stands behind the bar and gazes over as Carl remarks 'Carl Valentine lived the hand he was dealt. He closed his eyes to rest, and he woke to see what dreams had come at last. He's awake – I'm finally awake – as SOMNUS!' Nearby, fashion designer Jumbo Carnation turns to Daken and remarks 'That man could get his hands on my dreams, Daken...some of my best work'. Jumbo asks Daken why all this for a fling from betond yesterday, as he doesn't seem the type. 'Please, Jumbo. What the hell good is Utopia... if you can't share it?' Daken replies, while Somnus smiles happily.


[Assistant]
Fifth story: Be Gay, Do Crime  -   Seventh story: Jumbo Carnation's Ultimate Creations  -   Eighth story: Today's Lesson
New Orleans, where a fabulous pride parade celebration is underway. An assortment of brightly-colored flags promoting the rainbow communities are waved, as musicians perform and people celebrate. Observing the event from a balcony nearby are Remy LeBeau a.k.a. Gambit and Felicia Hardy the Black Cat. 'Be honest with me, chere -' Remy begins, to which Felicia interrupts him and tells him that she resents the implication that she has ever been anything less than honest with anyone – ever. '... right. Sooooo, what really brings Felicia Hardy all the way to the Crescent City?' Gambit asks, curiously, which causes Felicia to remark that she thought that New Orleans was supposed to be “The Big Easy”. 'If you're a tourist, maybe' Gambit smiles. 'Ouch' Felicia responds, before informing Remy that it is easier here than in New York – none of her exes live here. 'Aha. There she is' Gambit remarks as Felicia drops down from the balcony.Gambit follows Felicia as she walks past a stall selling confectionery and swipes two large trans-pride colored lollipops. 'There who is?' Felicia asks. 'Heartbreak' Gambit explains. 'Please. My heart's made of adamantium' Felicia quickly responds. 'Oh?' Gambit asks. 'Wait. Crap. Not really' Felicia tells him, explaining that was a metaphor. 'Don't go around telling people I'm -' Felicia begins as she and Remy make their way through the crowd, and Gambit tells Felicia that he knows what she meant. Felicia then tells Remy that she isn't heartbroken. 'Why would I be?' she asks. 'Well, there's -' Gambit begins, to which Felicia asks 'What. The thing with Odessa Drake?' Gambit begins to tell her that he was thinking of Spider-Man, but Felicia claims that the thing with Odessa wasn't a big deal. 'I don't even like the New York Thieves Guild' Felicia adds, declaring that Odessa knew what she was getting into, that she knew there would never be a future between them. Felicia reveals that it was a one-night celebration – with maybe a few other celebrations after that.'When I say “Rigid,” you say “Conformity”!' a protestor nearby calls out, and supporters do as requested, while Gambit starts to ask 'Right, but how about Spider-M-' to which Felicia alerts Gambit to the protestors something on his right. 'Good catch' Remy notes. 'Just give 'em a little one' Felicia suggests. Gambit begins to charge the lollipop that Felicia gave him and he tosses it back above the anti-pride protestors. 'It's me. You can talk to me' Gambit assures Felicia, who points out that she has been talking. 'Okay, but how about you and Spider-Man?' Gambit enquires.  'Who? I didn't quite catch that. Did you say “Spider Gland”? Because mine's doing just fine, and -' Felicia responds, to which Gambit tells her that she is tougher than shoe leather. The lollipop suddenly explodes above the protestors, causing a sticky substance to drop down on them.Felicia looks somewhat downcast as she glances aside and tells Gambit that there is just nothing to say about Spider-Man. 'The two of us are...' her voice trails off. 'Are...?' Gambit asks. 'Nothing. We're nothing' Felicia utters, before telling Gambit that she thought he was going to show her how fun this city is. 'Ain't cha having a good time?' Gambit replies. 'Well, sure. But nothing that's made me want to stay' Felicia admits. 'To stay? You didn't mention you were considering relocation' Gambit responds, surprised. 'Didn't I?' Felicia asks, and Gambit suggests that if Felicia moves down here for good, she might see fit to join the Guild. 'The Thieves Guild? Why, I plumb forgot there was a New Orleans branch' Felicia claims. Gambit offers to show Felicia the Guild's headquarters, but tells her to keep her hands to herself. 'As if you even need to ask' Felicia responds casually.Shortly, Gambit and Felicia arrive at the Guild's headquarters, and Gambit informs Felicia that he used to be king of this joint – before the big remodel. “Used to?” Felicia quotes, before asking Remy what happened – but Remy tells her that yarn is too long to spin right now. Felicia takes a glass of champagne from a cloaked Guild member who stands nearby, holding of champagne, and Gambit remarks that he was the one who suggested they ought to have a bottle service. 'I love the way you think' Felicia grins. They continue on to the library, where Remy explains that it is full of reference texts and storage, and claims that he has Scott Summers' diary. 'Is it juicy?' Felicia asks, but Gambit claims that it ia drier than saltines. 'Ugh. Of course' Felicia mutters.They continue on through the Guild, and come to the vault, which is guarded by two Guild members. Gambit adds that he called ahead and had extra layers of protection added, on account of Felicia being in the building. 'You know, nobody ever talks about how sweet you are' Felicia replies, looking at vault, which is also surrounded by a laser system and chains. Shortly, they stand before a large statute of Candra, which Gambit calls the pride and joy of the Guild. Gambit tells Felicia that Candra is the Goddess of Thieves, and that this statue was cast in mysterium they lifted off Eden Rixlo. 'He still doesn't know we're the ones who took it' he adds, before motioning to the pool of water at Candra's feet and reveals that it is supposed to be the water of eternal life, flowing down from Candra to the Guild.Felicia looks wide-eyed at the statue and thanks Gambit for showing it to her. She then shoves Gambit's face into the water: 'Love you! Gotta go!' Felicia calls out as she leaps up the statue, then grabs the glistening red gem in the statue's hand. 'Chere, don't you dare!' Gambit calls out as he pulls himself from the water and looks up at Felicia. 'Sorry! No time to chat! I've gotta see a girl about a jewel' Felicia responds, as she suddenly finds herself transported trough the jewel into a chamber where a very large Candra sits on a throne, gold and jewels cover the entire floor of the chamber. 'Felicia Hardy' Candra remarks. 'I prefer Black Cat, if you don't mind' Felicia responds, while quietly telling herself that it worked. 'You seem surprised. Did you think you wouldn't find me?' Candra asks. 