[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]
Mary Shelley Overdrive - conclusion
On the outskirts of New York City one of Kalashnikov’s soldiers is checking out Ruth’s place, where Bonnie is hiding.  He is told that the antidote is in a small metal vial, easily concealed.  His job is to recover it; kill Creed and Bonnie, then meet at the airfield to take their business elsewhere.  The soldier acknowledges his orders; unfortunately, he didn’t count on Victor Creed, aka Sabretooth, charging in on a motorbike, knocking him to the ground.  Sabretooth takes an explosive charge that the soldier had planted  on a garden gnome in Ruth’s garden, puts it on the soldier, and allows it explode, killing him.  Inside Ruth and Bonnie hear the explosion, and wonder if Victor is alright.  Outside Piotr reports to Aleksander, telling him to occupy Creed while he kills the girl.  Piotr smashes into the house through a window and fires a machine gun at Bonnie, who runs away to escape.  While this is going on Sabretooth sneaks inside.  Bonnie, hiding in the bathroom and filling up the bath as part of her plan, surprises Aleksander as he closes in on her; she uses a cigarette lighter and a can of hair spray as a vicious weapon, setting his head on fire and grabbing and pushing him into the bath water.  She produces a hairdryer and switches it on.  “You bitch, I’ll...” he croaks as she drops the hairdryer in the bath, electrocuting him to death.  She seems enjoys the kill.  Suddenly Piotr’s head smashes through the wall tiling in the bathroom, screaming as Sabretooth pummels him full of bullets from the other side of the wall, killing him.  “Victor,” says Bonnie.  They hug and kiss.  She was so sure he was dead and that she’d never see him again.  He tells her to hush, that he’d keep her safe with him.  “Promise”? she asks.  “I promise,” he answers.  When he leaves the room he asks Ruth to see to her.  “Of course Victor,” Ruth replies.
At a private airfield in upstate New York Cyril and Kalashnikov are waiting for air transport to arrive.  Cyril cannot believe how all their plans have gone to hell, seen as Creed only showed up five hours ago.  Kalashnikov sees it as a blessing; all their bacteriological research was destroyed, and they will be set back six months; but he does have a photographic memory, so they can recover.  Cyril thinks they should set up in Hawaii to forget this mess, with the great weather and the hula girls and the margaritas...Suddenly Kalashnikov is shot down with a bullet to the head, and Sabretooth appears, machine gun in hand, saying "Could've shot you, too.  Didn't want to.  Know why?"  "No," screams Cyril, shooting tasers at Sabretooth in return.  He catches the tasers in his hand and pulls the gun out of Cyril's hand, telling him "Because I'm going to take you apart.  By hand."  Cyril kicks at him; Creed elbows him in the throat and twists his arms behind his back, snapping the bones in them.  Cyril manages to escape, running up the steps that lead to the helipad, threatening to drop him on his head and splatter out his brains.  Meanwhile Kalashnikov, near to the helicopter, with a bullet in his head, complains his head hurts.  Sabretooth grabs Cyril's leg, who is crawling desperately towards the helicopter.  Cyril manages to turn the tables for a second, gouging his thumb into Sabretooth's eye.  However, Sabretooth, as Cyril pulls out the taser once again, has a surprise for Cyril; a huge syringe, filled with acetic anhydride, which he stole in the warehouse that held the lab.  He shoves the needle end up Cyril's nose, injecting him with the stuff.  It kills him.
The helicopter starts to take off, with Kalashnikov inside.  Sabretooth wont let him get away, so runs, leaps and smashes into it, causing the vehicle to veer out of control and crash onto the ground in flames.  A burnt Kalashnikov crawls out of the wreckage, but Sabretooth walks up to him and slams his head against the concrete floor.  Kalashnikov mumbles, thinking he's about to die "At least...tell me...did you do it?  Did you stop the plague?  Did you...save your girlfriend?"  Sabretooth flashes back...
"I'll keep you with me," he tells Bonnie as they hug.  "I'll keep you safe.  "Promise?" she asks.  "I promise," he tells her.  He snaps her neck.  He leaves her on the couch in the lounge of Ruth's place.  "You'll see to her Ruth?" he asks the brothel madam.  "Of course Victor," says Ruth.
Victor staggers outside Ruth's place and kneels on the ground, crying out his grief at killing the only woman who he ever cared for and cared for him back.
"No...I didn't save her," Sabretooth tells Kalashnikov, as he continues to hold his head against the floor.  "The antidote was destroyed in the lab explosion."  He tells him they're going on a little trip.
Over the Atlantic, in a small passenger plane, sits Kalashnikov, his feet in a tub of dried cement.  Sabretooth is dressed smart in a suit.  Kalashnikov begs for his life, offering to tell Creed where all the billions of money they've made is located if he just lets him live.  He tells Kalashnikov the only reason he might have had not to kill him died in his arms four hours ago. Creed explains that the chemical cocktail he poured down his throat while he was unconscious will ignite as soon as it touches salt water; it will burn him from the inside in about five minutes, tops.  "Rot in hell," Sabretooth shouts, throwing Kalashnikov out of the plane to his death.  "Mr. Creed?" asks the pilot.  "Are we still returning to the airfield?"  "Yeah, "he replies.  "Been a long night.  Long night.  It's time I got back to work."


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

[Assistant]
Homicidal Tendencies
Prologue:
Estevan Point, a small costal town located on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. In the years since the first explorers and fur trappers arrived in the area back in the late 1700s, the sleepy hamlet has maintained a reputation for being a safe, quiet and friendly place to live. Tonight, in one horrific moment… all that is about to change.
A figure swims through the water towards a boat anchored in the bay. He climbs onboard, and enters one of the cabins, where, alerted by a faint rustle outside, Peter Bedford peers out into the inky darkness, a woman lies in his arms, and he strains to make out the face of the mysterious figure lurking in the shadows. ‘Huh? Who’s there?’ Peter Bedford calls out into the darkness - the response is several tranquilizer darts shot at he and the woman. The darts are not lethal, instead their tips are laced with a paralyzing agent strong enough to immobilize the young couple while still keeping them conscious.
Too bad, as the mysterious intruder steps further into the cabin where Peter and the woman are on a bed. ‘C-can’t move…’ Peter groans. A quick death by poison would have been a blessing, for what they are about to endure is much worse - much, much worse. ‘Be alarmed, comrades - the real fun is about to begin…!’ the intruder mocks, raising a machete over them. ‘Our Father, who art in Heaven…’ the woman begins. ‘My God - you can’t just - please! NOOOOO!’ Peter screams. Accompanied by the bloodcurdling screams of the hapless victims, the unrelenting act of butchery proceeds long into the night….
Chapter 1: Encounters:
Deep in the catacombs of the seemingly condemned X-Factor Compound in Fall’s Edge, Virginia, the man named Victor Creed- better known as Sabretooth - stalks in the shadows. He trudges through the knee-deep water, the man with an appropriate moniker for someone whose physical attributes, which include jagged-edge teeth and razor sharp claws that can tear through flesh with chilling ease, are tempered by a disturbingly violent nature. Possessed of inborn tracking abilities and a remarkably fast-acting mutant healing factor, he springs into action, motivated by an insatiable compulsion to indulge his twisted homicidal urges. For the past several months, Sabretooth has been X-Factor’s unwilling agent - serving as one two resident trackers in the mutant militia group. To keep him in line, they placed a sophisticated restraining collar around his neck. Among other things, it measures Creed’s adrenaline output and brain wave activity. That way, if he should try venting his lethal rage on any human nor animal whose bio-signature has not been encoded into the collar as a designated target, the collar will respond by retaliating with an excruciatingly painful electric blast focused directly along his brain stem to the cervical region of his spinal column, resulting in brief paralysis and complete neural shut down.
Though he has increased his pain tolerance by eighteen seconds, he has as yet been unable to endure it long enough to make a difference. That is - long enough to sufficiently numb his nerves to the electric blast so that he can once again kill at will. Creed shoves his hands into the water and pulls out a snake. He grins and raises his arms, his tongue darts out between his deadly teeth, and he growls as brings the snake to his mouth - but his collar sets off, and he convulses at the pain, dropping the snake, while thinking to himself ‘At this rate, even that Jubilee brat will be old and gray by the time I get myself free of the X-chumps’ leash. And that’s absolutely unacceptable!’
Elsewhere in the Compound, an emergency communiqué has forced X-Factor member Kyle “Wild Child” Gibney to cut short his daily training regimen. He stands in the communication room before a monitor, which displays the image of a former teammate of his, Eugene Milton Judd a.k.a. Alpha Flight’s Puck. ‘…I’m sorry to be the one to have to break this to you, Kyle, but I didn’t want you to just hear it on the news…’ Puck’s voice trails off, as Wild Child tells him that it is okay, that he did the right thing. ‘How… how did it happen?’ Kyle asks. Puck looks very serious as he informs Wild Child that she and a friend were on a yacht just off Estevan Point, and late at night somebody snuck aboard and murdered them - brutally. He reveals that preliminary reports suggests that it was the handiwork of some psycho-nut madman - and it is more than likely that Lori Bradt and Peter Bedford were not his first victims.
Tears fall from Wild Child’s eyes as he asks Puck what he means by “Brutally” and asks how exactly they were killed. ‘Don’t mince words, Puck - just tell me!’ Kyle pleads. ‘…they were chopped to pieces’ Puck announces. Kyle hangs his head, ‘Oh God…’ he utters. Puck tells Kyle that he is sorry, as he knows he and Lori were very close once. ‘If there’s anything I can do…’ Puck offers. Wiping away his tears, Kyle tells Puck that there is, and informs him that he wants him to gather copies of everything the authorities have come up with so far during their investigation and email it through - coroner’s report, autopsy records. ‘I want everything! You understand me?’ Kyle declares. Puck starts to ask Kyle if he is sure about that, to which Kyle shakes his finger at the monitor and replies ‘Everything! Photos and all, Puck. I mean it!’ Puck assures Kyle that he will do this - that he should consider it done.
