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

[Assistant]
untitled
(Slope Park, Brooklyn)Longshot sits on the pavement, looking up at the SHIELD helicarrier that is falling down towards him. Chaos, one half of the fractured In-Betweener, sits next to him and asks him if he is just magically lucky. Longshot replies he usually is, to which Chaos follows it up by asking if it stops working if he pushes his luck too far. Longshot replies it does and Chaos, staring at the helicarrier, asks if this situation qualifies. Longshot concentrates really hard and tries to will his luck powers to work.
In Dr. Strange’s sanctum sanctorum, Sonja is asleep on the sofa, holding her daughter Jennifer. Jennifer is watching TV commercials but changes over to the news when Sonja is woken up by a phone call. Jennifer spots Longshot on the TV, as the news station is reporting on the crashing helicarrier. Jennifer’s demonic teddy bear, Mr. Dapples, also spots the news report and is seemingly alarmed by what is about to happen.
On the helicarrier, Dazzler is sat in the pilot’s seat, trying to find a way to avert the crash. She presses various buttons in the hope one of them will do something. Somehow, Mr. Dapples exerts his influence and appears on the helicarrier. On the ground, Longshot winces his face and wills himself to think lucky thoughts. With a matter of meters to spare, the helicarrier comes to a complete stop, much to the relief of Longshot and all the civilians in the area. Chaos is a little disappointed, as he wanted to see the ship blow up Brooklyn. Longshot tentatively apologizes but takes it back after a second thought. Chaos tells him he won’t stop his good time, now that Order is out of town. He wants to see just how lucky Longshot can be.
(SHIELD fallback base)Monitoring the scene on a holographic display, Order tells the brainwashed Dr. Strange that Chaos is taking action. Dr. Strange asks if he can have a moment of his time and then enquires about Mr. Dapples. When Order tells him it is a multi-dimensional unknowably powerful teddy bear, he confesses that it is currently sat in his sanctum and asks if he should retrieve it.
(Lower Manhattan)As Spider-Man swings through the city, he tells one of his spider-bots to return to base for repair, as it is seemingly picking up commercial radio transmissions. Before he can react, though, he looks up to see the Hulk hurtling down on him. The Hulk yells he is busy and orders Spider-Man out of his way. With that, he swats the wall-crawlers and propels him through the circular window of Dr. Strange’s sanctum sanctorum.
Elsewhere, Chaos is standing on the street casting a spell. As dark clouds circle around him, he tells Longshot to see how lucky he is against the random forces of possible infinite timelines and universes. Past horrors repeated, the terrible nows right next to us and the what ifs of the future. The pavement below them starts to crack and purple energy shines through. Out of the cracks a number of deadly creatures rise out. Standing before Longshot is Magneto, Dracula, a werewolf version of Captain America and a vampire Wolverine.
Longshot stares at them in shock and tells Chaos that he doesn’t know what to do. Chaos smiles and says to go luck himself. He then pulls a loose thread from Longshot’s costume and tells him to see a tailor.
In the sanctum sanctorum, Spider-Man holds his head and wonders why the Hulk didn’t set his spider-sense off. Sonja and Jennifer are shocked at his sudden entrance but, before anyone can say anything, Order and his brainwashed team walk in. Order demands that they surrender the bear but is shocked to see the demonic reflection in a nearby mirror. Spider-Man also spots Mr. Dapple’s true form in the mirror and grabs hold of the two women. He acts on an educated guess at the situation and jumps out of the window, taking the two women and the teddy with him.
As they swing through the city, Sonja tells Spider-Man it’s nice to meet him. He bluntly replies that they can have pleasantries once they are finished. Sonja tells him that Dr. Strange had informed her there was some powerful force in Mr. Dapples. Spider-Man agrees, as it seems to be strong enough to attract the attention of SHIELD’s totalitarian, anti-magic regime. The same one which seems to have possessed Dr. Strange and several of his contemporaries in a trance. He asks how he can help and Sonja replies that Dr. Strange wanted to inspect Mr. Dapples with a crystal ball or something. Spider-Man tells her they will have SHIELD on them if they try doing that; instead he will have a scientist look at the bear.
Down below, Longshot has been pinned down by the werewolf Captain America. His luck powers suddenly activate and a circular shield suddenly slams into the werewolf’s head. He turns to see the real Captain America, who promptly shoots his alternate version with a gun that vaporizes him. Longshot asks what happened and Cap explains that the gun was a chronodisplacer. Twenty years ago, he was cursed with lycanthropy but for a brief period he was warped to the future where he saw himself human again. It gave him the strength to carry on and eventually become cured. Ever since then, he has waited to be on the other side so he can be there to send his past self back. Chaos smiles and muses that it’s a horrible paradox. He asks if Longshot’s luck did that but the “lucky one” tells him it could be worse, for example he is a clone of his own son. Cap looks stunned and confused by the revelation but Longshot just takes it in his stride.
Suddenly, Dracula appears behind Cap and tries to bite his neck. Wolverine grabs him from the other side and tries to bite his neck too, causing the two bloodsuckers to argue about who is the real king of the vampires. Cap bends over and pushes them both away, telling them that Hitler had loads of vampires in his army and it literally the reason why he now wears armor. As the two vampires lunge at Longshot instead, he suddenly realizes he doesn’t have armor.
As Longshot tussles with the vampires, his eye glows and his powers activate. A little way off, Magneto uses a phone booth, but he gets the Jean Grey School answer machine and politely informs them he seems to have fallen prey to some terrible fall allergies. He asks them to use Cerebro to find a local pharmacy. As he hangs up, he sneezes, causing him to use his powers and magnetically blast everything in the vicinity. One of the taxis caught in the carnage crashes to the ground and the trunk pops open and Blade falls out. The vampire hunter is confused for a second but then spots Dracula and takes out his sword. Before Dracula can react, Blade throws the sword and impales him in the chest, causing him disintegrate in flames. Wolverine comes up behind him, but Blade doesn’t need to look round to stab him in the chest with a dagger, killing him too.
Down the street, Chaos is watching and yells for them to stop killing his guys. Blade looks around and wonders how he got into the trunk of a taxi in the first place.
On the helicarrier, Dazzler finally has the systems all stable but an alarm suddenly goes off and she sees that a bunch of giant Doombots have appeared. On the street, Longshot, Cap and Blade look up to see the enormous Doombots, as well as the Venom symbiote on the Punisher, and Carnage on the Silver Surfer. Blade says he is out of his element but Longshot says he can help as he strains to use his powers again. As one of the Doombots strides down the street, it crashes into a building, causing a huge bell at the top to fall out. As it falls, Spider-Man grabs it with his webbing. He explains that it doesn’t matter who the symbiote decides to stick to, it’s always a matter of applying sonic vibrations. He slams the bell down next to the Punisher and the symbiote screams in pain as the bell creates a deadly noise. The symbiote splits off from an exhausted Punisher. Spider-Man tells Longshot he can’t stay there and asks if he can handle it.
As he leaves, some of his webbing touches Longshot and he gets a vision from it. He sees J. Jonah Jameson and some of the Avengers confronting Spider-Man and saying that Doctor Octopus has killed him and infiltrated his mind. The Avengers want to take him into custody but Longshot tells them that he has changed. Spider-Man turns to him and asks what he is doing there. JJJ says he will be put to death for it but Longshot tries to tell them he is doing more good alive than dead and his friend agrees. With that, he takes out a cosmic cube and shows them.
In the real world, Spider-Man slaps him over the head and tells him to wake up. He says that his uniform indicates he has some kind of superhero competence and then asks him to throw a knife or something. Longshot looks out and sees the battle between the various forces waging on. Cap asks if they have any ideas on freeing the Silver Surfer from Carnage, to which Spider-Man yells extreme heat works well. Ghost Rider appears and tells them hellfire should suffice. He fires his mystical shotgun and hits Carnage square in the head.
Order arrives at the scene with his team and SHIELD agents in tow. He greets his brother Chaos and Magneto waves to Wanda. Up on a nearby roof, Spider-Man returns to a waiting Sonja and Jennifer. He decides to take advantage of the distraction and leave.
On the street, Order tells his brother he should be powerless, but Chaos cockily replies he isn’t. Order says he has methodically removed sorcerers, demons, mystical artifacts, monsters, genetic anomalies and countless other contributors to bedlam. Chaos simply tells him he has censored poets, artists, dreams and fun. Order tells him his fun world would destroy life but Chaos retorts by saying his brother would destroy any reason to have it. In the interest of peace, Order asks his brother to submit but Chaos childishly tells him to kiss his butt. Summoning more troops, Chaos reignites the fight again and the two side clash. Order becomes enraged and says he will restrain Chaos, but he doesn’t spot his own uniform ripping at the seams, revealing his cosmic energies underneath.
Longshot tries as hard as he can to use his luck powers to solve the situation but he struggles to do so. Unbeknown to him, all the times he recently used his powers, he has caused something bad to happen right after receiving good luck for himself. When he fell out of the sky and Thor caught him, he cause Thor to accidentally fly into a banner being trailed by an advertisement plane. When Captain America appeared to defeat his werewolf counterpart, the shield he threw ended up going through the window of a nearby pub and smashing into a TV. When he used his powers to bring Blade into the fight, he caused the taxi driver that brought him to get stuck in traffic. Longshot continues to strain to use his powers but the universe subtly tells him that he has used it all up and nothing can help him now.
Elsewhere, Spider-Man drops down on to a quiet street with the two women. They go to a house and, when they open it, they see Sonja’s friend, Diane Dipson. She is confused to see them when she opens the door and Spider-Man informs them he is there to see Dr. Dipson. Inside, they are talking to Diane’s father Chip in his laboratory. Chip tells him he is busy at the moment because a great cosmic deity has split into two separate beings, expending considerable powers completely unchecked by each other. Spider-Man says they were just there, to which Chip tells him they must have seen that they are fraying the threads of reality.


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

[Assistant]
untitled
(Park Slope, Brooklyn)In the all-out brawl between the forces of Order and Chaos, Captain America lunges at Chaos and goes to punch him. Chaos sarcastically feigns fear only for Captain America’s arm to start fraying, as if it were made of fabric. He is shocked to see numerous tendrils coming off it and Chaos simply laughs at his fortune.