'I mean, everyone's been saying you're dead. But I figured, who stays dead these days?' Felicia responds.Candra tells Felicia that “dead” is a funny word, and explains that her mutant friends thought they could trap her in a magical gateway – a pathetic effort, as such toys will always crumble, and she will always return. 'Tell me, little cat, why have you come to me? What is it you seek?' Candra enquires. 'Well...' Felicia begins sheepishly. Candra stands, towering over Felicia, and tells her that she knows her kind – selfish, predictable, always wanting the same thing. 'What will it be, then?' Candra demands. 'Riches beyond the wildest limits of your tiny, fragile imagination?' Candra suggests, as she suddenly materializes and assortment of jewels on Felicia. 'I can get those any old time' Felicia boasts. 'Eternal life?' Candra proposes. 'Ugh. Been there. No thanks' Felicia responds. Candra asks Felicia if she would like her loved ones, returned from beyond the veil. An image of Felicia's long-dead father appears, but Felicia tells Candra that she still needs a little space from him.'Then it can only be one thing, and my answer is no' Candra frowns. 'What?' Felicia exclaims. 'You've come to try to get me to take the New York Thieves Guild back into my good graces. I will not' Candra declares sternly. Felicia pauses, before bursting into laughter, then informing Candra that is not why she is here. 'Good one, though' she adds. 'I...do not often experience confusion' Candra frowns as she reduces her size down to that of Felicia's. 'I'm not here for any of that' Felicia assures Candra. 'I'm here for you' she announces. 'Yes. For an audience with me' Candra notes. 'Not quite an audience. I was thinking something more like...a date' Felicia reveals as she takes Candra by her hand and kisses her. 'What?' Candra snaps. 'You know. Me. You. Dinner and... whatever' Felicia offers. 'But aren't you in love with Sp-' Candra begins, but Felicia cuts her off: 'Just for fun. No strings attached'.Candra sits back down on her throne and remarks that she doesn't see what this would gain Black Cat, and states that she wouldn't grant additional favours, aside from her company. 'Oh, I can think of some favors we could grant each other' Felicia suggests, adding that there is no pressure, and that the company of a beautiful goddess who loves theft is all she asks. Black Cat leans into Candra and promises her 'Whatever you're into, I promise I'm good at it' and asks her what she says. Candra goes wide-eyed and is speechless.One week later, in New York City, Black cat sits on a gargoyle head that protrudes from a building overlooking a pride parade on the street below. 'So? What did she say?' Spider-Man asks as he drops down from above. 'For a guy with eight legs, you've sure got no manners' Felicia remarks. 'For the last time, the spider didn't give me invisible-leg powers. I always just have two' Spider-Man exclaims. 'That must be embarrassing for you' Felicia replies, before telling Spider-Man that there is no way that she can answer his question. 'A lady doesn't kiss and tell!' Felicia grins.Seventh story:'Thank you so much for taking this on at the eleventh hour' Northstar remarks as he appears on a video call. 'You're a lifesaver, Jumbo!' Viv Vision and America Chavez join in and say with Northstar, all three of them on separate video calls, on separate phones – all held up by the multi-limbed costume designer Jumbo Carnation. A chicken perched on Jumbo's shoulder wears a rainbow-colored vest, and remarks 'That's three super heroes who need last-minute outfits. The Pride Fashion show is in less than twenty-four hours. What the cluck are you going to do?' the chicken exclaims. Jumbo glances at the chicken and reminds them that his last boss was Emma Frost. 'I know how to cope under pressure!' Jumbo suggests that the flow of caffeinated products commences, and points out that if they can pull this off on Drag Race with a paltry two arms, then this will be a breeze to make Jumbo Carnation's ultimate creations! 'Send in the first super hero!' Jumbo exclaims, waving a fan in one hand.'I can't believe I let you talk me into this, Bishop' America Chavez complains to Kate Bishop, while Jumbo measures her. Kate sits on a seat nearby, with the chicken at her side, perching a champagne glass on the chicken's head. Kate reminds America that she has been moping about her ex Ramone like it is a full-time job. 'We agreed you need to step out of your comfort zone' she reminds her. 'You agreed. I was just in the vicinity at the time' America responds. America glances at Jumbo and asks if it can be demin, before telling him that it has to have pockets – non-negotiable. 'Pockets? My sweet beloved, this is high couture! What could you possibly need pockets for?' Jumbo asks, shocked. 'Where else is a lady supposed to keep her pocket bacon?' America asks, matter of factly.A short time later, 'Ladies and chicken-men, the category is... Boricua Realness!' Jumbo exclaims. 'She's giving glamour, she's serving...pocket bacon?' Jumbo declares as America appears wearing her denim blue, white and red costume, complete with...pocket bacon sticking out of her jean short pockets. 'Okay, you win, Bishop. I look awesome. Ramone who?' America smiles. 'NEXT!' Jumbo calls out.Viv Vision appears and Jumbo notes that she seems a little distracted. Viv Vision tells Jumbo that she is sorry that this is all so last minute, and that she isn't even sure she should be taking part in the fashion show. 'Why would you say that?' Jumbo asks. Viv confesses to only ever dating one girl, and explains that she is just starting to figure out it all out. 'I don't even know that I really belong at a pride event' Viv adds, before asking if it is too late to back out. Jumbo tells Viv that being queer isn't about notches on your bedpost, it's about how you feel inside. 'However... you'll be swatting the ladies away with your superhuman strength when they see you like this!' Jumbo exclaims as he provides Viv with her red, green and yellow geometric pattern. 'It's illogical, but somehow I feel 84% more confident than standard operating parameters' Viv smiles. 'How is that possible? It's just fabric' Viv points out. 'It's FASHION!' Jumbo shouts.Soon, Northstar and his husband Kyle are waiting nearby, while Jumbo is busy creating Northstar's outfit. A can of energy drink on one hand, Jumbo appears to be swearing and remarks 'Northstar, the fastest man alive, and I'm the one running around like a headless chicken'. The chicken, perched on Jumbo's shoulder, makes a BKOK noise, to which Jumbo remarks 'No offense, Mr. Cluck'. Northstar kisses his husband and thanks him for coming, adding that he knows all of this super-hero stuff can get a bit crazy sometimes. 'Literally one hundred percent of the times' Kyle smirks. 'Ready for your close-up, Mr. Beaubier?' Jumbo asks. Northstar appears wearing a black and white suit, with his trademark star symbols on the jacket and shoes. 