‘Anything else?’ Puck asks. ‘No’ Kyle replies, before telling Judd that there is one more thing, and asks if they have located Jeanne-Marie. Puck tells Kyle that they haven’t found Aurora, but they are still searching for her. ‘Don’t worry…we’ll find her’ he assures Kyle about his ex-girlfriend. Kyle tells Puck that he owes him one, but Judd tells him not to mention it, and asks him to promise that he won’t do anything foolish. ‘I won’t’ Kyle replies, before telling Puck to take care of himself. ‘You do the same, y’hear?’ Puck responds, as Kyle turns and walks away, assuring him that he will, while someone stands down the adjoining corridor.
Within the hour, Wild Child is sifting through the information he requested as Sabretooth emerges from the shadows, ‘Why the sudden interest in the macabre, kid?’ he enquires. ‘Eh-? It’s personal’ Kyle responds as he continues to look through the information. Sabretooth asks the younger mutant if he wants to share, but Kyle replies ‘Not particularly’. ‘Too bad… seeing as how I already know about Miss Bradt…’ Sabretooth announces. ‘You were eavesdropping?’ Kyle snarls. Tugging at his collar, Sabretooth claims that he can identify the culprit responsible for hacking her and that other poor slob to pieces. ‘What? What are you talking about, Creed?’ Kyle demands. Sabretooth reveals that the modus operandi reeks of the methods employed by a brute named Komarovsky Yevgraf. ‘His peers call him Chop Chop. Cute, eh?’ Creed remarks. Kyle snarls at Creed and asks him what else he knows. Creed explains that Yevgraf usually works in tandem with his older brother, Yuri, and that both of them are former KGB assassins.
Creed continues, revealing that they have been on a joint globetrotting killing spree ever since the Soviet Union was dissolved back in 1991, and while Chop Chop enjoys using a machete to hack his victims to bits, brother Yuri gets off on smashing and beating folks to a pulp with his massive paws. Creed announces that Yuri is horribly disfigured since birth and blinded in one eye, he is addicted to potent pain killers and a variety of other strength-enhancing drugs. ‘He’s the bigger of the two…though they’re both equally dangerous’ Creed comments. Wild Child assumes that Creed has met the Yevgraf brothers before, to which Creed replies’ Naturally. How do you think Yuri lost his eye?’ as he smiles and holds one of his own fingers near his eye. ‘Figures’ Kyle mutters. Creed tells Wild Child that he knows he is going after them, and suggests that he come with him.
‘Why? What’s in it for you?’ Kyle asks. ‘The thrill of the hunt. I’m getting cabin fever from being cooped up in here for days on end…’ Creed states. ‘I bet! You’ll have to do better than that’ Kyle replies. Sabretooth then claims that he has taken a personal interest in seeing that Kyle’s tracking abilities be honed to their fullest potential. ‘Strictly for selfish reasons, mind you. Even though Forge has paired us off as partners…in my eyes, you’re still a runt’. Creed adds that he wants to make sure that whoever is supposedly watching his back can be counted on to make the cut in a pinch. ‘Consider this a training exercise…’ Creed suggests. Kyle turns away from Creed, ‘Of all the condescending! I don’t need you!’ he retorts. But Creed tells Kyle not to be stupid, as he is way out of his league on this - the Yevgrafs are cold-blooded killers. ‘Like me’ Creed points out. He adds that as the saying goes, it takes one to know one. ‘Or in this case, to find one. You don’t stand a chance of catching ‘em without my help’.
Kyle spins around and points a finger at Creed, telling him that he can tag along, but they need to get a few things straight. ‘You and I are not alike - at least not in any ways that matter. Like you said - you’re nothing but a cold-blooded killer. Without conscience. Without remorse. I’m none of those things. ‘As far as you know, pup. Your old lady-friend’s grisly murder may have changed that…’ Creed suggests, but Kyle quickly tells him that he is wrong. ‘I may be angry and upset by Lori’s death…but I don’t intend to go off half-cocked to kill her executioners’. Kyle adds that he wants them brought ro justice so that they can be incarcerated and punished under the full extent of the law. ‘If I need your help to autochthon…then so be it. But I won’t allow your bloodlust to influence my methods’ Kyle tells Creed. ‘Protesting a bit much, kid. We’ll see…’ Creed replies.
‘No - we won’t see. That’s just the way it’s gonna be. Look - I’m no murderer. At least not anymore, I’m not your friend. And I’m definitely not your cub’ Wild Child snaps at Creed, who turns and starts to walk away. ‘Whatever similarities we may share are only surface-deep. And it sickens me that you should even dare to suggest that I try to take after you’ Kyle adds. Creed tells Wild Child not to get in such a huff, as he is only calling it as he sees it. ‘Believe me, you’d do well to get off your high-horse…cuz the sooner you remove those blinders of yours and stop denying just who and what you are… the better off you’ll be!’
The next day at the Bradt family ranch, on Vancouver Island. The sun rises over the cold morning. Creed and Kyle are dressed in warm jackets. Their breath can be seen rising before them. They approach a woman who is out walking a horse, and Kyle addresses her as Leisl, telling her that it has been a long time. ‘I… I’m so sorry about your sister. If there’s anything I can do…’ he begins, but Leisl tells Kyle that he has no business coming here, and reminds him that it was he who dumped Lori all those years ago. ‘So spare me your sympathy. It’s too little… too late’ Leisl exclaims. Spinning around to face Kyle, she holds a rifle towards him, adding that as far as she is concerned, he is trespassing. ‘I want you and your friend off my ranch. NOW’ Leisl declares. She prepares to fire, but Kyle and Creed turn their backs and start to walk away from her. ‘You sure have a way with women. No wonder Shard’s been dissing you lately!’ Creed points out.’ Shut up!’ Kyle snaps.
Estevan Point at dusk, Creed and Kyle have been here for almost an hour, scouring the yacht where Chop Chop’s victims met their untimely death for any clues that may have been missed by the authorities. Kyle shines his torch on the blood-stained couch and thinks that it reeks in here. Indeed, the stench in the air is almost palpable. Though the corpses themselves have been taken away, little else has been removed from the crime scene. There is blood everywhere, as well as other telltale signs of the horrific events that took place here just over forty-eight hours ago. For Wild Child, the tedious task is too much to handle. He finds himself fighting to keep from gagging as he feels the bile collecting in the back of his throat. In sharp contrast, Sabretooth is unfazed by the putrid smell lingering in the dark. And perhaps even a bit aroused by the sight of so much blood.
Kyle covers his mouth and nose, his body starts to break into cold sweats and he cannot stop swallowing. He knows he has to get a grip and pull himself together before he loses his lunch. He shivers involuntarily, both impressed and repulsed at how Creed’s intuitive understanding of the killer’s mindset has allowed him to reconstruct the events leading up to and following the murders in such agonizing detail. ‘…snuck aboard and paralysed ‘em both with his blowgun - then took his sweet time’ Creed reveals. He drops to the floor and checks the gouged-out scratches on the wood which he remarks are in a definite pattern - more than likely Chop Chop started with the limbs, and then moved on to the more vital areas. ‘Our Russkie pal can be very meticulous when he wants to be…’ Creed points out. ‘My God - that’s gruesome! How could anyone be capable of such a thing?’ Kyle asks. ‘Do you really have to ask that?’ Creed smirks. Kyle turns and rushes out of the cabin, covering his mouth he declares that he has to get some air.
A short time later, Creed and Kyle are standing on a pier as the rain pours down. They are both sniffing the air, as Kyle tells Creed to give it up, as the trail is cold - too much time has passed, there is no way he will pick up Komarovsky’s scent now. ‘That ain’t what I’m smelling for. I wanna confirm something’ Creed replies as he takes another sniff. Creed reminds Kyle that the police report stated that the actual killings took place about thirty yards off-shore, which means Chop Chop probably swam out to the yacht from this very pier. ‘So? What are you getting at?’ Kyle asks. Creed doesn’t answer, he just dives into the water. ‘Hey - come back here! Where are you going?’ Kyle calls out after him. He then follows Creed into the water and swims after him. They make their way to some shallow water filled with spindly tree trunks, ‘Bingo. Just as I’d suspected all along…’ Creed calls out. ‘Wha-?’ Kyle gasps as they see a body lying in the marsh. Creed holds the body up and remarks that Chop Chop wasn’t alone - this is brother Yuri’s handiwork. Creed assumes that it would be too risky to stay along the coast - not many places to hide. ‘Our prey has headed inland…’.
Committing to memory the faint traces of Yuri’s scent embedded on the retrieved corpse’s fingernails, the seasoned trackers resume the hunt. They have a red jeep and drive through the rain, on Sabretooth’s insistence, they head northward, stopping at every out-of-the-way lodging place along the way. The rain continues to pour down as they pull up outside a motel room at the edge of Sullivan’s Bay, led there by Creed’s instincts, where they uncover telltale signs of Yuri Yevgraf’s lingering scent. ‘Our boys were here…’ Creed remarks as he growls and breaks the front door down. The small room is messy and someone has carved markings into the wall. ‘Oh, man…’ Kyle utters, while Creed announces that one of the brothers was injured - nothing too serious by the looks of it, but enough to warrant homemade stitches. ‘What do you mean?’ Kyle asks. ‘Doped up like they were, Chop Chop’s victims were incapable of putting up any sort of fight. The man we dredged up out of the water, however, is another story’ Creed replies.
Creed runs his hand along the bathroom sink, and then licks his fingertips, ‘You saw for yourself. The condition of his body told the tale. He definitely fought back’ Creed remarks, adding that he put up quite a struggle, too, until he got his skull smashed in. He supposes that Yuri got careless, either that, or he was on one of his benders when they did the deed - he has been known to be a sloppy drunk. They head back out into the rain and get into the jeep as Kyle asks ‘So where to now?’ Creed tells him that they will check out all the seedy watering holes in the area, and have a chat with the local drug dealers. ‘Like I told you before - Yuri can’t resist his addictive compulsion. Especially now that he’s hurt. Chances are good he stocked up on pain killers before they moved on’.
