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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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I’m just a poor boy (1st story),  Brothers (2nd story)
First story: (New Orleans)Gambit is taking some time out to handle some of his own affairs. One evening he visits a pawnshop, where Mr. Green resides. He is the biggest operator in the Gulf states. Most law enforcement agencies think he’s a myth, but he’s known Remy’s family since he was eight. A phone call from him could mean a million dollar job. They call him Mr. Green because he knows where the money is.
He enters the shop and turns the open card over to read closed. He then approaches the back door and says it’s him, and Mr. Green should open up. He replies by asking how he knows it’s him. Remy charges a card and explodes the door. Entering, Mr. Green says he was joking. Now he has to replace the door. Remy replies that he should know better to make him wait. Time is money. Green says he knows. His accountant bills him a hundred and ten bucks an hour to launder all the money he pays Remy. He then asks him to take a seat.
Mr. Green is sat behind his desk, using a large magnifying glass to check on a consignment of rubies. Remy asks him about the job he mentioned. Green informs him that a guy named Tyler Wynn, a government egghead working for the CIA at Langley, wants out of the Company. He handles slush funds for covert ops. All hush hush. Remy figures the suits won’t allow him waltz back into the real world; too much of a risk. Exactly, replies Nr. Green. Wynn also knows this, which is why he cleaned out the CIA’s dummy account and took off for the Bahamas. He unloaded a safety deposit box with over two million in cash and some computer discs.
Remy thinks this could be lucrative if the legwork is already done. He asks if he knows where he might be. Mr. Green informs him that he does. If Remy finds him, he can keep the cash, but he wants the discs. Deal, says Remy. Green warns him that it wasn’t the local loan shark he ripped off; it was the CIA. He should leave Tyler be when he finds him and the CIA will sort him out. He hands over air tickets to Nassau.
(Paradise Island, Bahamas)Remy checks into the most expensive casino resort on the island, but fails to bag the biggest suite. It’s booked for a month, so he figures Wynn got there first. At $5000 a night, that’s $150k down the drain already. He heads inside the Casino Royale but doesn’t spot Wynn anywhere. He goes into the high roller’s area, but the doorman removes his playing cards as he enters.
It doesn’t take him to locate Wynn. He is sat at a table, shoulders drooped and hemorrhaging cash. The middle-aged man’s slouch is a dead giveaway to Remy. It means he never had two nickels to rub together. He feels kinda sorry for Wynn, but then he knew what he was doing when he took the CIA’s money. He’s lost half a million already, meaning Remy’s take is dwindling fast. Behind Wynn, Remy notices a CIA assassin stroll past, offering a casual glance at his target. His hardened face is that of a professional killer and, as he leaves the room to set up his kill zone, Remy follows.
He dashes straight past the doorman, leaving his precious cards behind and jumps into the lift after him. By the time the door opens again, the assassin is out cold. Remy drags him into Tyler Wynn’s room and immediately cases the safe in the wall. He figures that two million, minus the suite, Wynn’s bad gambling and Remy’s expenses should still leave him with around half a million. Still worth his time.
He peers into the safe but all he finds is seventy grand in casino chips and a jewel case containing discs. Without turning, he asks the man behind him how long he was gonna stand there before he said something. He turns to see Tyler Wynn, a frightened, lost soul, asking if he’s gonna kill him. Remy motions to the assassin unconscious on the sofa and tells Wynn that he’s there to kill him. He is just there to rob him. Remy can’t believe he’s come all this way and all he has left is seventy grand. It’s guys like Wynn that gives thieves a bad name, he tells him.
Wynn asks if that’s it. Is he just going to rob him and then leave? Remy figures that saving his life pretty much makes them square. Besides, he knew what he was doing when he stole the money. He warns Wynn that he should get outta there. The CIA already sent one guy and there'll be more along shortly. Right on cue, a gas canister drops into the suite and explodes, throwing the two men to the ground.