'Let's move! Let's move! The show is about to start!' Northstar smiles and remarks 'X-Men, Alpha Flight, X-Factor. I've been a part of so many groups over the years. Sometimes it can be hard to hold on to who I am in all the chaos...but at least once a year, I'm reminded that there's a group where I will always belong'.Shortly, Viv Vision, Northstar, Shatterstar, Negasonic Teenage Warhead and America Chavez strut down the runway in their spectacular fashions, while the audience looks on in delight. 'America, take my phone number!' someone cries out. 'He can shatter my star any day!' another remarks in reference to Shatterstar. 'We love you, Negasonic Teenage Warhead!' another yells. Mr. Cluck is perched on Jumbo again and sips a drink through a straw, while commenting 'Spectacular show, Jumbo. You must be so proud'. Jumbo doesn't answer, just snores as he sleeps through the show!Eighth story:(Now)'And that's when I was sure my dreams of being in the X-Men were over' Carmen Cruz a.k.a. Gimmick tells her girlfriend Buddy Bartholomew as they sit on a sofa inside Buddy's apartment in Queens. 'Come on, Carmen – it couldn't have been that bad' Buddy replies. But Carmen tells Buddy that it was so embarrassing, and painful. She adds that Bishop keeps Triage on healing duty for training sessions, but that it felt like getting hit by a truck. 'Well, clearly you didn't give up' Buddy points out. 'No, I think I way overcompensated' Carmen remarks. Buddy smiles and tells Carmen to just take a deep breath and start from the beginning.(Earlier that day)'Can I please be matched up with mutants on my skill level next time?' the ungraceful winner of the training sessions asks as she stands with her hands on her hips on the shore of Krakoa, while Gimmick lies nearby, clutching her side. 'It was one against five, Transonic. But noted' Bishop tells the red-haired mutant, before dismissing her. Transonic strides past Bishop, who helps Gimmick up off the shore.(Now)'And meeting your heroes is a lot less cool when you just keep letting them down' Carmen remarks. Buddy tells Carmen not to talk like that, and points out that it's not as if the rest of her squad did any better. 'No, we're, like, definitely the misfits' Carmen remarks. She explains that Graymalkin has field experience, but is fairly sheltered, and she thinks Bishop wants him on the squad so he can make friends – and she is 99% sure that he and Specter are an item, so Bishop's plan must have worked. Carmen explains that Specter is a Crucible kid, lost his powers on M-Day and now way over-eager to use them. Carmen informs Buddy that D-Cel used to insist she wasn't a mutant, and while she seems to have gotten over that, she still fronts pretty hard – and then there is poor Kafka, who just wants to fly around in peace.(Earlier)As Gimmick's teammates dust themselves off, D-Cel turns to her and asks her if she is ever going to ditch the Gambit cosplay, referring to her outfit, inspired by the X-Man Gambit. 'I'm still working on designs' Gimmick replies without looking at D-Cel. 'Hey, Carmen just wants to stand out. Why do you think I still wear my old Corsairs outfit?' Specter remarks as he stands proud in his blue and white costume. 'Enough chitchat' Bishop tells the students, pointing out that they aren't acting like a real team. He reveals that he used to struggle with that, too and explains that sometimes it takes experiencing real danger in the field for you to trust each other. Suddenly, a holographic image of Firestar appears through Bishop's communicator. She apologizes for interrupting the class and informs Bishop that there is a situation she thought he should know about. 'What's going down?' Bishop asks.From within the X-Men's Treehouse in New York City, Firestar observes a situation going on in Central Park – a couple of mutant teenagers are harassing tourists. Firestar reports that the mutants are called Infestation and Snot, neither were exactly upstanding citizens before Krakoa. 'But now that you're keeping an eye on the younger generation...' Firestar's voice trails off, as she watches Infestation frighten some civilians with an assortment of creepy crawlies, and Snot blasts a projectile of... snot... from his nose. 'You're letting me go collect these kids before the X-Men have to' Bishop sighs. He tells Firestar that he appreciates this, and reports that he will meet her at the Central Park gate in five minutes. 'Wait! I think I have an idea!' Gimmick suddenly announces.Minutes later, in Central Park: 'Don't you like my pets?' Infestation asks as she chases some civilians away with an assortment of spiders and bugs. 'Orchis is right about you – you freaks!' a woman exclaims as Snot covers her in... snot. 'Stay scared, flatscan!' Snot retorts. Suddenly, 'This is a terrible look for mutant-human relations' a voice calls out. Snot and Infestation look over and see Bishop leaning against a tree nearby. He tells them that if perhaps they showed up for training sessions, they would be able to channel their feelings in healthier ways. 'Sorry, “Teach.” We're not really in the learning mood anymore' Snot declares. He announces that Krakoa has been holding them back, and that their little Pit isn't so scary these days. Snot blasts his...snot at Bishop, striking him in the leg. 'Ew, gross!' Bishop mutters – but it's not really Bishop, merely Gimmick in disguise. 'Now!' she calls out when she reveals her identity.(Now)'Using your morphing powers to catch the troublemakers off guard is brave, not stupid' Buddy remarks as she holds Carmen's hand as they continue to sit on the sofa. 'It was at least a little stupid. Mr. Bishop can take a much harder hit than I can... but it did give us the advantage of surprise'.(Earlier)'Finally – a chance to let loose!' Specter exclaims as he and Graymalkin drop down behind Snot. 'Not too loose, Dallas' Graymalkin cautions Specter. 'Huh?' the confused Snot asks, turning towards Specter and Graymalkin, who slam him up against a large rock. 'Whuu wrong with muh snaht?' Snot asks as he finds himself unable to attack the other mutants. 'Yeah, that would be me, slowing your mucus flow down to a dribble' D-Cel announces as she appears nearby.'That, uh, leaves the other one to us, right?' Kafka asks nervously as he flies over to Gimmick. 'Right. Carry me over her head and I'll -' Gimmick begins, while Infestation grins: 'Fangirl and Butterfly Boy? This is too easy!' and unleashes a horde of insects on Gimmick and Kafka. They try to brush the insects away as Gimmick asks Kafka if he can't talk to insects. 'I can understand bug, not speak it!' Kafka responds, adding that he really, really, wished he didn't know what these bugs were saying right now. 'Get them off of me!' Kafka cries out, while Infestation just laughs, and D-Cel reports that she can't slow Snot down much longer.Firestar asks Bishop if they should step in now, but Bishop tells her not yet, as they watch from a distance. He explains to Firestar that he told these five that they weren't acting like a team, and then Gimmick volunteers for this field mission. 