(Dr. Chip Dipson’s home, Park Slope)Chip and his daughter Diane are talking to Spider-Man, Sonja and Jennifer. Chip looks intrigued and asks them if they think the fact the threads of reality are coming undone has something to do with a teddy bear. Sonja tells him it sounds ridiculous but SHIELD has attacked them twice now to get hold of the bear. Chip picks up the small purple bear and holds it up high. Staring at it curiously, he says that a spider doesn’t spin webs from its wrists but here they are. He suddenly catches sight of the demonic reflection of Mr. Dapples in the mirror and yells in shock, dropping the teddy.
On the street, Order senses Mr. Dapples is near and telepathically contacts Deadpool, whilst an alternate Iron Man stomps nearby. Deadpool is currently attacking a Carnage-covered Silver Surfer, who in turn is firing energy rays at Longshot. Order tells Deadpool to stop what he is doing, as he is implanting another location in his mind. He is told to go to the address and retrieve the teddy bear and to do whatever is necessary to complete the job. The brainwashed Deadpool repeats back to order that he is to kill everyone there and take the teddy bear. Longshot overhears Deadpool speaking and chases after him, determined not to let him hurt the girls.
In Chip’s lab, he is examining Mr. Dapples with a scanning device as everybody else watches. Chip tells the group he is picking up some interesting stuff, as he looks to the various monitors around to see images of a demonic dog-like creature instead of a teddy bear. Staring at his results, he declares that Mr. Dapples is actually Miss Dapples and she is a corrupted and altered cosmic cube. Chip theorizes that the splitting of the cosmic cube into a half mirror world demon and half real teddy bear is something to do with the splitting of the In-Betweener. The In-Betweener exists in a realm between fact and fantasy, power and weakness, and good and evil. When he ruptured, he must have split the cube too, turning it into a teddy bear and a mirror demon. Chip continues and says if he could rig up something to join the two halves of Miss Dapples and de-corrupt her back into a cube then that might stop the universe coming apart. It might not though, but since he isn’t doing anything else right now it is worth a try.
Outside, Deadpool sprints down the street with Longshot not far behind. Johnny, the barber Longshot met before he warped reality, suddenly appears and hurls a pair of scissors at Deadpool. Deadpool tells them both that he doesn’t have time to physically or verbally spar with them right now. Longshot begins to warn Johnny about throwing scissors but he inadvertently gets struck by them, causing him to have a vision.
Longshot sees himself standing on a street holding a cosmic cube. Nearby Johnny and Arthur, the barbers, watch as a man walks out of their shop. The man doesn’t know how he was teleported from his film set in Dubai but he just got the best haircut he ever had. Arthur tells Johnny that it is going to change everything for them.
Longshot snaps out of it and continues his chase of Deadpool. In Chip’s lab, a news report plays on the TV about a plane that crashed because it started to unravel like a ball of string. As Chip and Spider-Man work hard on a piece of machinery, Chip tells the superhero that he was kidnapped by Doctor Octopus once. He wanted him to help him build a trans-dimensional octo-space ship thing. But he sabotaged it and it blew up on the launch pad and Doc Ock thought it was his fault. Spider-Man turns and looks at Chip hard for a few seconds and then turns back to working on the device. He thanks Chip, who tells him he was just doing his duty and he is glad the guy is dead now. Chip says the cosmic cube fixer thing should boot up now but it isn’t. He asks if Spider-Man has all the circuits correct.
Outside, Deadpool punches Longshot, who returns the favor. He then kicks Longshot and crashes into a boarded-up shop and gets another vision. He sees a man and a woman standing in their own barber shop, staring out across the street at a newly-opened shop. The woman says that they have had their salon for ten years and now some hipster barber shop has swooped in across the street. The man says they are going to have to sell the place, that’s if anyone will even buy it.
Longshot recovers from his vision to see Deadpool walking off. He jumps towards him but Deadpool swings round and slashes him across the chest with his sword. Longshot falls to the floor, clutching his chest as blood pools around him. He suddenly gets numerous visions of himself using the cube to help people out but also cause other people misery.
At the fight, Magneto rides on the shoulders of a giant Doombot whilst singing a song. Chaos points out that Charles Xavier is dead in this timeline, causing Magneto to blow up the Doombot in anger. At Chip’s place, Jennifer looks at her finger to see it is starting to fall apart like string. Kneeling on the floor outside, Longshot says he just wanted to help, as Deadpool walks up the stairs to Chip’s front door. Inside, the gang hear the front doorbell ring and Diane answers it and finds Longshot stood on the doorstep. He tells her Deadpool was brain controlled by Order and he was going to kill her, but the spell was broken by tacos. Behind him, Deadpool is stood next to a taco van, with his arms full of tacos.
Chip asks who was at the door and Diane shows him Longshot. She tells them he seems handsome and then corrects herself to nice. Spider-Man tells him the devices are going crazy and it seems he has quite an effect on the cosmic cube. Chip says it won’t be corrupted for much longer and they need to stick it in the machine, because it has suddenly started working again. Longshot kneels down in front of Jennifer and tells her he needs to take Miss Dapples because they have something important to do. He says that he doesn’t think she will see either of them again. Behind them, the demonic form in the mirror has now changed to look like a woman.
Outside, the sky has torn open and giant purple tentacles whip out and reach towards the city below. Order yells at Chaos and asks if he is trying to rip the universe apart. Chaos replies that it isn’t his doing and he is as scared of those things as he is. An injured Longshot appears behind them, holding a fully formed cosmic cube. He activates it and its power engulfs him, taking him apart piece by piece. As he is being deconstructed, he sees an image of a woman floating towards him, kissing him on the cheek.
Longshot looks around to find himself on Park Slope, but now the sky is blue and everything is back to the way it should be. He is also wearing a new costume but before he can take it all in he is called upon by the reformed In-Betweener. Longshot goes over to him and tells him he is ready. His luck has been ruining loves and he is ready for the In-Betweener to stop it and kill him. The In-Betweener stares at him for a few seconds and then takes off his hunting mask. Purple tendrils reach out from the mask and grab hold of Longshot. Before he can react, Longshot is transported to another plane of existence.
Amongst a cosmic landscape full of doors and planets, a giant In-Betweener holds Longshot on the palm of his hand. He tells the lucky one that he remembers everything that just went on. He has made mistakes of his own and he has been punished for them. But he is the In-Betweener and he is past and future. Already and never he has worked to correct his own crimes, hence the masks and the tasks that accompany it. Longshot is no longer a task, although he may or might have been. Longshot stares up at the colossal being and says he has no idea what he is saying.
The In-Betweener explains that Longshot and his fortune are part of the balance, just like every living and dead thing is. But interacting with the cube was very upsetting. Just as the mask hides him from entities that might envy his power, the cube hid from him. He did not realize it was involved and that is why he deemed Longshot had to die. Now he knows he was wrong. Somewhere, the cube exists and it evades his detection as it has probably realized its errors. The problem is solved but, if Longshot’s path should cross with it in the future, he advises against using it. Do so and they will meet again. He picks up one of the many doors floating around and brings it down to Longshot. Longshot opens the door and steps through into the real world again.
As he steps out, the door vanishes as if it were never there. He turns to see Santiago step out of a convenience store, holding up a scratch card. He is on the phone to his kid and he says that he just won three hundred dollars and is going to buy a plane ticket to see them. A radio news report says that Maria Hill, director of SHIELD, issued a statement saying that current programs are adequately dealing with magical threats and no improvement is needed.
Suddenly, two robbers on hoverboards whiz past Longshot, almost hitting him. They are being chased by police cars, but one of them crashes into a lamppost. The two cops get out and open the trunk. One of them tells his partner it is exactly the situation they should use this thing for. The other is unsure, as it is new and she has never used one before. Longshot goes up to them and asks if he can help, as he used to use one on his reality TV show. One of the cops looks around in surprise that he would use one of these on a reality show. As Longshot takes off into the air with the cop’s jetpack, he can barely believe it too.


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

[Assistant]
Alone Against Alpha Flight
Barely a week ago, Machine Man battled Madame Menace, the mysterious armorer of the underworld - and though he shattered her sinister schemes, he could not prevent her escape. As the robotic hero leaps over warehouses on a dock in the middle of the night, he is haunted by dreams of Madame Menace, and wonders whether she truly survived their encounter. Down below, he sees a building that was one of Madame Menace’s bases, and decides he may be able to find answers within.
But inside the warehouse, Madame Menace’s henchmen are busying destroying files in a fire that has been lit in a barrel. ‘Quickly now! Destroy everything that can’t be carted away!’ one of them orders. He reminds his colleagues that the boss-lady wants this place evacuated, as it has been a liability ever since Machine Man discovered its location. ‘Leave no thing behind - no traces - no clues!’ he orders, telling them too to hurry, when suddenly, Machine Man’s arm extends down from the ceiling, and lifts the henchman up into the air. Machine Man tells himself that by negating gravity he managed to silently sneak through the building’s skylight, while down below, another of the henchmen orders the others to scramble.
‘He’s got Santell!’ one of the henchmen exclaims, but Machine Man throws Santell down to the others, telling them that he did not mean to keep their associate. ‘He’s trying to bowl us over!’ another declares as Santell lands on top of them. When they gather themselves, one of the henchmen tells the others to surround Machine Man and they will take him by sheer numbers. Machine Man drops to the ground, while extending his leg around the legs of the men, causing them to fall over, as he asks if the lady of the house is at home, as he has come to end her ruthless criminal rampage.
Machine Man decides that he must press the attack before the henchmen can regroup, and extends his arms, swinging them about to knock the men over once more, while announcing that Madame Menace does not hire cheap help, as these men are good - skilled professionals, deadly and dedicated. ‘But you’re no match for capabilities!’ he exclaims as he extends a leg, knocking them over once more. However, Machine Man grows confident, careless, as one of the men holds a weapon up and fires it at Machine Man: ‘You were so busy reading your own press releases - you didn’t notice me!’ he shouts, while Machine Man is bombarded by the sonic rifle. He reacts with the speed of through, and extends an arm, and grabs the weapon, crushing it instantly. ‘Your weapon may have fused the circuitry in my left knee - but this technological trooper is never helpless!’ Machine Man boasts.