When the smoke clears, the Cajun is sprawled on the ground and he looks up to see several armed operatives aiming their pistols at him. He can’t hear a word they’re saying, as he’s still deaf from the flashbangs. His head is swimming and what he does next breaks his heart. He charges up a ten thousand dollar chip and tosses it as he leaps into the air. It distracts the agents long enough to grab one of them. They begin shooting, but Gambit’s agility and close combat fighting skills make them take each other out. He figures their body armor will ensure they survive this, but he needs to get out of there in a hurry. The close quarters favor him, but he doesn’t want anybody getting killed.
A second charge later and another chip makes its way though the window, shattering it. Remy steps onto the balcony, only to find three more agents hanging from ropes. He leaps onto the nearest one, who drops his weapon and punches him in the face. The other two shoot but Remy hurls a third charges chip at their ropes, slicing them in two, dropping them to the ground. He swings on the first agent back against the wall and jumps the balcony railing into the suite. Then, his luck runs out.
The original assassin has recovered and is aiming his pistol at Tyler Wynn’s head, demanding from Remy the whereabouts of the discs. Remy plays dumb, but the assassin warns him not to get cute. He wants the discs and the money, now. Remy asks what he gets in return. He’s not walking away from this mess with nothing. The assassin aims a second pistol at Remy and tells him he can have the money, but he’s taking the discs. Remy produces them, but asks about the egghead. The assassin tells him he’ll get what he deserves and tells Remy to put the discs on the ground.
Tyler pleads for Remy not to, but Remy slides the discs to the assassin. The discs are worthless to him and leaving with one last chip has become a thing of pride. Wynn explains that they were gonna kill him before he robbed them. The accounting matrix he designed made him obsolete. He could either sit there and wait for them to dispose of him, or he could do some good. He continues to tell Remy that the discs contain a budget-balancing program that could help third world countries get out of debt. It could help keep thousands of little guys from being taken advantage of by bigger governments with deeper pockets.
The assassin tells him to shut up, and pistol-whips him in the jaw to prevent him from talking. Remy, however, has heard enough. As much as it kills him, he charges his last remaining chip and puts the assassin down for the count. He picks Wynn up from the floor, who can’t believe he isn’t dead. He asks Remy what will happen to the discs. He replies that he knows a school headmaster in Westchester who will take care of them. Wynn then asks what will happen to him.
(New Orleans)Back at Mr. Green’s pawnshop, the owner asks how the job went. Remy informs him that there’s no money and no discs. Green can’t believe it. All that time and effort and what do they have to show for it? Funny you should ask, says Remy. He explains that Tyler Wynn needs a job and he needs an accountant. Wynn works under the table, so Green won’t leave empty handed. Now they’re square. Mr. Green asks what Remy gets out of all this. As he leaves the shop, he replies, “Oh, a good time for my money.”
Second story: (The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, evening)A bunch of female students are hanging outside the mansion next to the Phoenix memorial. It’s only 8.30 pm, and the guys are going out to meet them. Greg asks Jay Guthrie if he fancies it. Becky will be there, and Nancy, and Julie… Jay isn’t in the mood and mopes off to his room, head down. As he walks away, one of Greg’s friends says Greg’s such a dope, as Guthrie’s stuck on himself. Greg replies that he isn’t; it’s just that his girlfriend died before he came here. His friend says he heard she killed herself, but Greg tells him to shut up and get going. Jay overhears the banter, which doesn’t lighten his mood any.
Jay falls into a phone conversation with his mother. He just wants to go home, and just because Sam and Paige went to school here, that doesn’t mean he needs to. He knows how to fly and he can heal; there’s not much more to it than that. His mother wants him to learn all about his mutation, but Jay looks at a press cutting of Julia’s death and asks why he can’t just come home. She asks if he blames himself for her death, but he doesn’t - not completely. He says goodnight and lies on his bed.
As he drifts off, Cannonball rockets through the night sky and enters his room via the window. He picks up the cutting and Jay wakes, asking Sam what he’s doing here. He says that Paige talked to mom, and she thought it might be a good idea to check in on him. “You know how women get.” Jay rises and rubs his neck, replying that she’s overdoing the concerned sister role, so is Sam here to overplay the big brother? Or, is he, Cannonball, the big X-man hero, coming to save him from himself? Sam doesn’t rise to that, but asks Jay to get dressed; something to fly in.