'There's something to that one. I want to see how she plays it' Bishop remarks.'Now you've really ticked me off!' Snot shouts as he breaks free of Specter and Graymalkin, shoving them both aside, while D'Cel loses her hold over Snot and apologizes, explaining that his runny nose is weirdly strong. Specter looks over at Graymalkin and smiles: 'Need a boost, babe?' he asks. 'Yes, please' Graymalkin smiles back. The boyfriends get to their feet, and Specter uses his living shadow to surround Graymalkin. 'My boyfriend is super strong in the dark, and you...you just got your $#&% wrecked!' Specter exclaims as Graymalkin leaps forward, enhanced by Specter's powers, and slams his fist hard into Snot's face, sending him careening backwards across the park. 'I'll slow him down before he crushes a taxi or something!' D'Cel calls out as she rushes after Snot.'At least the others are doing okay!' Kafka exclaims as he tries to brush the insects off of his wings. Gimmick declares that she has had enough of this, and removes her jacket as she states that she volunteered for a field mission, but is not going to let it become a complete disaster. 'I've been playing an X-Man... time to be one!' Gimmick exclaims as she manifests a purple and black jumpsuit costume, and purges the insects from covering her body. 'Whoa, you look great!' Kafka exclaims as he is knocked backwards. Gimmick thanks Kafka and tells him that she designed it to still look cool, when she goes into beast mode. She switches into wolfen form and lunches at Infestation, knocking her backwards.(Now)'You are not committing to that catchphrase, right? It's no “clobberin' time”!' Buddy remarks. Carmen looks up at her and explains that it was spur of the moment, and that she is still workshopping it, before revealing that is where things got a little hellish.(Earlier)Snot groans as he lies face-down on the ground, while Infestation land near him. 'Thought we'd get to have our fun a bit longer. Better cut to the end of the plan now' Infestation decides. 'What plan? Plans sound bad, right?' Gimmick remarks as she, Specter, Graymalkin, D-Cel and Kafka gather nearby.Five minutes later,:'We're losing them!' Gimmick shouts as Kafka struggles to carry her as he flies down a street, following Infestation who is in a cab, frightening the driver, while Snot clings to the rooftop. 'Do you know...how hard this is?' Kafka puffs as he struggles to carry Gimmick, while Infestation snaps 'Pull over there! Now, meatsack!' to the driver. The cab comes to a stop, and Infestation gets out. 'Open up!' Snot shouts. 'We're here for the offer!' Infestation exclaims. The War College students all arrive, and D-Cel tells her teammates that she thinks this is above their paygrade now. 'What do you – mean?' Gimmick asks as Kafka puts her on the ground. 'Oh' Gimmick utters as she looks up at the building in front of her – the Limbo Embassy.'Hell yeah!' Snot calls out as the gates surrounding the Limbo Embassy open and he and Infestation step through to safe haven. The gates slam closed before the War College students can enter. 'Nuh-uh. Can't touch us in here!' Snot warns them, while Infestation reveals that they applied for a transfer as she grins at the War College students through the bars of the gate. 'This isn't fair! We were actually working together!' Gimmick begins, but Bishop arrives and explains that Krakoa has no authority on the other side of those gates. 'That's the deal' he adds, while Firestar can be seen giving the cab driver a phone number and instructing him to call it to seek reimbursements for any damages suffered.Bishop explains to his students that Limbo is under new management, and are offering amnesty to their own. 'To some of the nastiest $#&%s around' Bishop adds. 'So this was just what...a joy ride before Snot and Infestation got another clean slate?' Gimmick asks, annoyed. A demon approaches Snot and Infestation and asks them to follow him so that the welcome rituals can begin. 'This is gonna be sick!' Snot calls out. Bishop assures Gimmick that her squad handled itself better in the field than it does during training, thanks in no small part to her, so she shouldn't see this as a bust. 'Plus, your new look is great' Firestar smiles.(Now)'You're on an island of beautiful mutants and you're flirting with the Avenger?' Buddy asks. 'Oh my god, let her live!' Carmen laughs, before pointing out that Firestar is too old for her. 'And I have you right here' Carmen adds as she and Buddy kiss. 'I'm very grateful, my hero' Buddy remarks, before telling Carmen that it was a bummer outcome ot the mission, but that she can see it now: 'Carmen Cruz a.k.a. Gimmick...future X-Men superstar!'(Earlier)'I really don't think I'm cut out for this' Kafka complains as he follows Bishop and Firestar as they lead the way from the Limbo Embassy. Graymalkin and Specter walk with their arms around each other and D-Cel follows them, while Gimmick turns back to look at the Limbo Embassy, where Madelyne Pryor can be seen standing at a window, peering out from behind a curtain. 'Hmm...' utters the Goblyn Queen.


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

[Assistant]
: “X” Marks the Mutant
An unimpressed Wolverine holds the boy Gus Beezer up off the ground by his t-shirt. ‘Hello, X-fans! Boy, are you in for a cool story, all about mutants and hamsters and brownies, and…’ his voice trails off as he decides that he better not give away the sensational surprises in this issue. The boy introduces himself and welcomes readers to his comic. He explains that normally he only gets to read about mutants in his comics, and boasts that he has the best, coolest collection of crazy comics in his whole town, but that this adventure has real mutants in it. ‘One of those mutants happens to be this guy holding me up. His name is Wolverine. We’re great pals. He’s in this comic, too, so try not to upset him and just enjoy the book…okay?’
‘We are totally the X-Men!’ Gus Beezer shouts as he and his friends are dressed up as Wolverine, Cyclops and Storm. ‘And we’re here to defeat our nefarious nemesis, Magneto!’ Gus, who is pretending to be Wolverine, declares. ‘You’re in trouble now, bub!’ Gus tells “Magneto”, and asks “Storm” to attack. But the girl pretending to be Storm replies that Magneto has her in his magnetic grasp. ‘Cyclops, help!’ she calls out. ‘Wait… are you talking to me? I thought I was Wolver-clops’ the boy replies, confused. Gus steps forward and declares that he is Wolverine. ‘And you’re Cyclops’ he tells his friend, who apologizes and claims that he forgot.
‘This “battle” is quite unacceptable. I have no good lines!’ the boy playing Magneto complains. ‘And now, you get taught a lesson - X-style, bub!’ “Wolverine” exclaims as he shakes his fist at “Magneto”, who adds that he doesn’t even get to say “Bah”.