Three nasty bar brawls later, Creed and Kyle are in a bar called the Bucket of Blood. One man is thrown out the front doors and another through a window. ‘Maybe I’m not making myself clear, dirt bags…I’m not taking NO for an answer!’ Sabretooth exclaims as he slams a bottle over one man’s head and shoves another aside. Kyle sits at the bar and stares ahead, while Creed continues his rampage, ‘You got that, bucktooth? This ain’t no social call. I wanna see those bloody gums of yours start flapping…now…before I get me a mad on!’ Creed warns everyone. ‘Awright…aright! No more…please! I’ll talk…’ a man who is being held up by his head calls out. Creed addresses him that is more like it and calls out to the bar tender, asking for a shot of Jack for this lowlife. ‘The two guys you’re looking for were here last night…’ the man remarks. ‘And?’ Creed snarls, slamming his face into a table. The man is bleeding but is able to reveal that he overheard the bigger one telling the other fella that they were going to lie low for a while, and take shelter up in the woods near Hullen Falls after they gathered some more supplies. ‘That’s all I know…I swear it!’ Creed lets the man sit down, ‘Good enough, sport…you get to live after all’ he tells him, before calling out to Kyle and suggesting they get out of here.
Chapter 2: The Hunted
Hullen Falls, at dawn. The rain continues to fall, as Creed and Kyle trudge through the thick forest. ‘I’ve got something’ Creed reports as he sniffs the air. ‘You sure? I’m not picking up any -’ Wild Child begins, before they hear someone scream. ‘You were saying?’ Creed replies. Kyle rushes off ahead, but Creed tells him to stay close, as this ain’t the time to be showing off his increased agility. Wild Child just grunts in response but comes to a stop when they reach the location of the scream - and find a huge hulking figure standing over a man who has been hung upside down from a tree. ‘Play time’s over, Yuri’ Creed shouts. Yuri Yevgraf turns his head, ‘YOU!’ he shouts upon seeing Creed. They move towards each other and Creed slashes at Yuri, knocking him back. Wild Child pulls the man down from the tree, who speaks to him in French. Kyle sees that he is in a bad way and is slipping into shock. There isn’t much he can do with him. Kyle tries to comfort the bloodied man, and speaks to him in French, too.
Yuri is hunched over, and reaches into his jacket pocket while Creed declares that he has news for him: ‘You’re gonna need a lot more than a bag full o’ pain-killers to survive a bout with me’. Some of the pills falls out, but Yuri shoves a handful of them into his mouth. ‘We’ll see about that!’ Yuri boasts as he punches Creed, knocking him back. They continue to battle as the rain pours, and Kyle looks around to see more bodies scattered on the forest floor. The man dies in his arms. ‘Another innocent ruthlessly butchered. Like Lori…and God knows how many others. This can’t go on…’ Kyle thinks ot himself. Suddenly, ‘What’s happening here, Yuri? I - eh?’ a voice calls out and Kyle looks up, to see Komarovksy enter the small clearing. At the sight of Lori’s killer, Wild Child snaps. Horrific images of the tortured girl’s last living moments racing through his head. ‘You’re mine, Chop Chop!’ Wild Child exclaims. ‘You her me!?’ he shouts as he leaps up and races through the rain towards Chop Chop, who raises his machete - but Wild Child dodges it, and slams into Chop Chop’s back, where he starts to whack him.
‘Your nasty little killing spree ends here and now, you sick -’ Kyle begins, but in a flurry of motion, Chop Chop reaches back and flings Wild Child off his person with surprising ease. Then he sets his sights on a frenzied Sabretooth, who is oblivious to the imminent danger approaching from behind - and as Chop Chop slices his machete into Creed’s shoulder. ‘Creed!’ Wild Child calls out, while Sabretooth just growls. ‘Scatter!’ Yuri tells his brother as both men start to run whne Sabretooth and Wild Child are distracted. ‘Touched by the concern, kid - but I’ll be okay in a sec…’ Wild Child sees that their opponents are splitting up and tells Creed to take Yuri, but he is going after Chop Chop. ‘Suit yourself’ Creed replies. ‘If we sit here and argue, we’ll lose ‘em both’ Creed remarks as the two savage mutants rush after their prey.
Wild Child leaps at Chop Chop and kicks him to the ground. Not missing a beat, Chop Chop pulls out a handful of poisoned darts and shoves them into Wild Child’s back. Kyle cries out in pain, and falls to he knees, paralyzed. ‘Just like he did to Lori…before he chopped her into pieces…!’ Kyle thinks to himself. His heart pounds like a jackhammer, helpless, Kyle shudders involuntarily. Then faints in relief as his would-be killer disappears into the brush when Chop Chop hears three gun shots. ‘Yuri!’ he cries to his brother.
And, a short distance away, Yuri looks at the bullet holes in his arm, and Creed realizes that there must be a sniper hiding in the woods. ‘Looks like we’ve got us a new player on the scene…maybe even a possible ally!’ Creed thinks to himself, deciding that whoever fired that rifle did him a favor by taking a few pock shots at Yuri, and that he better make the most of it while the Russkie is still disorientated. Creed then slams his fist into the side of Yuri’s head, and Yuri falls to the ground. Suddenly, though, Creed cries out in pain once more, as Chop Chop’s machete lands in the side of his face. ‘Let him go, Sabretooth… now!’ Chop Chop orders. Creed’s vision starts to blur, but tells his foe ‘You want him… you gotta get through me to get him!’ ‘If that’s the way you wanna play it, Tovarish, that’s fine by -’ Chop Chop begins when suddenly, a bullet lands in his leg. Knocked off balance, Chop Chop falls back as a stunned Sabretooth loses his equilibrium, and tumbles down a steep embankment into the river below. ‘Cripes! Now I can’t see squat! I’m freaking blinded’ Creed tells himself as he lands in the river.
Creed’s limp body is violently tossed about as it is carried downstream by the turbulent rapids. Half-drowned and barely conscious, he desperately grasps onto some rocks near the shore. He coughs and splutters, and smells a girl in the bushes. He can’t see her, but her scent is strangely familiar. The girl walks over to him and helps pull Sabretooth from the water. Creed sniffs her and exclaims ‘Leisl Bradt?’
Chapter Three: Hide & Seek
Temporarily blinded until his healing factor can repair the damage to his almost-severed optic nerves, Sabretooth allows Leisl to lead them across the rough terrain to a relatively safe place where they can take a few moments to catch their breaths. The trek is exhausting and slow-going, but eventually the couple finds refuge in a hidden grotto tucked away in the side of a hill. The rain beats down still, as Sabretooth growls and tells Leisl not to touch him, as he is fine. ‘You don’t look fine from here, mister…and you’ve lost a lot of blood’ Leisl replies. She asks him how he can be so calm, and whether he is in pain. ‘For Heaven’s sake, that maniac made a huge gouge across your face with his machete -!’ she exclaims.
Leisl backs away and holds her rifle up as Sabretooth tells her to relax, and explains that his eyesight will be back soon enough. ‘Hurts like the dickens…but I can handle the injuries. I heal fast’ he adds. Leisl gasps and asks him if he is a mutant too, like Kyle. ‘Yep’ Creed replies, before asking Leisl how she found them. ‘Your being here a coincidence?’ he enquires. Leisl replies that it isn’t, and informs him that se had some of her ranch hands follow him after his visit. ‘When I got word of the lead you uncovered at the Bucket O’ Blood, I picked up the trail myself…hoping to reach Lori’s killers before you did’. Creed grits his teeth and asks ‘What for?’ as Leisl spins around and snaps ‘What for? Justice demands their deaths!’ to which Creed asks ‘An eye for an eye, eh?’ ‘That’s right’ Leisl declares, warning Creed that he and Kyle had best not get in her way.
Leisl aims her shotgun at Creed’s face and tells him that come hell or high water she is going to be the one that sends those two to their graves. ‘Your attitude’s a turn-on, but I don’t buy it. If you’re so intent on going solo…why save my butt back there?’ Creed asks. Leisl claims that she couldn’t have just let them kill Creed, as that would have been right. ‘Look, babe, I know you’re burling, but you’re wrong if you think killing a pair of scum like the Yevgraf’s is the answer to your troubles’ Creed tells her. ‘Sure you may be playing the revenge-seeking role to the hilt…but you don’t fool me none. You’re no murderer. You don’t have the killer instinct’ Creed declares, suggesting that she wise up and listen to someone who is all too familiar with the stench of where she is heading. ‘Don’t got there’ he advises, adding that that path is a one-way ticket - and once you get on it, there is no turning back.
‘EVER!’ Creed roars as he pushes forward, knocking Leisl up against a tree. She is unable to react with her shotgun. She looks at Creed’s claws which are buried into the tree trunk close to her face. ‘I don’t care. They killed my sister! When I get my hands on those butchers I’m gonna make them pay for what they’ve done!’ Leisl exclaims. Creed tells her to suit herself, as it is her soul. ‘What about you, you hypocrite? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! I’m not stupid. I can tell what kind of man you are…what your intentions are!’ Leisl retorts. Creed pulls his claws away from her, but doesn’t harm her. ‘Me? Heh? Don’t you concern yourself with me, honey. I don’t matter none. I’m already damned. And the less you know about me, the better’ Creed replies, before suggesting they get moving, as his vision is starting to come back.
Meanwhile, Kyle is annoyed at how long it took him to shake off the paralyzing effects of Chop Chop’s poisoned darts. He gets to his feet and sniffs the air, his prey is nowhere in sight, but he hopes the trail is still fresh. Kyle picks up four distinct scents all heading in the same general direction - Sabrerooth, the Yevgraf brothers and - ‘Leisl? What’s she doing here?’ Kyle wonders, concerned. But he realizes it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out, she must be after her sister’s killers. Kyle would like to know what Leisl was thinking, as she doesn’t stand a chance. He knows he has to reach her before she becomes the Yevgrafs’ next victim, and with a renewed sense of urgency, the worried young mutant quickens his pace.
Hours later, Sabretooth and Leisl stare down at a complex, cordoned off with a high fence. Creed points out that the sun is starting to set, and that it looks like their boys have taken shelter for the night. Leisl asks him what he means, and Creed sniffs the air, explaining that he can smell them down there in the abandoned slaughterhouse. Leisl asks Creed how he can tell that is a slaughterhouse way up here, to which Creed replies that even from this distance, the stench is pretty unmistakable. ‘Oh’ Liesl mutters. Creed looks at her and tells her this is where they part company. I may have let you tag along this far…but now you’re on your own. I’m nobody’s babysitter’. Leisl exclaims that she resents that comment, and reminds him that she was the one who pulled his fat out of the fire earlier today. ‘Obviously I’m more than capable of taking care of myself’ Leisl exclaims. ‘Whatever. Do what you will… just stay out of my hair’ Creed snarls as he starts down the cliff towards the slaughterhouse.