Minutes later, Jay joins Sam on the grass and asks where they’re going in the middle of the night. Sam takes off and tells Jay that he’ll race him to the lake. He’ll take it easy on him. They both head skywards and fly past the forest. Sam says he used to have a hard time maneuvering when he first got his powers. He ran into things; through them, actually. As Jay follows using his wings to propel him at speed, Sam adds that he was lucky, because his blasting power kept him invulnerable during flight. Jay doesn’t have that, so he has to take it slow through the trees.
Sam makes it through the forest, telling Jay he’ll get the hang of maneuvering eventually, but is more than surprised to find Jay waiting for him in the clearing. He informs Sam that he already knows how to fly. He’s actually pretty good at it and doesn’t need any lessons. He takes to the air again and Sam says they should check out the city. Still unimpressed with the whole scenario, Jay says fine and heads after his brother.
(New York City)The city beckons, and Sam mentions that Jay’s been pretty quiet. Jay says that it’s almost 4:30 in the morning, and they’re just flying around out there. Sam thinks it’s a pretty nice night though. He loves seeing the city at night like this. He used to sneak out and do this all the time when he was at Xavier’s. They fly over the high buildings, with Sam telling his brother that his wings look amazing. “Why didn’t you tell me about them before?” he asks. Jay answers sarcastically by asking when he was supposed to do that. The one time he called two months ago? He doesn’t even know where he is half the time.
The guys land and Sam ponders the response. He admits he hasn’t been around, but he’s worried about Jay. Paige told him about what happened back home in Kentucky; about his girlfriend dying. She said he tried to hurt himself. He places his hands on Jay’s shoulders, and tells him that he knows he doesn’t think he can understand, but he’s lost people he cares about too. Jay turns his head, and says he has no idea what he’s talking about.
He pulls away from Sam. He is upset that everyone always thinks they know what’s best for him. “Mom made me come to Xavier’s. Paige is calling you because you’d understand what I’m going through? What a joke!” He runs and tells Sam that he doesn’t know anything about him. He doesn’t even know Julia’s name. “Thanks so much for taking the time to come to see me. I’m going back to Xavier’s.”
Jay suddenly halts before taking off. He’s spotted a fire in the distance. Sam can’t see it and wonders if his eyesight is enhanced too. Jay points to a plume of smoke rising from the city. Sam realizes his error and immediately heads towards the source of the smoke. Jay asks if they should call the fire department, asking what they can possibly do. Sam can hear the sirens already, but they can get to the top floor faster and get people out of there.
Jay asks if he won’t just take out the wall by blasting in there, but Sam replies that he’ll shut his powers down before he gets there and smash through the window. Jay is concerned his blasting power therefore won’t protect him, but Sam says he has to do something, right? “Won’t you get burned?” Jay asks. Sam tells him there’s no time to talk; he should just follow his lead. He’ll hand out anyone he finds to him, so he should stay close.
As they approach the building, Sam switches off his power and crashes through the window, landing perfectly amongst the shards of glass. There is smoke everywhere, and an orange glow of flame surrounds him. He calls out and a little girl answers. Sam finds her hiding underneath her bed. Her dad won’t answer her and there’s a lot of smoke in the hallway. Sam grabs the girl and assures her that they’re going to get her out of there. He takes her to the window, where she sees Jay. She thinks his wings are cool. Sam agrees, but asks where her parents are and if anyone’s on the top floor. She informs him that her dad’s down the hall and her mom is at grandma’s. Jay takes her and tells Sam that the fire’s spreading quick, and there’s a lot of smoke coming out of there.
Bravely, Sam heads back inside, much to Jay’s concern. He flies the girl to the ground and she asks if he’ll get her dad out. Jay gives her to a waiting fireman and tells her that his brother’s been doing this his whole life. He’s a super hero. He’ll get her dad out of there in no time. He asks the fireman to inform his colleagues that they’re up there and trying to help. He flies back to the window, but the whole area is covered in flame. Suddenly, the building explodes with a burst of flame, and Sam anxiously calls his brother’s name. As the cloud of smoke billows upwards, he sees Sam blasting out of the building, carrying a half-dressed man to safety.