The girl playing Storm tells “Magneto” that they will never allow him to harm innocent humans. ‘Now you must face the fury of a raging hurricane!’ she exclaims, when suddenly, someone bursts into laughter. ‘Lame!’ someone else calls out. ‘Some “hurricane”!’ a third declares. Gus and his friends stop the act. The girl playing Storm holds up a small hand-held fan and wears a cape. The boy playing Magneto has a metal colander on his head and also wears a cape. ‘Uh, Gus… I think the class hates our skit’ the girl utters to Gus, who has three pencils stick between his fingers as pretend claws. ‘What? No way, Autumn! Impossible!’ Gus replies, boasting that the class is just amazingly agog at his daringly different drama. ‘I can’t see…’ the boy playing Cyclops calls out as he fumbles around, a ViewMaster stuck to his face pretending to be his visor.
‘Oh, no! Magneto’s using his magnetism on my adamantium bones!’ Gus exclaims, pretending to be under attack, and knocking himself against the table where the hamster cage sits. Suddenly, ‘Stop this at once!’ the classroom teacher orders. ‘Aww… just when I was getting mean’ the boy playing Magneto complains. ‘Gus Beezer! Just look at what you’ve done!’ the teacher exclaims, pointing her finger at Gus, asking him why he couldn’t do a nice skit like the other children? ‘Mrs Wendall! Your hair!’ Gus exclaims, and the teacher screams, realizing the hamster is on her head. ‘Get it off! Get it off me!’ she pleads, before fainting. Autumn tells someone to get the principal, and suggests that Gus pour some water on her to wake her up. ‘But I’m afraid I’ll drown the hamster’ Gus replies, holding the bucket of water.
That evening, at the Beezer household, Autumn has joined the Beezer family for dinner and sits next to Gus as she exclaims ‘Then Gus made Mrs Wendall have a seizure!’, to which Gus quickly replies that he did not, and adds that she said it was time for a long vacation anyway. Gus’s little sister smiles in her high chair, while Gus tells his parents that they are supposed to have a conference with Mrs Wendall, and reveals that he might have to buy her a new wig. ‘I’m really sorry’ he tells his parents. Mr Beezer looks at his wife and asks what they can take away this time. ‘I don’t know… it sounds like it was an accident. Maybe it really wasn’t his fault’ Mrs Beezer replies. Suddenly, three brussell sprouts hit Mrs Beezer in the head. ‘That’s it, young man. You are grounded!’ Mrs Beezer declares, picking her son up and carrying him away. ‘But, Mom, I didn’t do it! I’m innocent!’ Gus pleads. Mr Beezer turns to his young daughter, Tillie, and remarks that sometimes he worries about that boy. ‘Food yucky!’ the little girl replies.
Gus sits on his bed in his room. A poster that says “Mutants are people too” taped above his bed. He holds three pencils between his fingers, pretending they are claws, and tells his dog, whom he calls Zabu, ‘They wouldn’t do this to me if I really was an X-Man!’ The dog just yawns.
Gus then pretends to be Wolverine, boasting that he is the best there is at what he does. He pretends to leap out his window and declares that if he was Wolverine, he would head out for Canada and no one could stop him. ‘Hey, an igloo!’ he remarks, before remarking that he could hunt out his own food, and snarls at a pizza delivery boy. ‘And you’d better clean up this room, Gus. It looks like a pigsty. Get to it, mister!’ Mrs Beezer tells her son. Gus pretends that she is Magneto, and clenches his fists, ‘Command… to… clean room… sending me into… berserker rage!’
An agonizing hour of hard cleaning later, Gus mutters that cleaning is hard work, and hopes that his Mom won’t be quite to mad now. Just then, his little sister waddles into his room, asking him to play with her. ‘Not now, Tillie…’ Gus replies, before shouting out to his Mom, telling her that he is done and his room is spotless. Gus leans against his doorframe looking pleased with himself, as Mrs Beezer strides to him and tells him that he had better done a spectacular job] ‘I’m not kidding arou - Gus! What in the world?’ Mrs Beezer demands, hands on her hips, looking unimpressed. Gus is in awe, staring at papers, toys and socks strewn about the floor. ‘But…but…’ he utters.
Soon, Gus frowns on his bed, arms folded, he mutters that he doesn’t think there even is such a thing as being “double extra seriously grounded”. Tillie holds a doll up to Gus and asks him ti play again. ‘Not right now, Tillie. Go away. I’ve got a lot to think about’ Gus tells her.
The next day, on their way to school, Autumn tells Gus that she doesn’t see how he can be sure he is a mutant. ‘What is a mutant, anyway?’ James, the boy who was pretending to be Cyclops yesterday, inquires. ‘James, you have got to read more comics’ Gus replies, unimpressed. He explains that mutants are people that are born with terrific powers - like wings or mental powers or junk that like. As they enter their classroom, James tells Gus that his father says mutants are bad. ‘A few are bad, like the Brotherhood. But some are cool, like the X-Men! They help protect all mutants, and normal humans, too’ Gus explains. Mrs Wendall wears a large hat on her head and frowns at Gus, who sheepishly bids her good morning and tells her that her hat is lovely.
At the lunchtime recess, Gus puts some coins into a payphone and tells Autumn that it all adds up - crazy things keep happening around him, so he must be a mutant. ‘Did you ever think that maybe you’re just really, really, klutzy?’ Autumn suggests. Gus speaks down the phone: ‘Hello, police department? I think I’m a mutant. Do you have any super-villains I could beat up for practice?’ he asks. ‘Hello? Hello?’ he calls out when he gets no response, and decides that it must be a bad connection. Autumn looks sceptical, while Gus exclaims ‘Wow, me a mutant! Maybe I’ll even join the X-Men! Fly around in their brain-bendingly awesome jet plane!’
And, that afternoon, on the outskirts of town, a jet takes off into the air, and shortly, lands in a neighborhood, where Cyclops tells Professor X that this hardly looks like the place to fund such a powerful mutant. ‘Potential mutant, Cyclops’ Professor X remarks, while Jean Grey announces that it does appear as if this potential is displaying some powers at a very young age. Wolverine walks out of the jet as Professor X tells Jean that according to Cerebro, somewhere in this small town is a mutant so powerful that it is best to proceed with caution. Wolverine tells the Professor that if this mutant really is as powerful as he says, then it never hurts to be prepared, and his pops his razor-sharp claws.