The sky has darkened further, and Leisl walks around the high fence surrounding the slaughterhouse. She holds her rifle and comes to a part of the fence that been sliced open. She steps through it and hears a scratching noise as she enters the building. She puts her back up against a wall as she realizes someone is around the corner. She slowly rounds the corner, ‘This is it, girl. Moment or truth…’ she thinks, when she sees Yuri with some pills. His back is to her, but a tear falls from Leisl’s eye as she brings the rifle viewer to her eye. She shakes from a bad case of nerves and aims at her unsuspecting target, desperately trying to muster the willpower to shoot him in the back. She knows that her stomach is in knots, but decides that now that she is here she is not sure she can go through with it. ‘I never killed anybody before. Maybe that mutant was right about me…!’, but she think the opposite, ‘What’s the matter with me? I’m psyching myself out. Of course I have to go through with this!’
Leisl tells herself that she has to, for Lori’s sake, and those of all the others who were so brutally murdered. ‘No more indecision. No more rationalizations. I know what has to be done. So get it over with already and just do it!’ she thinks to herself. Ever so slowly, she squeezes the trigger, more tears falling down her face - but then, ‘Sorry, doll…but I can’t let you do this!’ Creed declared as he grabs the gun and pulls it away, as it fires. Leisl falls to the ground, ‘My God…I almost…’ she utters, while Yuri spins around after hearing the gunshot. ‘Not while I still want this piece of meat for myself’ Creed tells himself, while Leisl starts to sob. Creed lunges at Yuri and bits his side. Yuri screams and falls to the ground. ‘You bit me? You sick sonuva - you actually bit me!’
‘What can I say? I pulled a Tyson’ Creed replies, and adds that now that he has had a taste of him, he has a craving for that second eye. ‘Get away from me! I’m taking no more abuse from you! I’m warning you, Creed…stay away…or I’ll crush every bone in your miserable body’ Yuri threatens Creed, adding that he will rip his heart out. Creed lets Yuri get to his feet and watches as he runs out of the building towards the high fence, panting as he runs. ‘You’re all talk, Yuri!’ Creed exclaims as he follows his prey and punches him in the back, causing Yuri to fall into the fence. Creed pulls Yuri’s legs back and realizes that the Bradt chick pegged Yuri good with her rifle, as he still has bullet fragments in his arm from the earlier attack in the forest. Creed realizes that Yuri is still so strong, when he should be useless because of his arm.
Creed picks up some of the pills that have fallen out of Yuri’s pockets and supposes that Yuri would have passed out from the pain if it wasn’t for all the drugs Yuri has taken. ‘That’s a good sign…let’s see what these pills do for me’ Creed decides as he puts some pills in his mouth. Yuri is able to sit up and he starts lashing about. Cree realizes this is because he is so doped up, and this makes him more dangerous than usual. ‘So enough with the foreplay…’ Creed thinks to himself, when suddenly, Yuri gets in a punch, knocking Creed’s head back. Creed just laughs, ‘…and get to the good part’ he thinks to himself as he shoves his claws into Yuri’s face. Spurred by the realization that, as he’d hoped all along, Yuri’s painkillers are actually allowing him to stay conscious while his collar emits its retaliatory blasts, Creed is driven into a berserker frenzy.
With a sickening wrench, Sabretooth delivers the fatal blow and snaps Yuri’s neck, ignoring his collar’s continuing blasts. ‘You’re dead, Russkie! DEAD!’ Creed shouts while his collar still sends charging blasts into Creed’s body. He stands over the mangled corpse of his foe, a satiated Sabretooth lets the sweet euphoria sweep over him, reveling in a perverted form of ecstasy. For the briefest of moments, Creed was once again free to kill at will. He growls, and already he can feel his mutant healing factor cleansing his system of the nerve-numbing pills’ effects. ‘Excellent. Plenty of painkillers left’ Creed thinks to himself as he bends over and picks up some of the pills. He decides that there should be enough pills here to carry out at least several more kills without feeling any pain from the collar’s fail safes. He puts them into his pocket, knowing that he cannot let anyone discover he has found a way to bypass his restraints, as he is not quite ready to play his hand just yet.
Creed starts to drag Yuri’s body, knowing that he has to make it appear like his death was an accident. But just then, Wild Child emerges from the dense woods and rushes towards them, instantly horrified by the sight awaiting him. ‘My God, Creed - what have you done?’ Kyle calls out. ‘Wild Child! I didn’t do nothing. I -’ Creed begins, when suddenly, they hear a scream, coming from somewhere inside the buildings, and Kyle worries that it must be Leisl. ‘Creed…how could you leave her alone in there with Komarovsky?’ Wild Child calls out as he rushes into the building, with Creed following him. ‘Don’t give me any lip, boy. I saved her life’ Creed replies. ‘Oh, yeah? Why do I sincerely doubt that?’ Kyle mutters, before gasping as they find Chop Chop standing over Leisl, his machete raised high, while the girl screams. ‘’Get away from her. You sick -’ Wild Child declares, lunging at Chop Chop, he slices his hand and causes him to drop his machete. Chop Chop realizes that he is out of darts, while Kyle grabs him by his arm and breaks it, thinking that he should kill Chop Chop here and now.
‘It’s certainly no less than you deserve for what you did to Lori and the others’ Kyle decides, slamming Chop Chop into a barrel. ‘God help me…it would be so easy to go ahead with it. Mere child’s play’ Kyle thinks to himself. He tells himself to ignore his anguished cries and keep pounding until Chop Chop is dead. He slams his head into the floor again and again while the temptation, the sheer rush is exhilarating to Kyle, and frighteningly overwhelming. More slams, and Chop Chop goes still. Kyle stares down into the glazed-over eyes of Lori’s killer, he hesitates as he struggles against his long-suppressed impulses - then positions himself to deliver the fatal blow.’ What are you waiting for Wild Child? Finish him off!’ Creed calls out. ‘No! I can’t do it’ Kyle thinks to himself.
Suddenly, Chop Chop punches Kyle and gets to his feet, he starts to run away. Sabretooth calls out to Wild Child, who tells him to put a lid on it, that he doesn’t care what Creed thinks of him - but he refuses to stoop to his depths of depravity. ‘and I swear, but all that’s holy, I won’t let you goad me into becoming something I’m not’ Kyle assures Creed as he chases after Chop Chop, he warns Creed to stay out of this, as Chop Chop is his - and he is bringing him in alive. Chop Chop is climbing up some crates, meat-hooks hang from the rafters above. Wild Child realizes that Chop Chop is trying to reach the skylight. He stands on the top crate. ‘Almost there’ the villain thinks to himself, and he leaps upwards towards the skylight - but his knee gives out and he doesn’t make it far - instead, he falls into the meat-hook which catches him in his neck.
‘Is he…?’ Kyle’s voice trails off as he turns to Creed who is smiling and looking up at Chop Chop, swaying on the meat-hook. ‘Deader than the proverbial doornail, kid. You did good’ Creed replies. ‘Yeah…right’ Kyle mutters, before asking Creed how Yuri died. ‘An accident. Same as Komarovksy. The old coot tripped over the fence and keeled over - breaking his neck’ Creed lies. ‘I bet! What cheap game are you playing, Creed?’ Kyle demands. Creed tells him that he is playing no game, just telling him how it is, honestly. ‘You were right all along about me having hidden motifs for wanting to tag along with you on this mission - but it had nothing to do with my vendetta against the Yevgrafs. I had other reasons’ Creed tells Kyle. ‘Such as…?’ Kyle asks. ‘Such as wanting to expose you to some of the real nastiness that’s out there. Make sure you’re not going soft on me’ Creed explains.
He adds that in their line of work, you have to learn to be sneakier and more ruthless than the other guy or you ain’t gonna remain among the living for very long. ‘So did I make the cut?’ Kyle asks. ‘You sure did! I’m proud of you, boy. Something happened to you during the hunt. I can smell the change in you. Maybe we’re a lot more alike than you’d care to admit, pup’ Creed replies. They stare up at Chop Chop’s body, still, as Kyle tells Creed not to count on it, and not to call him his pip. ‘You know, you’ve really got a warped sense of logic, Creed. How many times do we have to go over this? I’m not bloodthirsty psychopath. I’m not like you’. Creed looks down at Kyle and tells him that he knows that. ‘As far as you remember, you’ve never had the guts to embrace your homicidal urges’. But Creed tells Kyle that he can’t deny that the potential is there, waiting to be nurtured. ‘And exploited to my advantage’ he thinks to himself.
Creed’s words sting like daggers, and Wild Child stifles a sudden chill, he tells Creed to put a lid on it already, as he has had enough of him and his spook tactics to last a lifetime. ‘Kyle…?’ Leisl asks as she gets to her feet, rubbing her head. Kyle rushes over and embraces Leisl as she tells him that she is so sorry. Kyle assures her that everything is fine now, while Creed decides that Yuri’s death was just a means to an end, a way of getting proof positive that if he sufficiently numbs his nerves, he can successfully bypass his collar’s failsafes. Kyle leads Leisl out of the slaughterhouse, and with a pill in his mouth, Creed thinks to himself that now heh as his own stash of pills, those X-chumps better watch out, because his days of playing paddy-cakes with Forge’s band of inept misfits are coming to an end.
‘You’re starting to turn a ghastly shade of blue, Chop Chop. Here. Take as many painkillers as you want. Compliments of your brother Yuri’ Creed jokes. ‘No guts to comment, eh? Heh!’ he laughs and follows Kyle out of the slaugherhouse, while thinking that soon, he will be free of this infernal collar once and for all - and back on the loose - meaner and nastier than ever!