He lowers him to the ground, where firemen are tackling the lower floors. The man hugs his daughter with enormous relief. Sam doesn’t wait around for any acknowledgment. He takes to the air and joins Jay. “C’mon, let’s get going.” Jay smiles. They soon land on a nearby building and Sam asks Jay if he’s okay, as his wing is smouldering. He is, and Sam tells him he did good back there. He adds that being part of the X-Men… well, he’s lost family too, people he loves. He tries to empathize with Jay, but Jay still doesn’t understand.
Jay asks what he knows about being part of a family. He and Paige left them. They got their powers and went and lived their lives without worrying about what was going on at home. The pathetic thing is, he continues, is that he wanted to be just like them, and now he is. He would give anything to give these stupid wings back and go home again; to have Julia live again. He lowers his head. Sam says there’ve been hundreds of times he’s wanted to quit the X-Men, quit this life, but he had a responsibility to use his gifts to help others like him, like them. Jay asks if that responsibility was more important than being at home with them. Sam didn’t say that, but tells Jay that what you’re responsible for and what you want rarely have anything to do with one another.
They perch on the edge of the building. Sam eventually asks what Julia was like and if they were together long. Jay replies that Julia was beautiful. They knew each other when they were younger and she cared about him for who he was, he thinks. He tells Sam that he isn’t sure he can handle this. He doesn’t want to be a mutant anymore. Sam knows, but sometimes things happen that they have no ability to change, no matter how amazing their gifts might be. The only thing you can control is what you decide to do with these powers. Sam puts his hand on Jay’s shoulder again. He knows one thing for sure: if he decides it’s his path, he’s going to make a great X-Man someday. “Really? You think so?” Jay replies.
The brothers stand and prepare to head back to the mansion. Sam jokes that they’ll think the Hellfire Club took him during the night or something. Jay hasn’t heard of the Hellfire Club. Oh man, Sam thinks; he never told him about the Hellfire Club? He begins to inform him, but Jay interrupts, and simply says, “Sam - thanks for coming to see me.” Friends again, Sam replies, “Anytime, Jay, anytime.”


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Testing Times (1st story), Mutual Secrets (2nd story)
First Story:
As Cain Marko’s angry face reflects on his ruby red shades while he sits, Scott Summers asks the former villain if this is an example of him not losing his temper. Scott then waits for an answer from Cain, who stands over the remains of Scott’s desk with his fist still in it and many papers strewn every where.
Cain, realizing that he has made his situation worse, begins to plead with Scott to give him what he wants. What does he have to give him, Scott asks, as he wipes some splinters and such from his suit jacket. Should he really put Cain in charge of a gym class full of mutant teenagers? Cain has to be kidding. Scott points at Cain and reminds him that, until recently, he was one of the X-Men’s deadliest enemies and of the worst order with a really bad temper. How could he possibly put Cain in charge of a class?
Looking down at the remains of the desk he shattered in anger, Cain explains that it cannot be his fault, as Scott was the one who needled him. Scott looks at the mess and informs Cain that if he though those comments before the destruction of the desk were needling, then wait until he has to deal with a teenager. Cain assures Scott that he can handle the situation, but the man still does not believe him. How is Scott to know if the first kid that talks back to the Juggernaut won’t get thrown through a wall? Annoyed, Cain tells Scott that he won’t hurt the kids. If he doesn’t believe him then a test should be in order so he can prove that he can keep his temper when it counts. Scott gets up and looks out the glass wall into the night. He then turns around with a smirk on his face, which worries Cain.
Scott rests his hands on his chair and tells Cain that he will be tested. Cain smirks this time and tells Scott to bring it on. Of course, says Scott, Cain knows that he won’t lose his temper a second time with him now. Cain thinks that Scott doesn’t know his tricks well enough. That is why Scott isn’t going to test him; he is. Cain turns around, as Wolverine bids him good evening. Cain leaves the room to go find some beer in the kitchen. As soon as he leaves, Wolverine asks Scott what he should do in the Danger Room. Should he program it to display a bunch of teens at the height of puberty? Scott tells Logan that Cain will expect them to do something like that. They have to be creative now.