The henchman begins to run away from Machine Man, ‘Keep away from me, you stainless steel sucker!’ he shouts as he blasts a ray gun at Machine Man, who informs the henchman that he will not escape by running behind an electromagnetic generator - ‘In fact, you’ve merely saved me the effort of having to pull my punch!’ Machine Man declares as the generator falls on the henchman, trapping him against a wall, which shatters open partly. Machine Man looks around, the other henchmen remain on the floor. ’So much for my petulant playmates’ he tells himself, before adjusting his leg, and remarking that he can keep his leg functional by overriding the electrical relays in his knee. ’But I still haven’t found Madame Menace!’ he exclaims.
‘Perhaps a pigeon will sing for me’ Machine Man wonders as he pulls the mask back on one of the henchmen and tells him to wake up, ‘Tell me how to find your sexy superior!’ Machine Man orders, but the henchman replies that he won’t. Machine Man decides that he will have to bluff him, and grabs him by the collar and forces him into the air, warning him not to skate around with him. ‘My patience fuse - is easily blown!’ Machine Man claims. The henchman replies that Madame Menace has gone into hiding, but he doesn’t know where. Machine Man drops the henchman down to the others, while deciding that he was too terrified to lie, and his sensors monitored his pulse. Machine Man decides that he will not learn anything more here, and flies through the hole in the wall, deciding that he may as well head home before his left leg overloads.
At that precise moment, in the secret underground complex of the ever-merciless, ever-mysterious Madam Menace, the villainess herself monitors a computer, depicting Machine Man taking flight, while one of her henchmen declares that their carefully concealed sensors video-taped Machine Man’s every action. ‘Excellent, Rollins! I want a complete profile on that robot - with special emphasis on his vulnerability to sonics!’ Madame Menace replies, while declaring that she supplies sophisticated weaponry to an elite clientele of underworld entrepreneurs, and Machine Man is the most resourceful, most efficient multi-functional combat unit she has ever seen. ‘I must have him for my fall catalog of designer armaments!’ she exclaims.
Meanwhile, inside the apaprtment that Aaron Stack, the Machine Man’s human guise, shares with psychiatrist Peter Spaulding. The well-dressed Spaulding paces the living room, pipe in hand, he tells himself that Aaron should have returned by now. ‘I don’t know what’s worse: staying behind or playing host to his crude, ill-mannered mechanic friend’ Peter tells himself, looking at Gears Garvin, who is lounging back in a char, while putting his feet up on the coffee table. Peter asks Garvin to remove his feet, but Garvin belches in reply, and explains he is getting comfortable while waiting for their bolt-brained buddy. Peter warns Gears not to use such terms when referring to Aaron, as his feelings will get hurt. Gears gets up and tells Peter to “downshift”, assuring him that he likes Aaron as much has Peter, but that doesn’t change the fact that he is a sheet of metal and wires instead of flesh and blood.
‘To you, Aaron’s just a big toy to tinker with!’ Peter exclaims. ‘And what’s he to you - a case history that’ll guarantee ya a cover feature on Psychology Today?’ Gears asks as the men prepare to face off. ‘You insufferable, insensitive clod!’ Peter shouts, when suddenly, Machine Man enters the apartment: ‘Gentlemen!’ he exclaims, holding his two friends away from each other, while remarking that it looks like he arrived just in time, before asking what is going on. Peter claims that they were having a mild disagreement. ‘Yeah…he wanted ta watch Love Boat, but I preferred Masterpiece Theater!’ Gears replies, before noticing Machine Man limping. Machine Man explains that a sonic blast fused some circuits, and asks his friend if he can repair them. Machine Man sits on the sofa and Gears tends to the circuits, while Peter watches, and thinks to himself ‘Talk about misguided concern! Garvin and I were acting like children…fighting for the attentions of a prized friend!’
Elsewhere, a political fund-raiser in a posh mid-Manhattan hotel is taking place, and Senator Miles Brickman is up to his old tricks, as he stands on a podium, a large image of Machine Man is displayed behind him, and the Senator declares that Machine Man is a freak and a public menace. ‘Elect me to the White House and I’ll eradicate this threat forever!’ Brickman boasts. His aides watch his speech from the sidelines of the stage, and one of them remarks that the Senator is in trouble, that he has not scored well in the primaries. The other points out that the Senator is obsessed with the robot, that his entire campaign strategy is based on the public’s paranoia of automation, but now the Senator is floundering.
Brickman concludes his harrowing harangue, to considerably less than thunderous approval, and he storms off the stage, where one of his aides suggests that perhaps he should forget Machine Man. The other tells the Senator to concentrate on the real issues of the campaign - inflation, unemployment and foreign policy. ‘Stop worrying!’ Brickman exclaims, revealing that he has personally taken steps to insure the utter and irrevocable obliteration of the rascally robot, and within days, the public will hail him as the savior of society!
Meanwhile, in Canada, specifically the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario. Where, located five hundred meters beneath these stately structures is a top-secret section of the Ministry of Defense - codenamed Department H! ‘Another earth-shaking calamity must be a’brewing! The top echelon’s in conference now’ a Department H worker remarks to another. And, in a nearby room, several men are observing a monitor which depicts Alpha Flight’s Sasquatch engaged in battle with the Hulk, and more images of the Hulk battling Machine Man. Someone stands at the front of the room and tells the various officials that, some months ago, the Incredible Hulk entered Canadian territory. He points out that these photographs were taken when the Department assigned Sasquatch with the task of neutralizing him.
The official continues, explaining that Sasquatch possess almost limitless strength, and he tried to contain the man-monster, but in the ensuing battle, vast tracks of prime Canadian timberland were destroyed. ‘A tragic, staggering loss!’ someone calls out. The official continues, revealing that recently, Parliament received a dossier of slides and documents from an anonymous party. He reveals that the records allege that prior to his arrival here, the Hulk clashed with a computerized constructed called Machine Man. He explains that according to their mysterious source, Machine Man defeated the Hulk, hypnotized him, and sent him hurtling into space - deliberately aimed at Canada.
The slideshow ends, and the official informs the others that hints link this rash robot to the US government. He remarks that if these allegations are true, someone owes them a great deal of explanation - and compensation. Another man addresses the official as “Minister” and remarks that he assumes Department H is to determine the veracity of their unknown informant. ‘Precisely Agent K!’ comes the reply. ‘As our top covert operative, you are to discover the who and why of this highly disturbing dossier!’ the Minister explains. ‘And what of Machine Man?’ Agent K asks. The Minister replies that a team of experienced specialists shall attend to him, and hands Agent K a sonic transmitter, which will enable him to establish field communications with them. Agent K asks when he gets to meet with them to discuss strategy, to which the Minister replies ‘Right now’ and asks Agent K to follow him, as they enter the Alpha Flight wing of Department H.
The grim Agent K is led along a vast underground corridor, to the very heart and soul of Department H. Standing in a training room as Dr Walter “Sasquatch” Langkowski, and mutants twins Jean-Paul and Jeanne-Marie Beaubier, also known as Northstar and Aurora, respectively. ‘Alpha Flight - Canada’s answer to the Avengers! I’ve heard whispers of this mighty super-team…but I never expected to meet it!’ Agent K gasps. The Minister replies that this is only half the team, as the others are on assignment in Northern Quebec. Northstar informs the Minister that he has come at a bad time, as he and his sister have just set the simulators for combat maneuvers, and Sasquatch, who is currently holding up a heavy four ton hydraulic press with his shoulders explains that this commands all his attention at the moment.
‘Don’t let us disturb you, Northstar’ the Minister announces, so the twins being their simulation. With blistering speed, Northstar easily avoids the stunning sonic blasts, while the vivacious Aurora effortlessly negotiates her way through a lethal laser maze. Together, in physical contact, the mutant twins can generate bursts of blinding light. ‘Ho! This life is so thrilling, so intoxicating’ Aurora exclaims, while Northstar thinks to himself that these silly super hero games disturb him, and if not for his sister, he would quickly retire from them. Then, after the training session has reached its climax, the Minister has informed Alpha Flight of the predicament. ‘We cannot jeopardize American relations! You must operate…’ he begins. ‘…without official sanction’ Agent K concludes. And the next morning, a sleek limousine crosses the border into the United States.
At that exact second, in her hidden mid-Manhattan headquarters, a gloating Madame Menace studies her latest insidious invention. ‘A sonic disruptor! It’s beam will attack Machine Man’s neuro-circuits - reducing him to a mass of quivering convulsive metal meringue!’ Madame Menace boasts. Madame Menace calls out to Rollins and tells him to place a classified in tomorrow’s Daily Bugle, informing her antagonistic automation that she wishes to renew their acquaintance. The Henchman asks Madame Menace if that is wise, as Machine Man will likely suspect a trap. Madame Menace walks away, replying ‘Of course! For that reason alone, he’ll come!’
Later, after exchanging her grim garb for a Mackenzie original, Madame Menace resumes her identity as the glamorous Sunset Bain, queen of the international jet-setters. ‘Sunset, you’ve made my party a success!’ the party organizer tells the glamorous Sunset Bain, before asking her to meet the guest of honor - Senator Brickman. The party organizer reveals that Senator Brickman is hoping to win his party’s nomination for the presidency. Sunset Bain tells the Senator that she believes they have a mutual friend. ‘Really? How nice’ the Senator replies.
And, as Miles Brickman makes his play for the well-to-do vote, inside the Delmar Insurance Company, Eddie Harris tells Aaron Stack that he will never get rich as an investigator for the Delmar Insurance Company, as he needs a secure investment to fall back on. Aaron, dressed in a suit the same purple color as the Machine Man design, asks Eddie what he suggests. ‘High school girl’s badminton matches’ Eddie exclaims. ‘I’ll book the bets, you cover the cash! We’ll make fortunes! The action is practically virgin territory!’ he declares. But Aaron tells Eddie to count him out of his wild schemes. ‘Gambling is not a risk venture for me - it’s a carefully investigated science!’ Eddie claims. Aaron smiles and asks Eddie why his funds are always depleted.