[User]
<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]
Open Season - part 1: A Cold Day in Hell
Lake Superior, U.S.S. Polar Sun - An officer walks about the deck, taking his meteorological readings, and picks up a chunk of ice from the deck. It is January 20th, and the temperature is a frigid -30 degrees Fahrenheit. He goes back inside, offering the ice to the Captain. The Captain smiles and lets his first officer, Hamilton, know that the ice isn't going to fit as he holds up his glass of whiskey. He pours Hamilton a shot of the whiskey and tells him the story of how his father was a captain in the Navy during World War II, and how he managed to sink a German U-Boot by spilling hundreds of gallons of paint overboard to cloud the German instruments. Hamilton smiles and shakes his head, asking why he bothers to listen to such stories. Captain Mitchell smiles, tilting his glass, and replies that Hamilton listens for the same reasons he does.
Suddenly, a distress call plays over the radio.A woman is frantically alerting the U.S. Coast Guard for help, saying that a monster is coming for them. Mitchell asks for a location - the woman says she is on Isle Dupree, but the transmission is cut with only a bloodcurdling scream to frighten the men listening. Mitchell tells Hamilton to alert the station at Duluth that they are changing heading, and to call for assistance. Mitchell announces that they will arrive at Isle Dupree by sunrise.
Isle Dupree - Sabretooth, clad in his brown costume with an assortment of furs, snickers at the woman's corpse in front of him. The woman has a radio clutched in her bloody, outstretched hand. Sabretooth says that he warned her not to talk to strangers. He then leaves the station behind, as he can see the Coast Guard ship approaching.
Aboard the Polar Sun, Mitchell tells Hamilton that the island has never been more than a gas station for lakers, and isn't of much use, especially in the winter. Hamilton stutters, and hands a pair of binoculars to the captain. Ahead, on the Dupree station's cabin, a message is scrawled: LEAVE OR DIE Mitchell tells Hamilton that this wasn't the scenario he had envisioned. Mitchell orders his crew to contact the rest of the fleet, but his communications officer reports that the storm is keeping assistance more than thirty hours away at best. Mitchell shakes his head, running out of options to provide assistance to the lakers. He tells Hamilton to assemble a twelve-man security detail and arm themselves; they don't know how bad this is going to get.
 Hamilton complies, and kisses a photo of his family before heading to the shore with his team. They scout everywhere, finding trails of blood in the deep snow. Following the trails, they find where it came from: A large number of lakers has been decapitated or dismembered, with the corpses littering the front steps of the fuel station. Hamilton reports that the people aren't going to need the first aid kits anytime soon. One of his crew asks if a bear could have dragged the bodies here. Hamilton mutters under his breath that bears don't write on walls. He remembers that the woman on the radio was screaming about her children as well, so they continue the search, as the pile contains no corpses of women or children.
Hamilton kicks a door open at the cabin, and orders his men inside. The chimney is still blowing smoke, and the hut is warm. Still, nobody is inside. Hamilton checks the floor, finding a locked trapdoor. He shoots the lock, and his men aim their weapons at the open grate, ordering whoever is there to come out. Instead, all they hear is childish moans for help. Hamilton climbs down, and finds two young boys huddled under some furs. The kids ask if he is gone. Hamilton's eyes widen, wondering who it could be, but he realizes too late that something is wrong. Gunfire echoes from upstairs, coupled with the screams of his men. Hamilton tries to dash up the ladder to help, but Sabretooth is on top of him, and kicks him to the bottom. Hamilton struggles to remain conscious, while Sabretooth tells the children that they aren't supposed to start any fires, as it alerted the Coast Guard. He looks Hamilton in the eyes, and tells him that he is alive for a reason, but his friends aren't. Creed climbs the ladder again and leaves.
Aboard the Polar Sun, a large, bestial figure approaches, but the crew cannot make out what it is. Captain Mitchell is receiving a warning from Duluth that a major storm is about to break, and that they need to take cover. Two crewmen usher him out to the deck, where they tell him that someone is attempting to board. One officer hands him a flipbook that the person threw to the deck - it is an Alpha Flight badge, identifying Dr. Walter Langkowski. Mitchell looks overboard, and asks if the Sasquatch is really a doctor, as his credentials claim. Sasquatch says that he is, and that he came to help. Mitchell glares down at the Canadian, suspiciously wondering aloud how Sasquatch could have possibly known that they needed help.


[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]
Open Season - part 2: Cold Comfort
Officer Hamilton has found two kids, who were hiding in an abandoned hut. The kids cry and want to go home. Hamilton himself has a headache, and tells the kids that he wants to go home as well, but they’ll have to wait until the snowstorm gets down. The kids asks what they are going to do in case the monster comes back. Hamilton comforts the kids not to worry about that, since he’s got plenty of ammunition in his guns to take care of that. He promises that things are going to be just fine. The kids aren’t so sure and cry even harder, because that’s also what their father told them…
They explain that their dad went outside with his gun and their mom didn’t stop crying. She told them to hide in the closet, and then the screams came! Hamilton looks serious, but calms the kids down. The kids beg the Captain not to make them stay there while he goes outside. Hamilton promises that he won’t do that. The kids aren’t so sure, because their dad told them that as well. Mitchell realizes something and takes some food out of his bag, and hands it over to the kids.
Meanwhile at Mitchell’s base, Sasquatch’s Alpha Flight credentials get checked up, and are found as all right. But the officers want to know what the orange beast is doing here. Walter explains that he was flying Alpha Flight’s tactical jet over the lake when the officers’ distress call came across. And the only suitable landing was a smooth patch of ice on the other side of the island. Sasquatch wants to know if any survivors have been found. Mitchell explains that they send a search party ashore, but that the only thing they found were some stiffs. And the crew lost contact with the search patrol when they entered a cabin. Hamilton shows Sasquatch on a map where the cabin is located. He adds that the officers’ GPS signals haven’t moved in over two hours now, so he fears the worst.
Mitchell suggests to send out another search party once the storm has cleared. Sasquatch doesn’t want to do that. He feels it to be unwise to send more men ashore at this point, at least not until they know for sure what they are dealing with. Hamilton is surprised that Sasquatch doesn’t know what they are up against. Walter says that if he were privy to any information that would help Hamilton out, he would most defiantly share it. However, he is not. Sasquatch will go ashore, but alone. Once he has completed his reconnaissance, he will return. Mitchell understands. Walter opens the base’s door and walks out. The crew asks Mitchell what they are going to do. Hamilton stares quietly, and wraps the map up.
Sasquatch wanders around in the Canadian woods. He doesn’t seem to be bothered by the snow at all. He stands still for a while and concentrates. He opens his eyes wide, and shouts that he knows that he’s there. Walter can smell him. He shouts to his enemy that he needs to leave this island, and that he can help him. Suddenly, he gets a hit on the head from… a shovel! The punch is hard enough to knock Sasquatch on his knees. Wanting to know who hit him, Sasquatch looks up, and finds… SABRETOOTH!
Sabretooth mocks that he finds Sasquatch’s offer to be a sweet one, however his dance card is already filled. Sasquatch has heard enough and attacks Sabretooth at full strength! Sabretooth drops his shovel and is ready for a heavy battle. Sasquatch jumps at Sabretooth, but he dodges the attack and slices through Sasquatch’s stomach at the same time. Sasquatch lands in the snow and starts to bleed. Sabretooth wants to finish it off and jumps at the fallen Sasquatch, who in return throws a snowball into Creed’s face! Temporary blinded by it, Sasquatch takes advantage of that and punches Sabretooth a few times in his face until he’s down.
At the base, a crew has gathered to go ashore and bring their teammates back. One way or the other. Mitchell realizes what that remark means, but choose not to insult the men and tell them something they don’t already know. Hamilton only wants to know if his men know it. The search crew has already worked it out and are ready to go. Mitchell is fine by it, and tells them to gear up. But he warns them to be careful, as they have yet to see the face of the enemy.
Sabretooth is down. Sasquatch tries to get away from him, but that’s a hard thing to do since he’s still bleeding. Sabretooth wakes up, and tells Sasquatch to stop, or else he is going to die. Sasquatch calls Creed a sick idiot and continues his walks, not noticing that underneath him, the ice is starting to crack! Sasquatch falls into a deep well. It becomes clear what Creed was doing with the shovel: he was making a trap. Sasquatch lands, and falls into the well, which is filled with pointy thorns! Sasquatch warns Creed not to do this: some animals are just not meant to be hunt. Uninterested by the theory, Creed only knows that he will do his job a lot better without Walter’s interference and walks away.
Meanwhile, the search crew has left the base. However, the blizzard gets bad again and the crew can’t see a thing. One of them, Smith, is holding a compass and tries to figure out their route. But he can’t see anything on his device because the snow has covered it all up under the snow. He tells Anderson and Taylor to bring up the gear, as they can’t lose sight of each other. Getting no response, Smith looks behind him. The two are gone. They’ve lost them.
Suddenly, a huge monster stands behind them! The crew freaks out and opens fire upon it. They fire in the wild, but the monster is so fast and eventually kills them all.
Some time later, the storm eventually dies down. Hamilton notices that and tells the kids that they are going to his boat now. But first, Hamilton wants the kids to wrap themselves up in silver blankets. They are important because they will keep them warm. But he also warns the kids that they’ll have to run fast, like in a race. The kids promise to run as fast as they can. The kids suddenly stare behind Hamilton. He asks what they are looking at - but doesn’t realize that, outside the cabin, a monster is approaching the cabin.
Hamilton sees it coming through the window and orders the kids to go downstairs again. A hand opens the door. The kids start to cry again, and shout at Hamilton that he promised they would be safe. The only thing Hamilton can do at the moment is hug the poor kids…


[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]
Open Season - part 3: Kill Or Be Killed
Monstrous hands open the cabin in which Officer Hamilton has just found two crying kids. They cry to Hamilton not to let the monster get to them and hold tight to him. Hamilton tells the kids to let go of him. In a panicking move, he shots the monster! It falls down in the snow. Hamilton takes a good look at the orange beast, who starts to bleed. Hamilton is startled. Hamilton, not knowing Sasquatch, looks astonished when he transforms back into his human form.