‘Go away!’ Gus shouts, as he hangs upside down from some jungle gym bars during final recess. ‘Not until I’ve told you all the errors in your little “play”’ an older boy tells Gus, who puts his hands over his ears. ‘For example, you were using spoons for Wolverine’s claws and they weren’t even adamantium spoons. And the real Cyclops doesn’t have a 3-D viewer taped to his head and…’, but Gus screams and tells Dunbar that he netter go away, otherwise he will use his mutant chaos power. ‘You? A mutant? Tis to laugh, Gus Beezer’ Dunbar replies. ‘That’s it! It’s chaos time!’ Gus exclaims, before he suddenly falls off the bars and hit’s the ground. ‘Well, that was certainly a fierce mental attack’ Dunbar remarks. ‘It’s hard to balance when you’re using psychic powers. Ow’ Gus responds.
After school: ‘Boy am I glad that day is over’ Gus tells Autumn and James as they walk home. Autumn tells the boys that she heard the hamster is making a nest out of Mrs Wendall’s old wig. Gus crosses his arms and asks if they can quit talking about the hamster. ‘Come on, sourpuss…race ya to your house! Storm versus Wolverine!’ Autumn exclaims as she starts to run away. ‘No fair! Head star!’ Gus complains, while Autumn tells James to come on, as they are racing. James smiles, ‘You asked for it! Here comes Wolverclops!’ he calls out. ‘It’s Cyclops, ya goof!’ Gus scolds his friend.
Soon, ‘Wolverine wins again!’ Gus declares as he arrives at his front door. To find his mother waiting for him. She greets the kids and tells Gus that his sister is in her playpen. She asks him to keep an eye on Tillie while she takes care of some gardening in the back. ‘But, Mom! I just slaved though a deathly dull day of school! Why do I have to baby-sit?’ Gus complains. ‘Because otherwise you don’t get brownies’ Mrs Beezer replies, holding out a tray of brownies. ‘Thank you, Mrs Beezer’ James and Autumn say in unison as they take a brownie each. ‘Auggh! Betrayed by my so-called “friends” for chocolate goodness!’ Gus mutters. ‘What did you say, Gus?’ Mrs Beezer asks. ‘Nothing!’ Gus replies charmingly. ‘Better not have, or I might suddenly remember that your double extra seriously grounded’ Mrs Beezer declares.
And, in Gus’s room, the kids start to read some comic books. ‘So these Sentinels…they hunt down mutants?’ James asks. ‘Yeah’ Gus replies. ‘But don’t worry. The X-Men always stop those dumb robot dudes’, before remarking that the one X-Man he doesn’t get is the bald guy, Professor X. ‘I mean, he’s like completely and undeniably lame’ Gus declares. Suddenly, ‘Ahem’ a voice calls out, and Gus turns to see Professor X, Jean Grey and Cyclops standing in his bedroom doorway. ‘Pardon our intrusion, but your door was open’ Professor X points out. Gus grins and leaps to his feet, ‘I knew it! You’ve come for me! I knew you would!’ he exclaims. ‘Oh, man. What do I take with me? I should take my toothbrush… should I take my homework? What am I thinking!’
Wolverine enters the room too, and James looks at him, while Gus declares ‘Wow, me an X-Man!’ before asking if he can visit his Mom and Dad, and whether he can take his fearless guard dog, Zabu? Autumn starts talking to Cyclops, and introduces herself, before asking Cyclops if he is married, but gets no response. ‘Excuse me, young man…’ Professor X begins, but Gus excitedly asks if he can bring his comics. ‘It’s only a couple thousand or so…’ his voice trails off as he thinks of himself wearing an X-costume, while Professor X calls out to him, but gets no response again. ‘Can I drive the plane? I hardly ever crash on my bike!’ Gus claims, before Professor X appears in his thoughts. ‘Young man. Please pay attention’ the Professor declares. ‘Whoa! You’re talking in my head! That is so awesome!’ Gus declares as he starts to dance about, asking the Professor to make him cluck like a chicken, and to make him sing show tunes.
The Professor slaps his forehead and sighs, before telling Gus that he is sorry, but he seems to be under a false impression. ‘We’re not here for you’ the Professor announces. ‘What? But… but I thought…’ a horrified Gus starts to reply, before Jean Grey announces that they are here for Gus’s little sister, Tillie. She asks him if his parents are here, as they would like to talk to him. ‘Tillie want brownie!’ the girl calls out from inside her playpen. ‘My sister? But… she’s just a baby! She doesn’t even read comics!’ Gus declares. ‘Brownies - come!’ Tillie calls out, and the plate of brownies starts to move towards her. ‘Oh, man. Mom and Dad are going to freak’ Gus remarks, while Tillie starts to eat the brownies.
Suddenly, Gus asks the X-Men if they are here to take away his sister, and tells them that they cant have her, as she is just a baby. ‘My Mom told me to watch out for her’ he adds, as he, James and Autumn stand in front of the playpen. ‘Mighty touch talk, little bub’ Wolverine smiles. The Professor assures Gus that they are not here to take her, and that they just wanted to make sure she was safe here. ‘As long as you’re her older brother, I’m sure that she will be’ the Professor adds.
Soon, the kids are out on the street, ‘Wow! The real X-Jet!’ Gus exclaims, while Cyclops tells Autumn that he is really sorry, but that he is married. Wolverine removes his jacket and hands it to Gus, telling him that it was pretty brave protecting his sister like that. ‘I’d say, even if you ain’t a mutant, you could be an honorary X-Man’ he smiles. ‘Whoa!’ Gus exclaims, and Jean kisses him on the cheek, seconding Wolverine’s notion. ‘Blurble blurble glah!’ Gus utters. The kids watch as the X-Men leave in the X-Jet and James announces that he has to read more comics. ‘That. Was. So. COOL!’ Gus exclaims.
One month later, Gus is wearing his X-jacket, and is on the phone to the police. ‘Yeah, yeah. I’m calling about my sister. See, she’s this really powerful mutant…’ he begins. ‘How do I know? Well, she can mess up my room in two seconds flat! She can steal my dessert from across the room!’ he adds, before asking the police if they have any Sentinels or something to come and take his sister away, just for a day. ‘No? What kind of police station is this?’ he complains, before hanging the phone up. He turns to his sister, and tells her that he better learn to get used to her. Tillie smiles and tells Gus that her diaper is stinky and that he has to change it. Gus just screams.


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

[Assistant]
A Whole Lot of Paper
Phil Sheldon is at Long Island Oncology Associates and about to receive his test results. Dr. Geoffries gives him some bad news. Phil's cancer has metastasized and spread through his system. Phil, seated with his wife Doris standing behind him, doesn’t get it. He feels tired, but... He asks how much time he has left.