Eddie exclaims that science doesn’t come cheap, and asks Aaron if he hasn’t heard of research grants. ‘Forget it, Stack! You’ll never be a big-time operator like me!’ Eddie calls out as Aaron walks away from him. Eddie then calls out to a colleague called Maggie and asks her if she can lend him five bucks for lunch. But Eddie isn’t the only one with problems, as Aaron sees Pamela Quinn, and reminds himself that he has been trying to avoid her. Pamela approaches Aaron and asks him if there is something wrong, as he seems troubled. Aaron smiles and thinks to himself that Pam makes him feel very strange and unrobotlike, with emotions that frighten him.
Meanwhile, at a luxurious suite in one of New York’s finest hotels, Walter, Jean-Paul and Jeanne-Marie stand around inside, while Jean-Paul asks what they are to do while Agent K investigates his own leads. Jeanne-Marie tells her brother not to pressure Dr Langkowski, as he may turn into Sasquatch and make nasties on him. ‘Bah!’ Jean-Paul exclaims, while Walter pulls three wrist-monitors from a briefcase, telling Aurora that Northstar is just anxious to complete their mission. He explains that the wrist monitors will help them do so, as they will track Machine Man’s unique bio-radiations within a limited radius. Northstar declares that the toys may look stylish, but that they are useless unless he and his sister are to race about this magnificent metropolis at super speed until they pick up a reading.
‘That’s not necessary’ Walter replies, and explains that according to the dossier that Department H received, Machine Man uses “Aaron Stack” as his name. Walter holds up a phone book and suggests they use it to get his address. Jean-Paul smiles and tells Walter that only he can make these grim games of costumes and death seem almost enjoyable, while Aurora kisses Walter on the cheek, and tells him that he takes himself so seriously, that no one never knows when he is joking. ‘I wasn’t - er - joking’ Walter replies. The twins walk away from Walter, as Jean-Paul suggests they celebrate their youth in this greatest of cities. ‘We shall eat and drink till dawn!’ he declares.
And, early the next morning, Peter Spaulding receives a startling shock while perusing his morning Bugle. He rushes into another room, where Machine Man is standing, and tells his friend that he hates to disturb him while he is monitoring his internal circuitry, but before Peter can explain why, Machine Man tells him that will talk after he has reattached his face and donned his helmet. ‘You’re upset about that classified on page fifty-four!’ Machine Man exclaims. Without pausing, Machine Man continues testing his limbs, as he extends his legs, and tells Peter that he believes the advert says “Put a little menace in your life, robot! Meet me at the usual place!” Peter replies that he thinks it is a trap. ‘So do I’ Machine Man confirms, but points out that Madam Menace threatens his very survival, and he cannot rest while she is free. Peter asks his friend if he has a battle plan, a brilliant strategy to defeat her. As he flies out the window, Machine Man replies that he doesn’t, but he will think of something. ‘I always do!’
Just then, on the street below, Walter Langkowski steps out of a cab, thinking that while the Beaubier twins sleep off their party, he will check out the only “Stack” in the book. Suddenly, his wrist monitor goes off, meaning Machine Man is in the area, and is on the move. Walter gets back into the cab and tells the driver that he has changed his mind. ‘I’d like a scenic tour of your fine city - and I’ll give directions’ Walter tells him. ‘It’s pineapple time again!’ the cab driver thinks to himself.
Totally oblivious to the pursuing Dr Langkowski, Machine Man glides to the waterfront warehouse of Madame Menace. He sees that the outside wall has been repaired and that the skylights are secure. He decides that since he is expected, he dare not use a conventional entrance, and extends his arm so that his finger sensors can scout the area. As his hand reaches inside the warehouse, he detects that the place appears to be deserted, except for a few empty crates and the oddly glowing ball in the warehouse.
Securing the amazing ball, the computerized crusader quickly deduces its function - ‘This is a maser-controlled homing device! Menace wants me to analyze its frequency so I can follow her!’ Machine Man exclaims. But, meantime, Walter Langkowski gets out of the cab, parked down on the dock. ‘That robot led us a merry chase - but he seems to have settled down at last’ Walter decides, before dismissing the cabby. Within moments, the Canadian super hero locates the Machine Man on top of the warehouse. ‘How disappointing. I’d imagined him to be far more impressive!’ Walter thinks to himself.
Walter runs down an alley, telling himself that he has outgrown the need to test himself against other super-persons, but Alpha Flight’s mission is to seize the robot before the authorities notice their presence in the States. The handsome former pro line-backer removes his clothing. He is, one of the very small percentage of the population who discovered he would not have a fatal reaction to gamma radiation, and through controlled irradiation he could achieve awesome power. Intense mental concentration triggers his gamma altered thyroid, and his body hair takes on a golden hue, and thickens, while his muscles bulge with incredible strength - Sasquatch walks the earth! Fully transformed, Walter tells himself the strain of transformations is getting less painful.
Up on the roof, Machine Man has identified and classified the homing signal, which his internal receivers can now trace to the murderous Madam Menace. But, suddenly, Machine Man is tossed about as the building begins to shudder and quake. ‘Not the entire building - just the section you’re standing upon!’ Sasquatch calls out as he breaks part of the roof away, while thinking that he should have informed Northstar and Aurora of his plans, as he may need back up against the rascally robot.
‘An orange-matted monstrosity is attacking me!’ Machine Man cries out. Seeking to stun his armoured opponent, Sasquatch strikes, by slamming the slap of building onto the ground, deciding that he cannot take chances with someone who actually beat the Hulk, reminding himself that he still has bruises from his own battle with the green and gruesome. But, Machine Man frees himself from the debris, and extends a fist, which slams into Sasquatch’s face. ‘I’d hate to be known as an overly-curious computer, but what’s your hassle, hairy?’ Machine Man asks. ‘I am Sasquatch! I’m here to arrest you!’ Walter announces as he knocks Machine Man backwards. ‘For what? Super heroing without a license?’ Machine Man asks, before extending both his feet and hands back towards Sasquatch, hitting him with the force of all four. ‘Don’t you realize the enormity of your predicament?’ Sasquatch asks. ‘No - but I do realize that you’re as a musing as a busted bolt!’ Machine Man replies, while deciding that Sasquatch is too straight-laced, too sincere, which means he could not work for Madame Menace.
Meanwhile, the mysterious Agent K walks through the city, deciding that his constant leg work is paying off, as the dossier was mailed from this post office, and it was typed on stationary earmarked for federal use. He decides that, obviously, some high American official is trying to manuever Canada into taking an antagonistic position towards Machine Man. ‘But who - and why?’ he wonders.
Back on the dock, Machine Man tells himself that Sasquatch’s sensational strength is almost beyond comprehension. ‘I’ll have to out-manuever him’ Machine Man decides, hoping he can position his opponent properly to do so, and as he extends both his arms outwards, he manages to trap Sasquatch in the field he has generated between his hands. Machine Man decides that he must end this before Madame Menace assumes he is not coming and ends the homing beacon. But, moving with surprising speed for one so bulky, Sasquatch lashes out, and rips up the very pacing from beneath Machine Man’s feet. Then, as Machine Man falls onto the dock, Sasquatch asks him why he deliberately sent the Hulk to Canada.
Machine Man realizes that Sasquatch is referring to his first meeting with the greenskin, and announces that he was heavily damaged and dazed, and that he thought he was removing the man-monster from civilization. ‘If your motives were noble, you have nothing to fear from our authorities’ Sasquatch declares. But Machine Man extends an arm around Sasquatch’s neck and reveals that he has little faith in the authorities of any country. ‘I’ll shatter your grasp!’ Sasquatch boasts, but Machine Man does not give him the opportunity, as he lifts Sasquatch up and throws him into the water.
While Sasquatch is still spluttering and gasping for air, Machine Man taps into a local power source - a nearby street light - and jolts Sasquatch back into consciousness. Seconds later, Machine Man extends his arms and drags the soaking wet Sasquatch from the water, telling him that he carefully gauged his weight and mass, as he wanted to stun him, not fry him. ‘He’s making sure I don’t drown’ Walter realizes. Having satisfied himself to his furry friend’s eventual recovery, Machine Man activates his foot-stakes, and takes off, resuming his search for Madame Menace. He traces her homing signal to its point of origin, as she must be stopped. ‘Must contact the others’ Sasquatch tells himself.
And, shortly, down a street, Machine Man has traced the signal, which is coming from an open sewer, currently guarded by two of Madame Menace’s goons. Machine Man telescopes his arms out - and smacks their heads together, knocking them out. This is all being watched by Madame Menace, miles away in her secret headquarters. ‘At last! He arrived! We’ll capture him as the prototype for a full line of living robots!’ she announces.
As Machine Man makes his way through the tunnels in the sewer, Madame Menace’s thugs arrive at a pre-arranged signal. ‘So! I was right! This was a trap. Lucky me’ Machine Man tells himself. Tired after his battle with Sasquatch, Machine Man decides to rest while the henchmen waste themselves by pounding his metallic body - after all, they will suffer more from the punches than he will.
Meanwhile, Agent X continues his quest. ‘Government employees are the same in every country! They leave precisely at five!’ he tells himself as he enters an office. ‘I’m searching the office of every bureaucrat, every elected official within that post office’s radius!’ he reminds himself, checking the typewriters, for each has its own quirks. ‘I won’t rest until I have found the one which typed the dossier’.
At that moment, the battle continues to rage, as the “heavy artillery” enters a room where Machine Man has entered. The henchman boasts that the solar powered nunchakus will slice through Machine Man’s metal hide like blazing blades through butter. ‘Really? I’m partial to margarine myself’ Machine Man responds as he extends his fists upwards, smashing the ceiling, causing rocks to fall down on the goon. ‘Even a robot has to watch his weight! I check-in at 8501 lbs!’ he announces. Dodging the nunchakus, Machine Man tell the goons that their boss must be filming this, and asks them to cue him when it is time for him to smile on camera.
Indeed, Madame Menace is still monitoring Machine Man’s actions. ‘That raging robot is defeating everyone of my marauding mercenaries!’ she exclaims, before ordering ‘Delay no longer! Employ the sonic disruptor!’ At the command of Madame Menace, a hidden panel slides upwards - revealing the wrathful weapon, and a mercenary fires, dowsing Machine Man in the sonic energies, causing the robotic hero to fall to the ground, his limbs extended and tangled. ‘The disruptor is a success!’ one of the henchmen exclaims. ‘He’s helpless!’ another shouts. But Machine Man is still conscious: ‘It’s playing havoc with my neuro-circuits! I’ve lost all control over my body…my limbs!’