In a small voice, Walter begs Hamilton to help him. Hamilton, still not realizing who Walter is, asks for identification. Walter introduces himself as Sasquatch and mentions the fact that he’s with Alpha Flight, plus that he’s a doctor. Mitchell says that he isn’t a doctor. He also wants to know where the rest of Alpha Flight is. Walter explains that he came alone. The wounds pain Walter, and he screams. “You came alone,” Hamilton sadistically says as he drags Walter into the cabin. “Great. Thanks for nothing,” and he slams the cabin’s door shut.
The snow storm worsens again. The corpses of the search crew are covered by a thick layer of snow. A hand digs itself up - Smith appears to be the sole survivor of the monster’s attack. Smith digs himself free, and panics a bit when he sees his friends dead. Holding himself together, Smith reports back to his base. Mitchell answers the call and asks what’s going on. Smith confirms that the entire search crew except him is dead. Mitchell, not believing that, wants a confirmation. Smith takes a look at the crew’s corpses, which are cut up in tiny pieces. He wants help.
Mitchell tells Smith to get a hold on himself and to immediately return back to the float. Mitchell informs Smith that they’ve got him on the GPS screen less than a click northwest of the base. Mitchell asks Smith if he can do that. Hesitating for a while, Smith pulls up some courage and confirms that he can and takes off. However, he doesn’t realize that he’s being watched by Sabretooth. Sabretooth laughs, and says that Smith has to run a lot faster than that if he wants to save his friends. Confidently, Sabretooth starts to follow Smith.
The coast guard arrives. Meanwhile at his base, Mitchell sits with his hands in his hair, not knowing what to do. The USCG Rigger Ice Queen tries to contact Mitchell, who answers his speaker. He asks what the USCG’s current position is. They explain that they are cutting him at seventeen knots and should be there by morning, rescue helicopters included. They want Mitchell to sit back and keep himself warm, since he is now officially saved. Mitchell promises to do that and logs off. He wants to drink something, but then suddenly hears screams outside! Mitchell’s crew call for him. Mitchell takes out his gun and opens his door, only to see a monster attacking. Mitchell opens fire on it, but that doesn’t harm it. The monster attacks Mitchell in return and kills him!
Outside the boat, Smith stands quietly with a machine gun in his hands. He hears the screams, and has a good look at the monster responsible for them. Smith wants to shoot it, but Sabretooth strikes from behind and knocks him down. Sabretooth tries to get a better look at his prey, which jumps away from the base. Suddenly, Creed hears a gun shot. He looks around, and finds out that Smith shot himself. Sabretooth goes into the woods again. He tries to catch his prey’s scent. Once he has done that, he continues to pursue it again, and wants to end it.
Meanwhile at the cabin, Hamilton has made a fire, despite Sasquatch’s warnings not to do that. The kids warn Hamilton he’d be better to do what Sasquatch says. Normally, Hamilton would agree, but he thinks that Walter was in shock when he said that, seeing the wounds he has. And this means that they have got to stay warm or else Sasquatch will die for sure. And, Hamilton asks the kids, they don’t want that to happen, do they? The kids cry again and say nothing. Hamilton agrees. Walter opens his eyes. Hamilton notices that and asks the doctor what he should do first.
Sasquatch explains that the most immediately concern is the artery in his leg. Hamilton will have to suture it together again. Hamilton promises to try that. That’s fine by Walter. After that, he continues, Walter will transmutate into his Sasquatch form again and his enhanced metabolism should take care of the rest. Walter warns Hamilton that he best get the children into the cellar again, since there will be a lot of blood to see. Hamilton starts the procedure and tells Sasquatch that the kids will stay with him. He promised. Besides, he adds, the kids have seen worse.
Hamilton asks Sasquatch why he came alone, and not with the rest of Alpha Flight. Walter says that’s because this is not an official mission. Hamilton succeeds in the short operation. Hamilton asks what an official mission means. Sasquatch says that this is of a… personal matter. Hamilton can’t believe that. Angry, he asks Sasquatch if his shipmates died and the kids whole family died because of a “personal matter.”  Okay, he says. He leaves from Sasquatch’s side, and takes out his shotgun and points it at Sasquatch, wanting to make it a “personal matter” as well!
Walter transforms back into Sasquatch and takes the gun away. He knows that Hamilton is under a great deal of stress, which is understandable considering the situation he is in. As his desire for an explanation is. Sasquatch breaks the gun into two. Walter explains that he has been tracking Sabretooth for several weeks in an attempt to stop him. Hamilton wants to know why Sabretooth should be stopped. Sasquatch explains that’s because Creed wants to hunt.
Hamilton asks if Creed’s after men. No, Sasquatch explains, since the blood of men means nothing to a creature like Sabretooth. It is larger prey that he seeks. Hamilton realizes something: Sabretooth is hunting Walter! And he wasn’t tracking him, Walter was running away from Creed! Hamilton gets angry and tells Walter that he led that monster here.
An evil roar is heard from outside.
Sasquatch warns Hamilton to take the children into the cellar again right now! Hamilton, still thinking that Sasquatch is the culprit of all this, doesn’t want to do that. Sasquatch explains that this isn’t his fault. He corrects that Sabretooth isn’t hunting him. No, he says, Sabretooth is hunting… the WENDIGO!


[User]
<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]
Open Season - part 2: Abominable
Wendigo slashes his way through the cabin in which Sasquatch, Officer Hamilton and two kids were hiding. Sasquatch orders Hamilton to get the kids below right now. Hamilton does as told, but Wendigo notices that and attacks them! However, Sasquatch grabs its tail just in time and tells the monster that he won’t kill anymore. Walter swings the Wendigo around the hut a few times and tosses him out! The Wendigo lands harshly into the snow.
Sasquatch tells Hamilton to just take the kids below and stay there, also mentioning the fact that he might not return. Hamilton does as told, but takes his shotgun with him. He promises the kids not to worry, as things are going to be fine. The kids, crying, tell Hamilton that he shouldn’t lie, since that’s a bad thing to do. The kids not that things aren’t go to be fine. They know that the monster killed their parents, their uncle Paul and Mister Laronne. And now it’s going to kill them, too. Hamilton is confused to hear that the Wendigo killed their folks. He thought that…
“What?” a voice from behind says, “That I killed them?” A soaking wet Sabretooth makes his way into the cellar. Hamilton takes his gun and warns Sabretooth. Creed of course isn’t impressed and tells Hamilton to put the gun down, knowing that won’t kill him. Hamilton asks Creed what he wants. Sabretooth wants Hamilton to do what he was doing so far: keeping his bait alive! Sabretooth promises that it’s almost over.
Sasquatch is back in the woods and shouts at the Wendigo that it will end here. He shouts that he knows that Wendigo is scared. He knows that Wendigo has been chased out of his home. Walter knows that the Wendigo only killed to protect himself, but tries to make Wendigo understand that this will only bring more men that will hunt him down. Walter shouts to the Wendigo that he can help him, if he would only trust him. As Sasquatch shouts, he doesn’t notice that the Wendigo is watching him from in a nearby dark cave.
Wendigo apparently isn’t interested, because he jumps out of the cave at full rage and slams Sasquatch down! Wendigo slashes Sasquatch a few times with his claws, and Walter’s blood splats through the air. “No,” Wendigo says, “Trussst… maaan!” When Sasquatch faints, Wendigo roars.
Sabretooth hears that and follows the directions. Some time later, the Wendigo stands on a hill. He looks sad. He smells something and quietly growls. It’s Sabretooth who has caught up on him. Sabretooth guesses that Wendigo realizes that people are coming to kill him. But Creed doesn’t care about that, because Wendigo will be long dead before those men arrive! Creed jumps at Wendigo and attacks, and slices through his stomach.
The fight goes on, and both men fall off the hill and land in the ice cold water below them. Sabretooth gets the upper hand on Wendigo and keeps slicing him and isn’t bothered by the water at all. Wendigo doesn’t give up. The two creatures keep on fighting each other, ignoring the fact that they keep sinking lower and lower…
Time passes. The snow storm rises up again. The ice begins to crack. After a short while, Sabretooth’s hand rises and he climbs up!
Creed returns to the cabin. He opens the cellar and informs Hamilton that there’s a boat approaching and that it should be to the dock in a few hours. Creed tells them that if they hurry, they might even be able to safe Sasquatch’s life. Sabretooth tells Hamilton and the kids that at least they are saved, and they can start a fire now, since it’s going to be cold.
Triumphantly, Sabretooth walks away, carrying the Wendigo’s fur over his shoulders.


[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]
Demon
‘Nightcrawler! For your sake, I hope you’re prepared for this. Your next mistake could be your last!’ a recording announces to the acrobatic Kurt Wagner a.k.a. Nightcrawler of the Uncanny X-Men in the Danger Room. Kurt exclaims that he will make no mistakes, so as a large missile is fired at him, he swings off the trapeze, lands on the wall and darts around the room dodging it. Eventually, Kurt waits for the missile to get very close to him – then using his mutant power, he teleports at the final moment, saving himself and causing the missile to crash into the wall and explode. The recording congratulates Kurt on surviving and for showing a certain measure of ingenuity and even panache while doing so. Kurt leaves the Danger Room, remembering that he has a big date with Amanda tonight he tells himself that he would hate to be late.
Soon, the comely Amanda Sefton opens the door to her stylish apartment and greets her X-Man boyfriend. Kurt smiles and apologizes to Amanda for being so late, and explains that there was an extra training session that he forgot about. The powerful sorceress suggests to Kurt that he never forget her, to which Kurt quickly replies ‘Never!’ Amanda and Kurt kiss, before Kurt hands Amanda some flowers.
Amanda remarks to Kurt that she doesn’t know why he puts up with it, as he is a mutant – a genetic accident – unique. ‘No one taught you to be blue and furry…or have a tail…or be able to teleport at will, you were born that way!’ Kurt agrees with his foster sister, before reminding her that he is an X-Man, and as part of that team they face great dangers together, so he owes it to the others – and to himself – to know how to use his abilities as effectively as possible.
‘Super hero!’ Amanda jokes, before telling Kurt that what he needs is a nice, normal job like hers. Kurt sarcastically replies that being a stewardess is so ordinary, adding ‘And we won’t even discuss your little hobby…’. Amanda tells Kurt that comment isn’t fair and reminds him that she isn’t “practizing” these days, ‘Oh, but you are. You enchant me whenever I look at you!’ Nightcrawler replies, complimenting the beautiful blonde.