The doctor informs him maybe three months, possibly as many as eighteen, but frankly he wouldn't bet on that. They can make him comfortable, but there's not much else they can do. Doris leans in towards Phil and hugs him. What do you do when you're given a death sentence? What do you say? Doris wonders if maybe it's time to go to Florida, find that place near the beach. The sun might help. "No," replies Phil. "No." He reckons he's beaten this before and kept going.
(later, at home)
Phil is with his family, Doris and his two daughters, Beth and Jenny. He's looking for a photograph, and Beth finds the one he's after. Phil has a book to finish, and there's nothing like staring death in the face to help you focus. He runs through some work that he's done and tries to add more words, but he soon finds that the meds he's taking make it hard for him to think. He knows that he needs to concentrate or he won't finish the book before the cancer finishes him.
His family looks on, anxious, as he pulls himself together. A television news report comes through about how the Hulk's latest rampage has come to an end. Dianne Bellamy aims her face at the camera and informs the viewing public that it took a dozen of the world's mightiest heroes, the Avengers, to finally subdue the Hulk, only not until the town of Jericho had been destroyed. Miraculously, she adds, there has been no loss of life, but the walls of Jericho have come tumbling down. Now, the good people of the town are asking, why their town? Why did we have to lose our homes, our schools and our businesses? Why couldn't the Avengers arrive sooner?
Watching, Phil wishes she’d get some new material. It never seems to change. One minute the world cheers on their heroes; the next they are savaging them. He wishes he was leaving a better world for the girls, not just more money which the book will help with.
(later)
Jenny drives Phil along the freeway. She’s new to this and a little nervous. As she concentrates on the road, a police call comes through on the radio asking for all units to converge on LaGuardia Airport. There is a mutant incident in progress. Jenny says that it’s the next exit. Phil reacts like an old warhorse hearing the bugle. They soon arrive at the scene and witness the original X-Men, including Beast and Iceman, fighting some maniac named Tower, saving lives again. Not that it mattered. To some people, mutants were alike and all of ‘em are guilty. Who cares what they did? They were mutants!
When Phil gets home he develops the photo which looks pretty good - one of his best. He’d heard there was a new group of mutants calling themselves X-Factor making money off people’s fears about mutants. The depths some people will sink to. He admires the photo, not realizing that it is the last action photo he will ever take.
Doris pops in and asks if he’s okay. She says he’s fine and asks for some tea. He’s been thinking about Doris a lot lately, and the girls. He was so lucky to find her, but Doris… she deserved better. All those times he wasn’t there, all the things he missed because he was somewhere else taking pictures… all those years, all those pictures. When he’s gone will anyone give a damn? And would anything ever change?
He watches television again, seeing coverage of the demonstrations outside Avengers Mansion against the Sub-Mariner’s inclusion on the team. Footage is shown of Namor during the war, and the reporter mentions that he has been a polarizing figure over the years. Once upon a time, Phil would have been in the middle of that mob, getting jostled, jostling back, fighting for position and feeling the adrenaline, getting the good shots; the money shots. Part of him still itches to be out there. He feels his heart pump faster and his fingers twitch to hold a camera. But the rest of him… the rest of him is just tired. So tired.
What energy he has he puts into his book. He had to find a way to say it, to make it matter. He sits at his desk and flicks through some pictures. “Some call the ‘Children of the Atom,’ the next stop in evolution. Others, giving in to their… to our worst fears, call them freaks… muties. But the X-Men have come to our defense again and again.” A television broadcast interrupts his train of thought. He looks up and sees the X-Men from the airport in action. The reporter, Trish Tilby, calls them X-Terminators, a bunch of unknown mutants fighting back against the rise in anti-mutant hysteria. “What?” barks Phil, incredulously. He doesn’t believe it. X-Terminators? Unknown? He wonders what’s wrong with the reporter. Don’t they know anything?
A voice tells him that she’d like to think a few of them do. He turns to see Doris standing there with Marcia. She asks him if he has a few minutes for his old apprentice. He replies that for her he has. He tells her that he caught her documentary where she interviewed Willie Lumpkin, the FF’s mailman. Charming piece, he says, and then he asks her what brought her out there. She informs him that Doris called and said he was up against a deadline. She thought she’d drop by and offer an extra set of hands. Phil admits that he could use a little help, but he wouldn’t want to take her away from her own work. Lord knows the tube needs more people with her skills, not like that Tilby woman on Channel 4. He swears she never seems to do any research. He holds up the pictures of the original X-Men and the X-Terminators and asks her to look and see if she recognizes anyone. Marcia sees what he means. They’re a little older and the costumes are different, but still…
Doris tells Phil that it’s time for his pills, and whispers to him that she wishes he wouldn’t get so upset. It doesn’t do him a bit of good. Marcia comments on some of his work and remarks that she never knew that the Avengers’ Beast was the one from the X-Men. “Most people don’t,” he replies. Doris picks up the phone and discovers J. Jonah Jameson on the other end. He only calls Phil when he wants something, and this time is no different.
Phil arrives at the Daily Bugle and is greeted by Robbie Robertson who asks how he is. Phil says he's getting by and then introduces him to Jenny. He then asks why Jonah asked for unpublished photos of costumed mutants. Some new feature? Robbie is surprised that Jonah had called him. He explains that Jonah had a dispute with X-Factor and has been talking expose ever since. He adds that Warren Worthington is the money man behind X-Factor which makes Phil gasp. "Worthington's the Angel!" he exclaims. Why would he bankroll mutant hunters? It beats Robbie. He reckons that by tomorrow Jonah will have figured out that they're all in league with Spider-Man. Phil grunts and reckons he doesn't have any photos for Jonah after all. He never did see the point in smearing someone just to make a buck. That's that weasel Parker's game anyway. Robbie thinks Parker's okay really.
Robbie has things to do so Phil leaves, but he isn't ready to go home just yet. He heads for the Masthead Restaurant with his family and they order some food. Phil sits opposite his daughters, wondering where the time went. They're practically young ladies now. The last time they were there, he recalls, Count Nefaria had just taken Washington hostage and tried to frame the X-Men for it. Luckily, they turned the tables on him and saved the entire city. Cap? Iron Man? They'd have thrown them a parade. They're 'our kind.' But not the X-Men. Not then, not now. The X-Men fight for them and what do they do? They throw bricks at them.