Cain enters the kitchen to find Sammy up, reading a book. Cain asks the boy why he isn’t sleeping and learns that Sammy has a math test tomorrow, but he doesn’t understand quadratic equations yet. Cain tells Sammy that he wishes he could help, but he never understood that stuff either. Sammy asks Cain that if he didn’t understand them then why he have to? Surprised, Cain sits next to Sammy and explains that he has to get his education so he doesn’t end up like him. Tests are important, because that is how a person is able to prove him or herself. Putting his arm on Sammy’s shoulder, Cain makes a deal with the boy. He has a test tomorrow too. If Sammy promises to do his best to pass the math test, then Cain will do the same. Smiling, Sammy agrees. Neither notices that Scott has been watching this whole time.
The next morning, Wolverine and Juggernaut are both in uniform and in the danger room. Wolverine walks up to Cain and asks him to bend over down to him for a second. Cain does so and asks why. Wolverine then slaps him square in the face. Confused, Juggernaut asks if that was the test. No, says Wolverine. That was for fun. Impatient, Juggernaut tells Wolverine to just get the kids that are to test him. Wolverine pulls a remote control out of his belt buckle and tells Cain that they will get to that soon enough, but first things first. Wolverine presses a button on the control, which causes the Danger Room to simulate an empty dark street in the city.
Juggernaut hears a “snikt” sound and then hears Wolverine scream his name. Juggernaut turns away from the real Wolverine to see a Danger Room simulated Wolverine, wearing his brown and yellow costume, leap at him. Not noticing movement behind him, Cain instinctively bats the fake Wolverine away and across town. The real Wolverine applauds Cain on the good attack. Too bad he hit the wrong enemy. Juggernaut rubs his head in confusion. Wolverine plays the simulation again and, as the fake Wolverine leaps, the real one tells Cain to look behind him. Cain does and notices a Brood alien behind, ready to kill him. Wolverine points out the angle that the fake Wolverine was leaping with. He was trying to save him, not kill him. Worried, Juggernaut tells Logan that it wasn’t fair, as he wasn’t testing his temper. How was he to know that the simulation was jumping at something else? You were reacting without thinking, says Wolverine. Cain pauses, which shows Wolverine that even Cain realizes what his problem is.
Wolverine tells Cain that it seems like he doesn’t like being surprised. Cain agrees and asks for a room full of kids so he can show his stuff. Wolverine presses a button again and this time the Danger Room simulates a crowded bank. Wolverine tells Cain to have patience before handing him a bag of money. Logan explains that there is a hundred dollars worth of quarters in the bag. All he has to do is get in line and then change the quarters for a c-note. Surprised over how easy it sounds Juggernaut asks if that is all and Wolverine tells him yes.
Juggernaut gets in line, which is rather long, as it is about 11:30 AM. He stands behind a couple that is arguing about the husband’s mother. This year they will stay at home, but the wife complains that he said that last year. Behind Cain, a man comes with his music player annoyingly loud. As more time passes, the couple argues about how the husband always happens to work late. The annoyed husband tells his wife not to bring that up again. Behind Cain, the man with the music begins to sing the lyrics in addition to playing the loud music. As Cain nears the bank teller, the man already there asks for ten thousand dollars in all fifties, five thousand in twenties, and the rest in tens. Twelve o’clock rolls around and Cain finally reaches the teller, who then closes the lane. He is going out to lunch. Angry, Juggernaut grabs the man from the other side of the counter and slams the bag of coins on his head, telling him that he wants to exchange the change for a hundred dollar bill.
Wolverine tells Cain to stop and remarks that he is zero for two. Wolverine thought the man was better than that. Cain complains that the tests are not fair, but Wolverine reminds him that he never said that they would be. Is he ready to give up? Give him everything he has, says Cain. Wolverine complies and presses another button, which shifts the Danger Room display to a hospital room filled with rows of injured people on beds. Cain is confused again. Wolverine picks up a nearby chart on the patients’ medical histories and begins to read. The first is Laura Wagner, who is 39 with a fractured femur, tibia, fibula and skull. That all occurred when Cain fought Spider-Man last year. The next patient is Michael Russell, age 82, who has a broken back and fractured pelvis after the last time Juggernaut fought the Hulk. The next patient is Philip Samuels, age 8, who has a punctured lung and heart. He needed a transplant. He was hurt when Logan was thrown into a car by Juggernaut two years ago. The little boy was in that car. Cain is dreaming if he thinks the X-Men will trust him with kids, says Wolverine, as he throws the medical chart at the silent man.