‘Flatterer!’ Amanda exclaims, before pointing out that they still have three quarters of an hour until their dinner reservations, and asks Kurt if he would like something to drink. Kurt thanks Amanda and asks if she wants a vase of water for those flowers, before noticing her crystal ball sitting out, and asks her why she has it out, as he thought she said she was no longer practizing. As she gets their drinks ready, Amanda replies that she isn’t – not really, as it seems better not to, what with competition between magicians so cutthroat, and as there are some rather powerful magicians here in New York, it seemed smart to retire, ‘But…’ she begins. ‘But…?’ Kurt asks.
Amanda explains that a few days ago she got the strangest feeling – like something had happened to space itself, right near her apartment. Amanda assures Kurt that it felt awful, and claims that she wasn’t going to do anything, but she wanted to trace the source to see if she could learn what had happened and where it came from. Kurt frowns, but Amanda informs him that she would just like to find out who or what is responsible – in case something really goes wrong.
Kurt replies by telling Amanda that she better be careful. Amanda promises, before pointing out that there is a lot of trans-dimensional magic loose around the apartment, which is what she has been using to trace the space rift’s origin. ‘So whatever you do, you’d better not teleport!’ But it’s too late, as Kurt attempted to teleport to another location in Amanda’s apartment, mixing with the trans-dimensional magic…he disappears! ‘Kurt…’ whispers Amanda.
A Bamf signals Kurt’s arrival…but where? Kurt calls out to Amanda and mutters that he hates getting involved in magic, and wondering where he has landed this time. Examining his location, Kurt decides that this place is very pretty, and upon hearing someone approaching, he hides nearby. Two people lead a large dragon-like creature behind them, and one of them remarks that it is in his opinion that Lord Feldspar overstepped himself when he banished Prince Crystar and his followers. The other exclaims that the Prince has always been their protector, not just for the citizens of Galax, but everyone on the whole planet of Crystalium. The first person tells the second to not say that too loudly, as the Regent is a popular man and is gaining power everyday, adding that there are even some people, who in spite of all that has happened still favour Prince Moltar over his twin brother.
When the people pass, Kurt steps out from his hiding place, astonished at seeing a dragon – least of all a dragon being led around on a leash! ‘What kind of madhouse have I teleported into?’ he wonders, before looking up and seeing a green-skinned man riding on some sort of flying creature look down at Kurt and exclaim ‘Great order protect us! It’s a demon! A chaos demon!’ Kurt teleports and the green-skinned man turns and flies elsewhere. Kurt sees the green-skinned warrior depart, and is relieved.
Meanwhile, in a palace nearby, Crystar the Crystal Warrior asks his uncle, Lord Feldspar, if that concludes their business. Feldspar replies that it does, and tells his nephew that he appreciates him coming back to Galax to help him with these matters of state, before suggesting that Crystar and his followers leave the city. Crystar informs his uncle that he has enjoyed seeing him, before revealing that their camp out in the hills is getting rather hospitable, and suggests his uncle come out to visit sometime and enjoy a meal.
Feldspar hesitates before telling Crystar that he wouldn’t want to do anything that might look as though he were favoring Crystar over Moltar and his forces, that he must not compromise his neutrality. Feldspar decides though if he keeps the visit short and brought a large entourage of guards with him so that it was clearly an official visit…. Crystar agrees, and points out that taking the guards is probably a good precedent – especially if Feldspar ever gets invited to his brother Moltar’s cavern.
Feldspar asks Crystar what has come over him, pointing out that it sounds like he doesn’t trust Moltar. Crystar replies that he does trust Moltar – or at least he did, until the day Moltar stuck a knife in his back and nearly killed him. Crystar adds that he definitely doesn’t trust Zardeth the chaos wizard that Moltar has taken on as an advisor.
Crystar’s friend Ika repeats some of Feldspar’s words – “A large entourage of my guards…” and tells Koth that she sees more pomp and circumstance in the Crystal Palace every time that they visit. The green-skinned Koth agrees, and asks Ika if she hasn’t noticed how seriously Lord Feldspar takes his new position. Ika asks ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ when suddenly the green-skinned warrior that briefly encountered Nightcrawler before comes rushing in, calling out for Crystar.
‘A demon, Crystar! I saw a demon in the marketplace!’ the warrior exclaims. The warrior exclaims that it was a real one – an evil, rotten, nasty demon that vanished before him. ‘It what?’ Crystar asks when several other warriors enter and reveal that they saw it also. Crystar exclaims that it has got to be Moltar’s doing – or Zardeth’s, to which Feldspar mutters ‘There you go again – always blaming your brother!’
Ika approaches Feldspar and asks him to be reasonable, reminding him that only once that they know have there ever been demons on Crystalium in their entire history, and that was when chaos itself sent them hoping to conquer Crystalium. Koth points out that Moltar and his followers all were converted into men and women to signify their allegiance to chaos’s cause. ‘Just as we ourselves were converted to crystal to show that we sided with the right of order in that same conflict’ Koth reminds everyone.
Feldspar warns Captain Koth to have a care, and reminds everyone that he is of both types, crystal above and molten below – by his own choice. ‘Naturally, my Lord. A living symbol of neutrality. What could you have thought I meant to imply!?’ Koth asks. Crystar asks his uncle to calm down, before remarking that if there is a demon in the city and Moltar sent it, then his brother has violated the terms of his banishment. Crystar points out that if Moltar didn’t send it, then it may mean some danger to the people, therefore he asks his uncle to extend their stay until they have found the demon for him.
Back outside, Kurt decides that if strange things are going to keep happening to him, he had best be prepared – or at least dressed for it, but as he is about to change into something else, he hears a voice nearby – it’s Crystar and his friends. Someone remarks that they are surprised Feldspar agreed to let them search. Crystar exclaims that he is surprised his uncle didn’t put them all in jail for the night, ‘We were lucky!’ he exclaims, before asking Koth ‘Why do you always have to do that?’ referring to Koth’s outburst at Feldspar. ‘Do what?’ Koth replies innocently.
Crystar suggests that they might accomplish more if they split up and tells Koth to come with him, and motions in the direction for Ika and the warrior Stalax to go in, informing them that if they find anything, not to handle it on their own. ‘Of course’ replies Ika, and the warrior Stalax assures Crystar not to worry about them. Nightcrawler is standing nearby, then teleports, and Koth remarks that he could have sworn he saw something back here, before holding his nose and asking what that smell is. ‘Beats me. Some kind of sulphur…brimstone, I guess’ Crystar replies.
‘Now what!!!’ exclaims Kurt as he teleports into view, with several molten-red colored people standing before him. ‘My lord!’ exclaims a woman. ‘Welcome!’ a large male greets Nightcrawler. A man in a robe asks Kurt when it was that he got here and why he didn’t tell anyone that he was coming, before asking what they can do for him. ‘I beg your pardon?’ Kurt replies, before informing the strange beings that he would appreciate it if they would keep him away from some glass people who seem to have taken a profound dislike to him. He tells them that he cannot imagine why, as he has never seen anything like them before, nor done them any harm.
The robed man asks Nightcrawler if their masters didn’t tell him before they sent him here – the crystal men are the servants of order he explains, adding that they are the greatest enemies chaos has in Crystalium. ‘Chaos? But I don’t quite understand!’ Kurt replies. ‘Do you deny that chaos sent you here? It seems obvious!’ the woman tells Kurt has she puts an arm around his. Kurt replies that he supposes “Chaos” was the word for it.
The large red-skinned male declares that it is foolish to stand here idly; chattering in the open, for anyone who passes could eavesdrop on them, and suggests that they retire to the Caverns of Chaos. The robed man addresses the large man as Prince and tells him that is an excellent notion. Prince Moltar watches angrily as the woman leads Nightcrawler away and asks him what he is called. Kurt replies that, professionally, he is known as Nightcrawler, before asking where they are going. The woman assures Nightcrawler that he will like it there, as their headquarters is all hot and bright and lovely – not to mention filled with the scent of brimstone!
Entering the Caverns of Chaos, Kurt is shocked to see more large dragons. The woman asks him if he has never seen a dragon before, to which Kurt replies that there is one back where he comes from, but it is tiny, not like these tame, enormous monsters. Prince Moltar beckons Nightcrawler to come along as the woman pats one of the dragons on the nose, informing Kurt that the dragons are tame for them, but should an enemy come around, they can be very fierce! ‘I’ll bet…’ Kurt thinks to himself.
Prince Moltar remarks that Nightcrawler would surely want to rest after his journey and before he begins answering the questions they have. Kurt replies that is very kind of them before adding that he has some questions of his own that he would like to ask. Entering another part of the cavern, Kurt thinks to himself ‘Phew! Is that what brimstone smells like? No wonder my friends object when I teleport!’
Prince Moltar asks how urgent his “master’s” business is, to which Nightcrawler replies that it can wait a little. The robed man announces that he remembers himself how disconcerting the journey to this world can be, so he is certain Nightcrawler will want to rest and recover. Prince Moltar excuses the robed man and himself, assuring Nightcrawler that Lady Lavour will look after his every need. The robed man explains that he and Prince Moltar have an urgent conference they must conduct – privately.
Lady Lavour sits down next to Kurt and exclaims that Prince Moltar and the wizard Zardeth are so transparent, they are obviously worried Nightcrawler might be here to replace them, that somehow they have fallen in disfavour with chaos. Lady Lavour rubs a finger down Nightcrawler’s arm as she exclaims ‘But that’s not so, is it? You’d tell me, wouldn’t you, if we had anything to worry about?’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Kurt replies, unaware that Ika is crouching nearby and listening to his conversation. Ika thinks to herself that Stalax was right, this is a Chaos Demon, and she knew he would come here if she waited. Lady Lavour asks Nightcrawler why Chaos sent him here, and if he likes her or not. Kurt replies that he does, as she has been perfectly delightful since he arrived, but that there that he still doesn’t quite understand. And at that moment, someone creeps up behind Ika….