However, in that instant, a blurred streak suddenly appears - Aurora! We have arrived in time!’ Northstar shouts as he knocks several henchmen over, while Aurora takes out the others. ‘Yes, Northstar. We scoured the city at super-speed to find Sasquatch! Then our wrist monsters traced the robot!’ Aurora declares. Sasquatch bursts through a wall, announcing that he had a little trouble smashing his way through that manhole opening, but Sasquatch is now here in all his fabulous, furry finery!
‘Wonderful! Big orange and his colourful cronies are fighting Menace’s men for me…and I am totally defeseless while trapped in this fatal field’ Machine Man thinks to himself. Sasquatch thinks that Machine Man could have left him for dead, but didn’t, so cannot believe he is an enemy. Suddenly, Madame Menace informs her cronies that the “interlopers” have no commercial value. ‘Destroy them!’ she orders. But, taking advantage of Alpha Flight’s diversion, Machine Man decides upon a daring and desperate plan. ‘I have one weapon at my disposal’ he tells himself, as he strains with concentration, the valiant robot releases the magnetic couplings which join his head and body, then negating gravity, he leaves his flailing, convulsing shell, and like a molten, magnificent meteor, he surges against his sonic savagery - smashing, beating and battering at the canon.
‘The robot’s freed himself!’ Sasquatch exclaims, and, like some harrowing, haunting phoenix, Machine Man rises from the flames of his greatest defeat-  his head has literally smashed the canon into a pile of flaming rubble. But, like all true victories, this did not come cheap - as half of his face has been melted. A chill and sullen silence falls of the chamber, Finally, the robot moves, and with hesitant, jerking movements, he fastens his battle-scarred face to his rapidly recuperating body.
Suddenly, ‘Are you all quite satisfied?’ Machine Man asks, ‘Are you satisfied? Are you? ARE YOU?’ he booms as he extends his fists and begins punching Madame Menace’s henchmen over and over. Madame Menace watches this on her monitors, and wide-eyed, tells herself that the robot has blown every one of his cerebral circuits. ‘He’s totally, irrevocably…mad!’
Aurora tells Northstar that they must stop Machine Man before he commits murder. And as they connect their hands, they envelop Machine Man in a blinding blast of dazzling light. ‘Your ploy may be effective against humans, but my finger sensors are impervious to intense glare!’ Machine Man reveals as he extends a fist, which punches Northstar in the face. Sasquatch goes over to Machine Man and tells him that he may feel sorry for him, but that he cannot go offing his friends. But Machine Man retaliates: ‘Humanity has hunted, hounded and haunted me since the day of my creation! I’ve had enough!’ he declares as he punches Sasquatch. Stunned by the purely elemental savagery of the attack, Sasquatch stumbles backwards, with chilling machinelike efficiency, blow after high-impact blow is reigned upon the helpless hero.
‘Stop, you inhuman monster! You are killing him!’ Aurora cries out. With the suddenness of a blown fuse, the robot ceases all motion - he hovers over Sasquatch and asks ‘What… have I…done?’, while Aurora orders him to get away from Sasquatch, to give him some air. Machine Man looks at his fists and decides that Sasquatch will recover. ‘But I had no right to cut loose like that’ he tells himself, while wondering if Brickman was right all along. ‘Am I only a step away from being a menace?’ Horrified by his handiwork, Machine Man loosens his coupling joins and converts his body into a living drill - ‘I’m leaving! Please don’t follow me!’ he warns Alpha Flight as he drills down into the floor beneath them. ‘That metal plated pig…’ Northstar exclaims while rubbing his sore head. Sasquatch also rubs his own head and suggests to Northstar that they call it a day. ‘I’ll have this headache for months!’ he exclaims, while Aurora, hands on hips, announces that she hopes Agent K fared better with his mission.
Indeed, Agent K did have better luck with his mission. ‘This machine typed the dossier!’ he exclaims as he stands over a typewriter, he sees that it belongs to Senator Miles Brickman. Examining a file, Agent K learns that Brickman wanted Canada to take a vigorous stand against Machine Man, and the attendant publicity would have aided Brickman’s political aspirations. Agent K decides that Alpha Flight must abandon mission Machine Man, and, as for Brickman, he will learn the price for embroiling Canada in his personal play for power.
Later, burning with anger at the way their government was used, Sasquatch, Aurora and Northstar turn homeward, each carrying a new and better understanding of this silly game of super heroes.
Miles away, Madame Menace stalks her closely guarded base. ‘I’ll get that Machiavellian metal man! Someday! Somehow!’ she boasts.
And, thanks to some fancy footwork by Agent K, the news media has a new toy, as an announcer declares ‘A plot to have foreign governments rig American elections!’
And at that moment, Brickman’s aides are packing up and leaving. ‘Stop! You can’t desert me!’ he tells them. ‘You’re through, Senator! After this fiasco, you couldn’t get elected as Nixon’s butler!’ one of them exclaims. Angrily, the Senator warns them that they have not heard the last of him, and boasts that he shall return.
And, as morning slowly mutates into evening, ‘Any word from the kid?’ Gears Garvin asks Peter Spaulding, who replies ‘No! He wants to be alone!’
On a lonely, wind-chilled street, a brooding robot ponders his flickering future…he has seen the darkest side of his soul. And the sight has sickened him. Machine Man walks through the darkened street, face distorted. Burdened as he is, how shall he face the morrow?


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

[Assistant]
Soul of a Gumshoe
It is night in New York City. The street is crowded with vehicles of every type, driving to their destinations under the illumination of their headlights, streetlights and the crescent moon above them. On the sidewalk, walking along it or using it to enter or exit any of the buildings lining the street, are throngs of people. One man among these throngs is a sweating, pale-faced young man, his right hand holding a wound under a bloodstained shirt, half hidden beneath his leather coat.
Walking among this sea of strangers, he thinks about this song, “Another Hundred People,” about people pouring into New York City by hundreds, into an ever-increasing faceless mass. It’s from a show called “Company.” And, if there’s anything he, Jamie Madrox – the Multiple Man, knows, it’s company.
Half-doubled over from his wound, Madrox makes his way to a cab, which another pedestrian has hailed. Despite the man being in mid-sentence to the driver about going to Lincoln Center, Jamie knocks him aside, entering the cab without a word. When the man protests, Madrox simply pushes him back, again without a word. Incredulous at being manhandled, the man beings to protest again, until he noticed a red handprint on his white shirt. As he stares down in disbelief, he finally receives an articulation from Madrox, who simply instructs him to close the door of the cab. When the dumbfounded man asks Madrox if it’s blood, he replies with a repeat of his order. Close the door. Then asked by the man if it’s his blood, Madrox sarcastically replies that it won’t be for much longer, then repeats his order for him to close the door, to which the man complies.
Now turning his attention to the cab driver, Madrox speaks the name of his destination. Mutant Town. Rather than acting on this, the driver replies with a “what,” causing Madrox to repeat his destination. As the driver begins to ask a new question, the irritated Madrox leans forward, asking if he has to say everything three times. Having been able to see what he suspected, that his fare is bleeding, in his cab, the driver grows angry, asking Madrox if he has ANY idea of the paperwork… If he dies, Madrox asks. Receiving an affirmative, Madrox asks for clarification: Die in your cab, he means. Exactly, the driver exclaims. To this, he suggests that he let him take him to the hospital…
Nipping this idea in the bud, Madrox informs the driver that it’s too late for that… so how about he take him to Mutant Town… and then he just has a fare… instead of a murder scene on wheels. When the driver points out that he could die en route, Madrox counters that so could the driver. If he gets his meaning. Declaring that he does, loud and clear, the driver speeds off. His immediate problem solved, Madrox takes a moment to once again ponder the city of New York, the Great Melting Pot. What a crock, he thinks. Get it? he thinks to himself.
Continuing, he ponders how there’s no real “melting.” Assorted groups cluster in different areas for mutual support and protection. There’s Chinatown… Little Italy… Christopher Street… and then there’s “Mutant Town.” Difference is, they don’t get tourists… unless they’re looking for trouble… or are just dumb. Or both.
On a dark street in Mutant Town, two youths sit on the steps to their building. After a redheaded young woman walks by, one of them whistles out. Gaining no response, the two begin to follow, the first calling out to her. The redhead pauses briefly, glancing out of her peripheral vision. Grinning devilishly, the first asks her to slow down and give them a kiss. She’s not mad, he asks. Hasn’t she ever heard a wolf whistle? Stating that, aye, she has, the redhead spins around. Now no longer a girl, she is a werewolf. Baring her fangs and claws and spitting saliva, she asks in a Scottish brogue, Have ye? As the two stare in disbelief, Rahne Sinclair aka Wolfsbane, asks the two of them to give her a kiss. Moments after the two turn tail and run, Rahne returns to her normal form and sighs. Americans.
Continuing on her way, Rahne approaches a lone, four-story building and enters it. Climbing up the stairs, she arrives on the floor in question and heads toward a nearby door. Calling out to Jamie, Rahne lets slip her Scottish brogue – temporarily eliminating her carefully crafted American accent, as a result of her annoyance at her situation. Having received no reply, Rahne comes upon the door, finding a hand-written sign taped to its window: XXX Investigators, followed by J. Madrox, Pres.. Not bothering to knock, Rahne twists the doorknob, announcing her entrance with the advice to Jamie that he might want to splurge on a professional stencil on the… Rahne’s words trail, as her view into the office reveals the collapsed and sweaty form of Jamie Madrox, his eyes rolled back into his head and drool dripping from his mouth.
Quickly bending to her former teammate and cradling his head, Rahne calls out to him, demanding to know who did this to him and swearing that they’ll pay for… Suddenly, Jamie regains consciousness and promptly thanks Rahne for coming; he knows how busy she is… teaching up at the school. Still concerned, Rahne asks Jamie if he’s all right. To this, Jamie smiles goofily, replying that he’s fine… feeling noooo pain… In a moment of clarity of the situation, Rahne rhetorically asks Jamie if he’s drunk. Jamie’s response – kinda, yeah – causes Rahne to drop his head, allowing it to violently impact on the unforgiving linoleum floor.