After a moments silence, Cain tells Logan to end the program. Why, Logan questions, so he can forget about this. Cain wipes his face and tells Logan that it is over. They are all right; he is not ready. That eight-year-old could have been Sammy or any of the rest of the kids. Cain has a while to go yet, but he knows he will get there someday. Cain heads to the door and tells Logan to tell Scott that he will be in touch, but only when he knows that he is ready. At that moment, Scott walks in the room in uniform and tells Cain that it is the team’s call to make, not his. As he tosses the remote to Scott, Wolverine says sold to him and leaves the room, while the confused Juggernaut stops.
Juggernaut asks what is going on. Cyclops reveals to Cain that he was testing the man to see if he really was taking all this serious. He wasn’t the only one who needed convincing. Three people had to know. He and Wolverine are two, says Cain, but who is the third? Recalling Cain’s conversation with Sammy, Scott explains that tests are not just to prove things to others. Sometimes they help prove things to yourself. Cain will be supervised by one of the others until they are sure he can teach alone. His first gym class with the sixth graders is scheduled tomorrow and Scott wants to see a semester’s lesson plan by next Monday. Does Cain have any questions? Happy, Cain asks Scott if this means he won’t tell Xavier about the broken desk. The two shake hands, as Cain tells Scott that he won’t let him down. Scott welcomes Cain to the faculty.
Second Story: In Emma’s quarters, Wolverine holds up a wedding invitation she received from her friends, Douglas James Hutchinson III and Madeleine Alexander Vandervalk. Logan asks why Emma is inviting him as her guest and not Scott. Emma comes away from her window and explains to Wolverine that Scott doesn’t need to know about it. There are some things a girl needs to face alone.
Intrigued, Wolverine asks for more details. Emma explains that he has known Doug and Maddy since college. One could say she introduced them. Truthfully, though, one day she told her best friend Maddy about this guy she had a crush on and, the next day, Maddy was all over Doug. Emma admits that she knows it was long ago and she shouldn’t be involved in this nonsense anymore, but they did invite her and she owes it to them to make an appearance. With a wicked smile, she tells Wolverine that she wants to wish them happiness.
The day of the wedding, an usher asks a newly arrived couple if they are with the bride or the groom. Several of the guests turn in surprise to see Emma in one of her usually scandalous white dresses. They also notice her rather short and hairy companion, wearing a nice suit. Emma tells the usher that she is with either one; she’s an omnivore. Wolverine tells the man that a seat in the back will be fine. The two sit in the back pews of the church. Emma tells Logan that he is lucky that he doesn’t hear what the other guests are saying about them. Logan agrees, though in truth his hyper hearing can hear the comments about how no one can believe Emma dared showed up or the fact that she actually wore white. Others question if the two are mutants and someone says that they look horrible.
That night at the reception, a crowd of women surround Emma, all of them lauding the ceremony. One of the women asks Emma if she ever got married. Another compliments Emma on her tasteful wardrobe. A third asks if Wolverine is someone they should know. Finally, a fourth woman says that if must be nice of Emma to see Douglas again, despite the circumstances. A woman named Gwent spots the passing bride and groom and compliments Maddy on the lovely ceremony. Maddy thanks Gwen but asks Emma if she could spare a moment in private. As Emma and Maddy leave, the other women spot Logan in conversation with several men.
One of the men tells Logan that Emma is a heck of girl. Another tells him that he has guts, for Emma is a woman even he wouldn’t dare go after. A third man asks Wolverine how they met. Logan takes a sip from is drink and tells the men that they work together. The women nearby look at Logan and one asks what the others think. One of the women announces that he is definitely rich, but another is not so sure. He looks like he has never been in a beauty salon and, the way he talks, is not sophisticated. The first woman tells her companion that is the suit. Logan knows how to wear Armani. Besides, no one as ill-groomed as him could be poor. Maybe he is a stock market genius. Maybe a movie director, offers another woman as a suggestion.