Meanwhile, Crystar and Koth walk side by side on their search, but Crystar exclaims that there is still no sign, and remarks that if anyone less reliable than Stalax had reported the sighting then he would be inclined to give up the search. ‘And imply that one of your loyal citizens was imagining things? Not you!’ replies Koth. Crystar declares that he doesn’t care what he seems to imply as he is stumped. He points out that if they don’t find anything between the Caverns of Chaos and the village then he supposes all they can do is go back to their camp and wait until the monster makes some kind of move.
Suddenly, the warrior Stalax cries out to Crystar and rushes up behind him. ‘Look at these! I found them hidden at the edge of the village! These are the clothes the demon was wearing!’ Stalax announces. Crystar asks to see them, so Stalax holds them out. Crystar asks Koth if he realizes what this means. ‘That there’s a monster running round the city naked?’ Koth replies.
The three men continue on their search and Crystar tells Koth to be serious, adding that there is no reason Stalax should recognize this type of garment, but both of them should as they wear clothes like these on Earth, the strange land they once visited by magic. Crystar suggests that the monster may not be a chaos creature at all, and if he does come from Earth, then there are only two among the people of Crystalium who have ever opened the pathway to Earth.
Koth understands, and reminds Crystar and Stalax that one is Ika’s father, the wizard Ogeode, and the other is Zardeth. Crystar remarks that their answers may lie in the Caverns of Chaos after all, and Stalax motions to a satchel and dagger lying on the ground nearby and points out that they belong to Ika. Crystar remarks that Ika must have had the same idea that they did, ‘And ran into trouble by the look of things…’ Koth adds.
Back in the caverns, Lady Lavour examines Nightcrawler’s tail and asks if everyone has tails like that where he comes from. Kurt replies that they do not, and as far as he knows, his is the only one. ‘Lucky you…’ Lady Lavour remarks. Kurt thinks to himself that the more he hears these beings speak of “chaos” the more he is certain that they are referring not to a concept, but to an actual person, and wonders what kind of mess he has bamfed into – not to mention how these lava people will take it if he tries to explain the mistake now.
Suddenly, ‘Let go of me you jerks! Let go!’ Ika cries as Prince Moltar and Zardeth pull her into the cavern where Nightcrawler and Lady Lavour are. ‘Who is this?’ Kurt asks surprised, to which Lady Lavour exclaims ‘That little witch!’ Moltar announces that they found her outside spying on them, and introduces her to Kurt as Ika the daughter of the Order wizard, Ogeode – their greatest enemy! Lady Lavour goes over to Moltar and tells him he is very clever to catch her, because now Ogeode will really regret the trouble he has been causing for them.
‘When he hears of his daughter’s fate…’ Zardeth begins, to which a shocked Kurt asks if they mean to kill her just like that. ‘Why not? It’s what her kind would do to one of us!’ Zardeth replies, to which Ika exclaims that they would not – adding that he would deserve it more than her anyway. Zardeth exclaims that they are bold words coming from a little crystal maiden who is all alone without the mighty Prince and Captains, or her father’s sorcery to protect her.
Ika exclaims that she may not be the image of her father before revealing that she is not completely helpless without him either, and unleashes some powers from her hands, aimed at Zardeth, who agrees that Ika is not helpless, but points out that she is not on his level either, and uses his own power to trap Ika is a glowing red energy. Zardeth asks what Ika’s allies could have been thinking to send a mere apprentice alone against him.
Zardeth remarks to Ika ‘It hurts, doesn’t it’ before telling her that he might be inclined to be lenient – if she begs nicely. ‘Never…curse you!’ Ika replies, when suddenly Nightcrawler turns to Moltar and tells him that there is no excuse for such cruelty. ‘Those are peculiar words coming from a Chaos Demon’ Moltar remarks, to which Lady Lavour mumbles ‘If he really does come from Chaos…’. Nightcrawler declares that if this is what their Chaos is then he is glad he is not of Chaos – nor does he want any part of it.
‘So be it!’ Zardeth exclaims as he unleashes some power upon Nightcrawler and Ika – only for Crystar to enter the cavern and block his foe’s power. Koth and Stalax are not far behind, and Koth asks Zardeth if he has resorted to shooting a man in the back, not to mention a helpless bound prisoner. Stalax motions to Nightcrawler and exclaims that Ika has found his monster, before Crystar asks Ika if she is all right.
With Prince Moltar and Lady Lavour at his side, Zardeth declares that it will be his pleasure to finish Crystar off face-to-face, but before he can attack Koth exclaims ‘Not today, Zardeth!’ and traps the wizard in a net. Zardeth orders Koth to release him, but Koth isn’t interested in taking orders. Stalax asks Ika if she is all right and hands over her dagger ad bag. Ika replies that she is fine – thanks to Nightcrawler.
Ika informs Stalax that there should be a little charm in the bag that is shaped like a key and asks him to find it for her. Stalax opens the bag and pulls the key from it while Ika introduces herself to Nightcrawler and thanks him for defending her. Nightcrawler introduces himself by his codename but adds that his friends call him Kurt. Stalax marvels at the key and asks Ika what it is. Ika takes the key and the red glow she was surrounded in fades as she informs Stalax that it is for countering spells of enchantment as he has just seen, and adds that her father face it to her for her last Birthday.
Crystar suggests that if Ika is free then they be on their way – unless of course Moltar wants to settle things between them once and for all. Moltar turns to his brother and exclaims ‘Taking a sword to an unarmed man? For shame, Crystar! That’s unworthy of you!’ Lady Lavour suddenly steps forward and holding onto a whip tells her lover Moltar that he may be unarmed but that she is not, and suggests he hurry and summon his guards.
Lavour then cracks her whip, grabbing hold of Nightcrawler by his tail. Kurt falls to the ground and Crystar rushes over to him, but trying to cut Kurt free with his sword, Crystar discovers that he cannot, as the whip shows no signs of yielding. Lavour exclaims that it will not yield any more than she yielded to Crystar when they were engaged – before she realized that Moltar was his better.
Moltar suddenly shouts ‘That’s enough, Lavour!’ telling her that he doesn’t need her to fight his battles, nor does he want her talking to Crystar and reliving their love for each other. Moltar turns to Crystar and tells him to throw down his sword then he will remind him and his monster both of why Lavour chose him – ‘Because I am the better man!’
Kurt thinks to himself that if someone doesn’t do something fast, then that lovesick maniac may hurt someone, while Zardeth, still trapped in the net, calls out to the guards, calling them morons he tells them to get in here and start defending their Prince. ‘Oh sure, Moltar! You’re very brave when we’re in your headquarters, totally outnumbered!’ Stalax exclaims as he rushes up behind Moltar, despite Ika telling him to take it easy. ‘You always were a pesky kid, Stalax!’ Moltar exclaims, blocking Stalax’s attack.
Kurt bamfs out of Lavour’s hold, surprising everyone, and they all wonder where he has gone. ‘Eeek! Did you see what he did?’ exclaims the frightened Lavour, while Ika wonders how he did it. ‘My monster!’ exclaims Stalax as Nightcrawler reappears in front of Moltar, startling Moltar who falls to the ground. Kurt advises Stalax to move away from Moltar before he gets up before teleporting up behind Zardeth who has freed himself from Koth’s net.
‘Now you’ll pay you impudent…’ Zardeth begins, but before he can unleash some magic on Koth, Kurt exclaims ‘No! Don’t shoot him…shoot me, over here!’ Zardeth turns to shoot Kurt – but Kurt teleports quickly, multiple times so that Zardeth cannot get a hold of him. Kurt teleports up onto the roof and Crystar congratulates him, before suggesting that they all clear out before the guards come, and offers to cover Kurt’s retreat. Kurt replies that it is an excellent idea, before assuring his companions not to worry about him, as he will be way ahead of them.
Crystar, Ika, Koth and Stalax take their leave, with Crystar remarking that it annoys him that they must flee like this, and suggests to Koth that the two of them turn around and settle things with Moltar. Stalax exclaims to Ika that he wants to ask the monster lots of questions, and Ika remarks that she has a few things that she wants to say herself. Koth points out to Crystar that it would give his uncle cause to say they had broken the truce and get themselves slaughtered by superior numbers in the process. ‘I hardly think you’d want that, Crystar’. Crystar admits that Koth is right, but that he still hates to run away like this.
Shortly, Nightcrawler has regrouped with his new companions and Ika exclaims ‘So you are from Earth! I wish you’d told us sooner!’ Kurt replies that he wished someone had given him the chance, adding that he didn’t know anyone here would even know about Earth. Ika reveals that she knows lots and tells Kurt that he has no idea what an education it can be, having a powerful enchanter for a parent. Kurt replies that he does indeed know, as he has this good friend back on Earth, and her mother is…his voice trails off.
Ika tells Kurt that if he is really that homesick, she could send him back to Earth. ‘Could you really? That would be wonderful!’ Kurt exclaims. Ika puts her hands on Kurt’s arms and tells him that it is the least she can do – to thank him for protecting her when the molten people and Zardeth had them surrounded, she was so grateful. With the moon shining behind them, Ika tells Nightcrawler that if he could stay a little longer she could show him how really grateful she is….
Meanwhile, back on Earth, Amanda sobs beside her fire, thinking that Kurt has been gone for hours and if only she knew what had become of him. Suddenly, there is a bamf and Kurt reappears in Amanda’s apartment. Amanda gets up and tells Kurt that she was so worried, before asking him where he had been. Kurt reveals that he traced the source of the Time / Space disruption for Amanda, explaining that it is part of a trans-dimensional mystic gate, and holding some gems in his hands informs Amanda that it leads to a wonderful place called – ‘Crystalium!’ exclaims Amanda.
Kurt is surprised, and asks Amanda if she has heard of it. ‘You bet I have!’ Amanda replies, adding ‘I’d know those gems anywhere! That hussy Ika wears these!’ before asking Kurt where he got these gems from. Nervously, Kurt asks Amanda to calm down before trying to explain himself, only getting caught up in his own words. ‘It was all…that is…she and I merely…’ he is interrupted by Amanda who exclaims ‘Merely what? I want an explanation!’ and smiling wickedly, thinks to herself ‘And knowing you, I bet it’ll be a beauty!’