As is his lot – from his mutant power – the impact causes Jamie to spontaneously generate a duplicate of himself, exact in every form, including his clothes. In a way, he thinks, he is his own parade. His own best friend. And the only drunk who can legitimately see double.  As the two Jamies begin to gather their senses, Rahne walks to the kitchen, taking off her coat, and announces that she’ll be making him some coffee. Upon her initial inspection of his kitchen, Rahne quantifies that she will, presuming that this swill counts as coffee. It looks like somethin’ the witches of Endor would’ve brewed, she opines – then suggests that they should scan it with Cerebra. Mutant lifeforms might be growing in it.
Still sitting on the floor, the Jamies begin to re-merge with each other, one pushing the other into his body – disappearing into him as if he were being immersed into a pool of water. Still sweating, the remaining Jamie asks Rahne to give him a break, okay? It’s not like he drank himself into a stupor. Did she smell any booze on him? Thinking about this, Rahne admits that she did not, now that he mentions it. Rising to his feet and pulling out a drawer from his desk, Jamie replies that, yeah, last night he waffled on staying in or going out, so he sent a dupe out to have a good time for him.
Taking this in, Rahne repeats last night, and asks if he was gone for… Twenty-four hours, Jamie replies. Yeah, apparently he had too good a time. Ripping open a moist towelette that he found in the desk, Jamie begins to wipe his forehead. Seeing this, Rahne tells Jamie that she thought he didn’t reabsorb damage that dupes sustained… Like elevated blood alcohol? he asks. No, but mental synapses, yes. And since the dupe’s brain was pickled, well…
How’s the coffee coming, he asks, changing the subject. Bringing to steaming cups to the couch upon which Jamie has collapsed, Rahne hands it to him, joking that she carved him a slice. Now changing the subject on her own, she asks him about the whole “detective” thing… why? And how’d he get a license? Answering the last question first, Jamie replies through an old FBI contact. As for the why… ‘cause, dumb as it sounds, he still wants to help people. Plus, he continues, with a wry y’know, he gets to meet gorgeous women.
Unconvinced, Rahne retorts that he’s been watching too many old movies. Plus, he knows bloody jack-all about detection. He… Rahne stops in surprise as Jamie sits up from the couch and grabs her chin by his right hand, examining her open mouth. Next, he grabs her ankle, lifting up her foot to examine the sole of her shoe, all despite her protestations. Reclining back, Jamie informs her that, on the way there, she stopped for a hot dog and relish at Nathan’s, gave a dollar to a homeless man, stopped by Midtown Comics to look at Muppet toys, stepped in a puddle at 32nd and 5th, and bought a copy of the Daily News but wound up giving it to another homeless man.
As Rahne takes this in, Jamie smiles inwardly, noting that his “Sherlock Holmes” riff should impress her. Finally managing to speak, Rahne stammers in question, H-How did he…? Sipping his coffee in satisfaction, Jamie merely replies that it’s a trade secret. Yep, he thinks to himself. Worked like a charm.
With the opening of the door once again, a new voice makes his presence known, with a simple “I’m back.” Turning to view the new arrival, Rahne is once again taken aback, as Jamie stands there. Unlike the Jamie Madrox still sitting on the couch, this Jamie is dressed in a monk’s robe, his head clean-shaven and a simple walking stick in his hand. Seeing that his “Kwai Chang” dupe has made his triumphant return, Jamie notes that he’s a week ahead of schedule.
Approaching the still-astonished Rahne, the monk Madrox addresses her, telling her that it has been several years. Receiving a startled it has?, Monk Madrox tells Rahne that she has grown into a fine young woman. Is she assisting with the office? Still startled but able to speak more coherently, Rahne replies just part-time, just to help… set up.
Deftly taking the mug from her hand, Jamie informs Rahne that there’s a bar downstairs across the street, called the Power Plant. Guido, he tells her, should be in about this time. He’d love to see her. When Rahne begins to protest, Jamie walks her to the door, telling her that he’ll be right down after he’s reabsorbed the dupe. As the monk Madrox bows in respect, telling Rahne for peace to be with her, Rahne tells Jamie that this is weird – doesn’t he see that? Closing the door in front of her, Jamie pretends to think aloud for a moment, before finally settling on the decision that it is not. Nope, no, not seeing that.
As the door comes to a close, Jamie recalls to himself that there’s a reason they’re called “private eyes.” It’s because they always keep aspects of themselves private; locked away so that no one… even their most trusted friends… can ever fully know them. Either that or no one wants to be seen in public with them. Yeah, he decides – that’s it.
Upon entering the Power Plant, Rahne is immediately addressed as “jailbait.” Looking to the bartender, Rahne sees a grey-skinned woman, with green octopus-like tentacles coming from her back. When Rahne asks her if she meant her, the bartender confirms it, lamenting that the liquor authority doesn’t hassle her enough for being a mutant bat. Now she has to worry about underage booze hounds?
Telling “Lefty,” to ease up, a hulking figure with monstrous-sized hands states that he’ll vouch for her. Turning around, Rahne finds herself engulfed in the gigantic arms of Guido Carosella. Hearing her call him by his former yet humorous nom de guerre of Strong Guy, Guido winces. Make one joke at a press conference, he states, and you’re stuck with a name for life. Now calling out to Lefty, Guido orders a scotch and soda to his regular table. Same for the lady, he the adds, ‘cept hold the scotch.
A few steps later, the two make themselves comfortable at Guido’s special table – built on two scales. One side is regular in size, for the average-sized person, while the other side is constructed on a larger scale, conforming to his Brobdingnagian form. Craning her neck to look at Guido, Rahne asks him how things are going with Lila. She heard he and she were an item… Shrugging this off, Guido replies simply an “eh,” adding that he doesn’t like to talk about it. Surprised, Rahne asks “really,” stating that the word was the two of them were… Cutting Rahne off, Guido snarls his lip, repeating slowly and vehemently that he doesn’t. like. t’talk about it. Okay?
Getting the point, Rahne quickly asks if they can talk about Jamie. Hearing this, Guido’s stern countenance instantly transforms into a broad grin. Replying that, sure, him he’ll talk about, Guido states that he’s his best friend in the world. Well… he thinks to add, ‘sides himself. Frowning at this, Rahne looks downwards, replying that that’s her point. First he quit his job at X-Corp in Paris. Paris! Who’d want t’leave Paris? In response to this, Guido replies that, nowadays?, who wouldn’t? Ignoring this, Rahne adds that now he’s so… distracted. Distant.
Still smiles, Guido tells Rahne that she’s gotta keep something in mind. Jamie’s raised “keeping to himself” to an art form. His parents kept him isolated on a small farm, wearing a special control suit so he wouldn’t keep churnin’ out duplicates every time he hit something, or something hit him. Then, they died in an accident, and the kid was stuck on his own for months, ‘fore anybody found out. That’s gotta screw you up a bit. Plus, Guido continues, she knows about the dupes he’s been sending around, right?
Seeing that she doesn’t Guido tells Rahne that the detective thing’s a recent development. Before that, Jamie couldn’t decide what direction to go in his life, so he went in all directions at once. He’s been sending dupes the past few years to learn about various stuff. Then they come back and he reabsorbs them… and gains their knowledge. Thing is, he flakes out anywhere from a minute to an hour while his brain processes it. He saw it once, Guido states. It’s terrifying but fascinating…
Guido’s explanation draws to a close as he sees someone entering the bar. Recognizing him instantly, but detecting something amiss, Guido belts out an inquisitive Madrox? Stumbling to Guido’s table, a sweating and bleeding Jamie Madrox states, through barely coherent words, that he couldn’t make it… upstairs… to office… Though Guido still doesn’t know what is wrong, Rahne knows immediately, telling Guido that she smells blood on him. A lot! His own blood. Stepping forward, Rahne manages to catch the collapsing Jamie. Finally able to examine him more closely, Rahne tells Guido that there’s blood everywhere… she thinks he’s been stabbed.
Cradled by her, Jamie tries to sort things out through his delirious mind, asking Rahne what she’s doing there. At first, Rahne is confused, as he told her to wait there, until she realizes it’s a dupe. Understanding that as well, Guido runs to the street, stating that he’s on it. Rahne’s statement to go get the real Jamie, draws panicked ire from Guido, who repeats loudly that he’s on it! Approaching the door, he calls back to Rahne, telling her to cover her ears. Just as she begins to ask why, Guido stands at the door, his hands funneling his booming voice in a cupping motion, and yells out into the night sky toward Jamie’s building: Maaaadrooooox!!
Quickly making his way across the street and to the bar, Jamie thinks to himself that Guido sounded freaked… and he can’t even think about what could possibly freak Guido. Arriving at the door, Jamie finds himself pushed in by the massive Guido, to his dying duplicate inside. Finally seeing the reason why Guido was freaked, he decides that he doesn’t want to think about it any more.
Sitting next to the unconscious form of the duplicate, Rahne calls out to Jamie, telling him to hurry, and to reabsorb him. Hearing a stammering reply that he can’t, Rahne replies that she doesn’t understand. Likewise in the dark, Guido points out that the dupe is unconscious… it’s the only way. Hearing the real Madrox reply that he doesn’t care, Guido points out that if he dies without him taking his memories… “Still not caring!!!” Jamie retorts.
As the moments pass, Jamie tries to assess the situation. How can he explain to them that it’s happened to him before? A dupe, right on the edge… and he takes him… It’s like dying himself. Like… his soul’s being torn in half. He doesn’t absorb the wound… but the trauma of what he feels… felt… it’s… He just can’t.
Lost in thought, Jamie is returned to the present by Rahne’s pleas. He’s been stabbed, she tells him. A killer’s out there! If he doesn’t stop him…! His arms wide in feigned helplessness, Jamie asks if he does stop him - so what? Another’ll take his place! There’s always more killers, he states. That’s what humans do! Produce killers in endless supply. Fine, Rahne spits back. He can explain that to the families of his future victims.
Finding Rahne’s words biting, Jamie thinks that he hates that she’s right. He also hates that there’s another likelihood she hasn’t even considered: that this wasn’t a random assault. That someone’s targeted him, and they hit a dupe now. but next time… they might get him. Reaching down, Jamie places his forefinger to his duplicate, which begins to shimmer as it is reabsorbed.