(flashback)
Phil recalls little Maggie, a mutant girl that his daughters took in during the first big anti-mutant panic. She was just a little girl, but the neighbors would have torched the house if they'd known Maggie was there. He didn't know what to do, but Maggie did. She left Doris a note thanking her for everything but said she didn't want her family to get hurt. Who knows, thinks Phil. Maybe she saved them all, and what did they do for her?
(present)
At that moment, a reporter named Anderson bursts through the door and shouts to two colleagues seated inside. He tells them to grab their tape recorders and go. There's a big fuss in Central Park and Avengers' Mansion has been swallowed up by some big cube. Phil turns and asks what's going on, but Doris asks him to sit down. Jenny grabs her father's arm and assures her mother that it's all right. She'll accompany her father.
They head towards Central Park with Phil wondering what he was thinking. Something for the book, for the papers, or maybe just reflex. Something was happening and he wanted to see it; get the facts and show the world. A police officer prevents them from getting too close to the park and tells Phil that if he wants pictures he should take them now. Phil so much wants to but his arms are weak and his hands are shaking. He can't even lift his damned camera. Jenny offers to take the picture for him, but he pauses, turns and says that they need to get her mother and Bethie and go home.
Phil lies in bed, half asleep, thinking about how all he can do is sleep when the Masters of Evil have taken over Avengers Mansion, leaving Hercules in hospital. It’s the story of the year. He gets up a little later and reads Celebrity Magazine. The world is still turning and photos are taken without him. Doris notes the sour look on his face and asks what’s wrong. Phil shows her the magazine; an article about the dedication of Four Freedoms Plaza. He’s seen better work in high school yearbooks. Doris agrees. His pictures are always better. She still remembers the wonderful pictures he took of Reed and Susan Richards’ wedding. Phil reckons he should have been at that dedication, and would have if not for his cancer. He’s a one-eyed, broken-down old shutterbug. They should bury him right now. He asks for some help getting up. He has work to do.
Phil moves to his table and does some work on his new book. He wants to finish it before everything becomes ancient history. Some of his old photos were already beating him into the obituaries. A newspaper on his desk reads ‘Angel dies in fiery explosion.’ A news then report comes on television about the notorious mutant terrorist Magneto who has surrendered to U.N. officials in Singapore. He will be bound over for trial before the World Court. Phil gasps and immediately picks up the phone. It’s Tracey Burke, asking him if he’s heard the news. She thinks he did such a great job for them on the Rocky Mountain story, that she’d like him to fly to Paris to cover the trial. She tells him that he could take Doris with him; all expenses paid. She needs Phil Sheldon.
The news report comes in live from Paris, where the Avengers are escorting a contingent of X-Men into the Palais de Justice. A special tribunal of the International Court of Justice will soon begin to determine the fate of Magneto who stands accused of crimes against humanity. On the television, Captain Marvel, Thor, Captain America, Dr. Druid and the Black Knight can be seen keeping the angry crowd at arms length whilst Storm, Wolverine, Havok, Dazzler, Magneto and Rogue head for the entrance.
Phil sits at home. Tracey Burke had to find someone else. Phil has stayed behind and watches events unfold on television. He’s a part of the audience now, not a newsman. Phil watches Havok and Dazzler pass by the camera. These aren’t even the X-Men he knew. These mutants seem somehow scarier, more confident. Wolverine? Now there was a reassuring name. Storm, with her Mohawk hair and leather outfit… this new generation of X-Men... were they naturally that way? Could you blame people for being scared of them, or was it a reaction to all they’ve had to endure? In the end, he thinks, what the hell difference does it make?
Doris appears by his side and he tries to sit up, annoyed that he’s missing another story. Doris says it’s okay, but Phil replies that it isn’t. It’s the trial of the century and all he can do is watch it on television like everyone else. He struggles and she asks if he’s okay. “Tired… just tired,” he whispers as he slumps back into the chair. Doris calls Dr. Geoffries who asks her to take Phil to the hospital. Phil says no.
The next day he can’t even get out of bed, so he ends up in hospital anyway. A reporter on television tells the world that New York Mammoths coach Jim Albertson has announced his retirement, but Phil’s not interested. He wants to get something down in writing. He looks at a photograph of Sentinels flying over the city and spins a line about how Spider-Man and the X-Men, for instance, put their lives on the line constantly, even in the face of dangers they created themselves. He doesn’t like his wording and changes things around. “People… the world, haven’t treated them fairly, and neither has life.” Phil admits that he probably obsesses about them because he’s thinking about himself. Life’s not fair on any of them, but the Marvels… they kept going. They were still fighting, while he…
His thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of his beloved daughters, Jenny and Beth. Phil is delighted to see them, and Jenny informs him that they’ve found the files he wanted. Beth gives him a kiss and he tells Jenny that’s great. They’ve both been such a help. Beth tells him that at school she gave a talk about his first book for her social studies class. She got an A. He asks what else has been going on. Beth mentions a boy that Jenny likes and Jenny gets all coy. Doris asks them not to tire their father out and asks Jenny to take her sister to the cafeteria for a snack. They get up and leave the room, telling their daddy that they love him.
On television, it is reported that Crystal, the Inhuman, is joining the Fantastic Four. Phil switches it off. He’s tired and can’t be bothered with it. Doris looks at the photos in his hands and wonders how many he’s taken over the years. Phil reckons it must be thousands, hundreds of thousands? A whole lot of paper. He finally snaps, throwing the photos from his bed. He says that this is what he’s done with his life. He took a bunch of pictures. Big deal! Somebody else would have done it if he hadn’t. Hell, somebody else is now! “What kind of legacy is this?” he asks himself. Doris rests her head on his chest and assures him that it’s a great legacy. He’s touched so many people with his work; made them stop, and think. And he’s made her and the girls so very happy.
Phil raises a smile and replies that it’s nice of her to say so. He apologizes for whining and asks her to take the girls to get some coffee while he rests. He has his call button if he needs anything. She puts the television back on, quietly, just in time for a news roundup with Megan McClaren substituting for Javon Garrett.
Megan reports that Presidential envoy Valerie Cooper spoke in San Francisco yesterday on the government’s latest answer to the mutant question. Val begins to talk about Freedom Force and the Registration Act, but Phil’s attentions turn to a hooded stranger entering through the hospital window. “Mister Sheldon,” the stranger says. Phil reaches for his glasses and asks if it’s Doris. “Uh, no sir,” she replies, removing her hood, “It’s… it’s me.”
“Maggie!” exclaims Phil.