(flashback)
A pain shoots/shot through Jamie. A scream cries/cried out. Drops of blood splatter/splattered. An elevated train speeds/sped. A picture of a brunette smiles/smiled up from a newspaper, dated March 24th. A skyscraper rises/rose into the air. A knife, bloodied.
Jamie smiles, dressed only in his trousers, and laughs at the night air, rain pouring down on him and the rock upon which he stands. He’s… alone. Truly alone. Just him… and God… and inner peace. No infinite number of dupes knocking around inside him, waiting their turn. Just a man… And his dog, he adds, as a collie begins to lick him. Okay. A dog. Dogs are good. Looking away, almost at someone else, the collie states that he’s coming around.
(present)
Jamie Madrox rubs his eyes. It’s no longer a dog hovering over him, but Rahne, a wet washcloth in hand. Taking stock of his new reality, as well as the one he just left, Jamie asks a flabbergasted Rahne if she was just licking his face just now. Replying defensively that she was not, she presents the washcloth. Right, fine, whatever, Jamie replies, managing to sit up on his couch. It figures, he thinks to himself. Bogart has Mary Astor. Russell Crowe has Kim Basinger. He has Lassie.
Sitting on the other end of the couch and reading newspaper, Guido welcomes Jamie back to the land of the living. When the befuddled Jamie asks how long he was out, Guido answers seventeen years. The U.S., he informs Jamie, was bought by the Swiss. The national bird is now the cuckoo, but the chocolate’s better. Now turning the Rahne, Jamie asks the same questions, this time receiving the more believable answer of twenty minutes – though it felt like seventeen years.
Helping Jamie to his feet, Rahne asks if he sees anything. The killer? No to either, Jamie replies. The dupe didn’t see his face, or it was so traumatic that he blocked it out. Taking a moment to lift his nose out of the paper, Guido asks nonchalantly if it was a random killing. Placing his jacket on, Jamie replies that he’s thinking not. His guess is that someone targeted him. The dupe’s thoughts were screwed-up… but they were also focused… on Chicago, he thinks. He saw the Sears Tower… and the El. And some woman. Of course, Guido confirms, there’s always a woman. Hearing this, Rahne congratulates Jamie. He got his wish. She hopes she’s gorgeous enough t’die for. Me too, he replies.
Rising from the couch, Guido asks Jamie what their next move is. There’s no “our,” Jamie replies. He’s doing this on his own. He takes being murdered pretty personally. With this, Jamie hits his fist against the wall, creating a duplicate. Addressing the dupe, as well as Rahne and Guido, Jamie tells them to stay there. He expects the attacker’ll be looking to make sure he finished the job… or even kill every Jamie Madrox there is. Hearing this, the newly created dupe realizes he’s bait – oh, joy.
Pausing at the door before leaving, Jamie turns back to Rahne and states that she never said – what does she think of the company name? Replying bluntly, Rahne states that it sounded like he investigates pornography. Closing the door to XXX Investigations behind him, Jamie thinks to himself that he can live with that.


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

[Assistant]
The Chicago Whey
Under the cover of the El train tacks, a lone man finds himself surrounded by three men, one of whom punches him squarely in the stomach. Seeing the man buckle to his knees, the attacker scoffs, asking the man, whom he calls Stringer, if that is it. One punch? That’s all it takes for a tough reporter like him? After all those stories he wrote about Mr. Carpetti… he should’a seen this coming, doesn’t he think?
Spitting his words out through the blood in his mouth, Striger promises that he will lay off. Laughing at this, the man repeats that he will lay off… after the D.A.’s opened an investigation. A little late, the man states ominously. Suddenly, the tenseness of the situation is eased every-so slightly by an amused Wow. Turning to see the new arrival, the men see a relaxed Madrox, his hands absent-mindedly resting in his pocket. This is exciting, he continues. I mean… it doesn’t get any more noir than this.
“Nwar,” the head of the gang repeats inquisitively. What the heck’s “nwar?” Hearing the answer from one of his cohorts, the first and his companion at his side turn around. Their cohort explains that the new arrival is referring to “film noir,” – a French term literally meaning “dark film” – pertaining to 1950’s crime movies noted for their cynical, amoral characters in a sleazy setting, pervaded with a sense of hopelessness. Having received his answer, the first tells his cohort to shut up – which he complies – and returns his attention to Madrox.
Rather than return the attention, Madrox moves to Stringer, who is still sitting on the concrete. When Madrox tells the reporter that it’s been awhile, Stringer curses at seeing his old acquaintance, lamenting that as if his day doesn’t already suck. Seeing this interchange, the lead thug reminds Madrox of the news flash: this ain’t no movie. To this, he bets Madrox that a shot to the stomach makes him double over, too. Daring a wry smile, Madrox bets the man that he’s right.
On cue, the thug launches his right fist into Madrox’s stomach, causing a duplicate to emerge behind him. The left cross that follows creates yet another to Madrox’s right.  The thug barely has a moment to notice what has happened before the three Madroxes return the favor and begin to pummel him back. As he and his dupes go to work, Madrox notes to himself that the man had no way of knowing that each impact just creates more duplicates. The question, he thinks, is not whether this joker is screwed… but by what multiple of screwed is he screwed?
The first thug quickly knocked out, his cohorts turn tail and run, leaving behind Madrox yelling at them to step up – six fists, no waiting. Quickly finding that they are alone, Stringer, hardly thankful, asks Madrox what the blazes he’s doing in Chicago. Looking for him, the prime Madrox replies. It’s lucky for him they jumped him right near his apartm… Interrupting the prime, one duplicated Madrox dabs a cloth at Stringer’s bloodied mouth, lamenting the action of those thugs, brutalizing such an exquisite face. To this, he then asks Stringer if anyone has ever told him that he has a very shapely mouth.
Stringer begins to ask what is going on but Madrox feigns ignorance, absorbing both duplicates. As he is absorbed, the dupe entranced by Stringer tells Madrox that he’s in denial – and Madrox notes that this could turn into his latest problem – starting rumors about himself. Stringer jumps on the implication telling Madrox that he didn’t know he was… Madrox quickly replies that he’s not. But, y’know, everybody has some little bit of that… Just as quickly as Madrox’s protestation, Stringer rejoins that he doesn’t.
Whatever, Madrox replies, changing the subject. He needs his help – he needs access to the Trib’s archives and he figured he’s the reporter to help him. Shrugging off Madrox’s buddy-embrace, Stringer tells him to forget it. The last thing he needs is to be seen hangin’ with a mutant. Calling out to Stringer, Madrox tells him he wounds him. Or could it have anything to do with… he doesn’t know… him being a mutant? Placing his a finger to his lips and looking skyward in contemplation, Madrox wonders aloud how many subjects would talk to him if they knew he could read minds. Not many, he bets. Gee, he further ponders, maybe he’d have to give back his Pulitzer Prize.
Unable to counter Madrox’s move, Stringer simply tells Madrox that he hates him. This out of the way, he then adds that they’ll go in the morning. Great, Madrox says. He’ll crash at his place – does he still have that comfy sofa? Hit again with the realization that Madrox will be spending the night, Stringer now tells him that he really hates him.
(New York)
Standing on the observation balcony amongst tourists, a man speaks into his mobile phone incredulously. Alive? he asks – is he sure? In reply, the voice on the other end tells Clay that he has many connections and word reached him through one of them that someone named “Madrox” hit the town last night. Taking this, Clay supposes that it might not be him, but after hearing from his caller that the Madrox duplicated himself Clay states that it is.
Diverting his attention to his surroundings, Clay studies a man looking through one of the many pay-telescopes that line the balcony. The man is middle-aged, over-weight, sporting a conservative haircut and clad in a blue business suit, in contrast to Clay’s attire. Covering his deep-tanned skin, which is in turn covered by a patterned white tattoo, is a simple tank-top t-shirt, over which Clay has almost casually thrown a brown coat. His hair is long and pure white, contrasting his skin. His sunglasses, worn as if they are never taken off, hide his eyes.
Continuing their conversation, the voice on the mobile asks Clay if it was possible he only stabbed a duplicate. Dismissing the accusation, Clay retorts that he stabbed his target: the Jamie Madrox who returned to New York three days ago from Chicago, watched him stagger away, bleeding. No way he survived. When told by the voice that he didn’t kill the original, Clay states that he wasn’t hired to. For all he knows, the one in Chicago now is another dupe.
Dupe or not, the voice states, he’s probably investigating the first one’s death. With a half-hearted “prob’ly,” Clay walks behind the man peering through the telescope, as if waiting next in line to use it. Unaware of Clay’s wandering attention, the voice orders him to kill every Madrox he can find, until they stop coming. To this, Clay replies that he’s on another job, only to hear the voice order him to cut it short. With almost a sneer, Clay closes the clamshell of his mobile, voicing a “fine.” Moments later, the middle-aged, over-weight, business suit clad man finds himself hurtling down from the observation balcony to the unforgiving terra firma below.
Elsewhere, in Mutant Town, Rahne asks the Madrox dupe what he is doing. Answering the rhetorical questions, the dupe holds up a window pane and replies that he’s putting in a new glass. Dismissing the thought, Rahne reminds the dupe that his “original self” set up the detective agency, and suggests that they wait for him to get back before they make any changes. Sniping back that “wait” is for watchers, the dupe turns his attention to Guido, asking how the sign is coming along.
Announcing that it’s almost done, Guido finishes and then presents the stenciled window on the door and asks what the rest think. Taking a moment to inspect the window, now with the logo of “XXX Investigations” and “Jamie Madrox, president,” Rahne informs him that she thinks it’s backwards. When Guido doesn’t get it, she asks him to open the door. When he complies, he realizes that the logo is facing the inside… making it backwards to those approaching the door for entrance. “Aw crud,” he grimaces.
Before he closes it, Guido finds someone on the other side of the door – a brunette, asking if the place is XXX Investigations. Remembering the problem with the window, Guido asks how she could tell. Before she can answer, however, Rahne suggests that maybe she’s dyslexic. Taking charge of the situation before they lose their prospective client, the Madrox dupe tells her that she’s in the right place, and asks how he can help her.
Following Madrox to his desk, the woman introduces herself as Carol Campbell. Her husband and she live there in Mutant Town. A little surprised that she’s a mutant, the Madrox dupe asks if she minds what her power is but, leaning against the desk, Carol states that he does. As Madrox recoils a little at the social faux pas, Carol composes herself and continues with her problem – she believes her husband, Ned, is cheating on her. When asked by Madrox if she means with another woman, Carol glares back and with an icy and sarcastic voice replies no… with a cocker spaniel. Half turning to Guido, who is sitting at his left, Madrox guesses aloud that he walked into that one. Guido guesses back aloud that he did… “Holmes.”
Turning back to Mrs. Campbell, Madrox asks her is she has seen him with another woman. Receiving a no, he then asks if she’s caught him with lipstick on his collar. A strange bra in his pocket? Again receiving a “no” and “nothing like that,” Madrox presses further. In response, Carol states that he calls out her name every night. “Kim! Kim!” He thrashes around… it’s disgraceful! Pressing her point, Carol tells Jamie that he has to find her! She needs to confront her! Reviewing the situation, Madrox tells that Carol that her only proof is that he talk about her in his sleep. To this, Carol counters that if she had photographs, she wouldn’t need him, would she? Fair enough, Madrox states.
Chiming in, Rahne tells Madrox that they can follow him. She can be verrrrry stealthy. Telling Rahne that it’s a good idea, he then tells Mrs. Campbell that she can inform them when he’s preparing to go out and… Interrupting Madrox, Mrs. Campbell dismisses the idea with a wave of her hand, informing the group that he never heads out – he’s a quadriplegic. She believes he’s cheating by way of astral projection. As thrown off balance from this concept as Rahne and Guido, Madrox manages to mutter a wide-eyes terrific.
(Chicago)
Madrox – the original – follows Stringer through the halls of the Chicago Tribune, thinking about their shared history. They originally met back during his “X-Factor days,” and kept in touch. Well, Madrox has with him. Stringer… he’s always afraid he’ll “out” him - and Madrox can’t imagine that. Being so afraid of what people might think of him that he has to keep his true nature under wraps. Then again, when he has it in his power to never be alone, fears of being shunned aren’t a big priority.
As they approach the archives, Madrox explains to Stringer about his reabsorbing his stabbed wayward dupe, and getting flashes of Chicao-related images from his dying mind. Images including a woman from his May 24th Tribune clipping. Showing his boundless sympathy at Madrox’s story, Stringer replies, “like I care about your problems.”
As the two enter the research room, Stringer then points out to Madrox that he could’ve pulled this up from the public library. Dismissing the idea, Madrox retorts that he’s not wild about libraries. Y’never know if the FBI’s watching. Chuckling at this with a “cripes,” Stringer replies that he thought he was paranoid. Drawing Madrox’s attention to the room and the computer he’s sitting at, Stringer informs him that they used to call the file room “the Morgue.” You’d rustle through manila folders with ancient clippings. It smelled of news in there. Now, it smells of Pinesol and the screen gives him a headache. Now, is that progress?
As Stringer ticks away at the keyboard, Madrox reclines in a chair and grins. Stringer pretends he’s a cynic, he thinks. That’s okay. It’s how he disguises his basic optimism. He can relate. He makes jokes. Cracks wise. Grins like a fool. Best way to cover total despair. He can live any life he wants. Follow any direction. Follow all potential fates simultaneously. But if everything’s possible… then what’s the point of anything? It’s all…
Leaping from his chair in mid-thought, Jamie tells Stringer to stop. Pointing to the monitor screen, he says that that’s the photo he saw… the clipping. Turning half around to Madrox, Stringer asks if he’s kidding him. When Madrox denies it, Stringer then tells him to tell him he’s kidding him. Detecting a pattern, Madrox asks Stringer if he knows her. Still in disbelief that Madrox is ignorant of who he has picked out, Stringer informs him that the woman is Sheila Desoto – longtime lover… and newly minted fiancée of Edward Vance, a multi-million dollar industrialist… with alleged ties to organized crime. To this, Stringer adds that Madrox will want to steer clear of her. In fact, if his dupe didn’t, that’s why he “bought” it, guaranteed.
Reading the article, Madrox notes that it says May 24th was her birthday party. Apparently, it was a huge bash. No shock there, Stringer states. Eddie Vance invites you, you come running no matter who you are. To this, Stringer asks Madrox how his dupe got to know her. Receiving a “no clue,” Stringer chides him as “some detective.” Unaffected by the jest, Madrox counters that if he knew, he’s have nothing to detect.
After having Stringer print a copy of the photo clipping, Madrox asks Stringer is he knows where she lives. Everybody knows where she lives, he states. She lives in Vance’s gated mansion on Riverside. He’ll never get in. Examining the photo, Madrox informs Stringer that he studied with the shaolin. He’s be amazed what he can do. Now remarking at the photo, Madrox notes that she’s quite the hottie. Scorching, Stringer replies – the kind that gets you killed, grasshopper. Countering this, Madrox reminds Stringer that they already killed him. Didn’t take. Besides, look at her, he states. She’s definitely to die for.
(New York)
Welcoming in his fare, the cab driver asks Clay if it’s his first time in New York. Slumped in the seat, his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses, though it is night, Clay tells the driver that he’s actually been there a few days. Really? the driver asks. Most fares he picks up from the Port Authority, they just got there. Almost in random though, the driver then asks Clay if he heard about that jumper at the Empire State Building. Some people…
Finally getting to business, the driver asks Clay where he can take him. Rather than answering, Clay asks as question of his own. A couple of days ago, Clay states, the driver had a young fellow bleeding in the cab. He knows this because he noted his license plate when the man got in. Where did he drop him? Taken aback, the driver tells his fare, “No way. No freaking way.” He was glad enough to get rid of the guy and if he thinks he’s going to let himself get dragged any more into this mess he’s… Noting the pistol being pointed at this face, the driver finishes his thought, “… a reaaaally good guesser.”
(Chicago)
Standing outside the stone wall surrounding the Vance Estate, Madrox notes to himself that he heard tell it is the nicest house in Chicago. It’s nice to know he’s got such good taste. Or at least his dupe had.
Changing his thoughts to his dupe, Jamie thinks that he’d feel better about it if his dupes weren’t so unpredictable lately. They’ve developed independent streak before, he recalls, but some of them are hitting new heights of behavior. Rapping his knuckles against the wall five times, Madrox is quickly joined by five dupes, the first of which announces sheepishly that he can’t say he approves of this. It’s trespassing. A second opines that if one of them was having it off with another man’s girl, he deserved what he got. A third berates the second, calling him a freaking wuss. He was one of them! They send one of them to the morgue, they send one of theirs to the freakin’ cornfield. That’s the Chicago way!
Hearing the fourth muse about the cycle of violence and the fifth asking about what is on television, Madrox yells out to them that he’s doing this. Now, he can either keep making new dupes until he gets five cooperative ones, or they can save him some time, okay? As the five begin to form a ladder against the wall, three as a base with the remaining two standing on the bottom three’s shoulders, Madrox thinks of how Wolverine doesn’t have to put with this. Not Spider-Man neither. The Hulk, kinda sorta… but even so…
Between reaching the top of the wall and jumping down, Madrox reabsorbs the dupes. This bunch was pretty conspicuous, he thinks. For all he knows, left on their own one of them would have felt morally obligated to alert Vance’s people that he’s there. You’d think that he, of all people, could trust himself to cover his own back.
Before stepping from the wall, Madrox notices a security camera perched on a tree, quickly betting to himself that it’s not the only one. Fortunately, he reflects, as he runs into the woods, he wasn’t just blowing smoke about the shaolin thing. If having dupes argue with each other is the downside of absorbing different memories and experiences from his long-term “explorer” dupes… the acquired knowledge is a definite plus.
Lowering the cup of coffee from his mouth, one of the estate’s security guards asks his partner if he just saw… Taking a moment to raise his eyes from the paper, on whose headline reads “Magneto alive again?” the second guard asks if he saw what? Now studying the security monitor closely but seeing nothing, the guard guesses that he imagined it.
Stalking the estate through the shroud of darkness, Madrox makes his way through the woods. Best thing, he thinks, is to come around from the back. Moving closer to the mansion itself, he quickly notes the smell of chlorine ahead… and the sound of splashing; must be a pool. Noting that the cameras look to be turned away from it, Madrox surmises that Vance apparently likes his privacy. Emerging from the woods, Madrox thinks that he sees why.
Swimming through the enormous pool is a vision of beauty, whose name is Sheila Desoto. Swimming alone, Sheila has on a two-piece bathing suit, although she wears only the bottom. Yup, Madrox, thinks – to die for. After a few breathless moments of watching, Madrox orders his own heart to resume beating, his lungs to start breathing again. Then, as Sheila begins to rise from the pool at the ladder, Madrox finally forces himself into action – but first asking what Bogie would do…
Sheila is startled at the sound of a male voice as she dries off with her towel, perhaps even more so by the flippant, “Nice night for a swim, eh gorgeous?” The shock is short-lives, however, as she immediately recognized Madrox, yelling out James!!! Oh, thank God!!! Discarding her towel, Sheila runs to James, uncaring that she is once again topless, and kisses him deeply. Score, thinks Madrox.
Finally breaking the kiss but not the embrace, Sheila grins at Jamie, telling him that he tastes like candy. It was a chocolate cigarette, he replies. When then notes that she’s shivering, Sheila promptly asks Jamie to warm her, beginning again a kiss. As their moment of intimacy continues, Madrox thinks to himself that he has absolutely no idea what’s going on… and he couldn’t care less.
(New York)
Speaking on the phone, the Madrox dupe sits at the desk, talking to Rahne. Confirming that she’s staked out outside the Campbell’s apartment, he asks if she really thinks she can track an astral projection, presuming there is one. As he listens to Rahne’s response, the dupe is unaware that he has come into the crosshairs of a rifle’s scope. A moment later, the Madrox dupe slumps from the chair, a spray of blood splattering on the window, now shattered by the sniper’s bullet. In an apartment across the street, the sniper, Clay, remarks “two down.” His sunglasses temporarily set upon his head, Clay looks across the street at his handiwork with his naked eyes, which are all white, lacking any iris or pupils.
In Chicago, the original Madrox recoils in the pain of his dupe being shot. As Sheila tries to understand what is happening, Madrox loses his balance and falls into the pool. Still unable to regain his mental composure, Madrox sinks to the bottom.