In an empty hallway, Maddy scolds Emma for daring to show her face around her. Confused, Emma reminds Maddy that she invited her. Maddy informs Emma that it was Douglas’ idea and that she wouldn’t have agreed with it if she had known. Emma was on the news with those…those people. Emma ignores the last reference to the X-Men, as she is surprised that Doug invited her. Maddy tells her that Doug invited her out of pity, nothing else.
At their table, Wolverine tells Emma that he has never seen her so bent out of shape. Emma thinks it is funny how being back with these people turns her back into the whimpering little weakling she was in college. Wolverine pulls out a canteen and tells her to have a sip of this, despite both of them being already a bit drunk. Emma takes a sip and begins to cough. What is this? Wolverine simply tells her that it is stronger than the champagne. Now what is it between her and Doug? It seems more than just a one-way crush. Emma takes another sip and tells Logan that it isn’t his business.
The men Logan was speaking to before come to the table and interrupt. One of them asks Emma if they could borrow her man for a while. Jokingly, Logan asks his honey if she minds. She guesses not, replies Emma.
The men head outside to show Logan their friend Trevor’s new Hummer. In the parking lot Logan admires the car. One of the men asks him if he has ever driven one. Another cracks a joke about if they make Hummer’s for people Logan’s height. Logan tells the men that he thinks he can handle it. One of the men tells Logan that what really bothers him is that mutants like him think they can walk into a party and act like there is nothing wrong with them. The other men grab Wolverine and begin to punch him. Wolverine smiles and admits that he loves full contact sports. He then pops out his claws.
Moments later, Wolverine returns back to the reception hall and wipes dirt off his shoulder. He adjusts his tie, as he notices Emma with Doug. He overhears Doug mention that he is putting his past behind him and is making a fresh start. He has never told anyone, Emma asks. Did she, Doug questions. Emma walks away and tells Doug that, believe it or not, some people here know how to keep secrets. Wolverine grabs two champagnes and gives one to Emma. Emma asks him where the boys he was with are, as they will miss the best man’s speech. They must be enjoying the night air says Logan. At that moment, outside, the men who attacked Logan find themselves crammed into the trunk of the Hummer. One complains that even his hair hurts. Trevor brags that at least his Hummer has enough trunk space, but the other men tell him to shut up.
As they stand for the toast, Wolverine asks Emma why she never mentioned her affair with Douglas. Is it that obvious, asks Emma. Logan tells her that he has learned to pick these things up. As the best man taps his fork against his champagne glass, Emma tells Logan that she and Doug both promised not to tell. The best man begins his speech and admits that Douglas and Maddy had their problems too. With that said, he tells Emma that he is looking at her, which causes the whole room to laugh. Emma is embarrassed, as Logan tells her that is seems Douglas isn’t good with secrets like she is. The best man goes on and tells everyone that a couple needs more than passion, as that is short lived and, in the long run, it doesn’t count. The best man speaks some more and then toasts the new couple. Wolverine asks Emma if they should leave now, but the woman gets up and walks towards the stage.
The best man announces that the mike will be open all night if anyone wants to make a toast. Emma thanks the best man, Drew, as she takes the mike. Emma thanks Maddy for inviting her to the wedding, which is something she noticed that not even the rest of the girls had courage to do. After all, having a mutant to dinner isn’t quite done in today’s world. Oops, there is that nasty word that no one wanted to say all night. Emma raises her champagne glass and tells the crowd that Maddy isn’t just the friend of a mutant. She is now married to one. Here is to Mr. and Mrs. Mutant. Emma leaves the room with Logan, as Drew takes the stage and tells everyone that Emma sure is funny. However, the rest of the crowd looks at the embarrassed Doug with looks of disgust and surprise for the secret mutant in their midst.
In the taxi, Wolverine gives Emma a dirty look, but she asks him who is he to judge after what he did to those men in the Hummer. Logan explains that he messed up their evenings. Emma screwed over Doug’s life. Someone had to say it. They think they are so above mutants. Not Doug, says Wolverine. Not anymore. Now he can join the fight, says Emma. She struck a blow for all mutants tonight. Isn’t that the important thing? That is what Magneto used to think, says Wolverine. Emma looks out the window with a sad look on her face.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Follow the Leader (1st story), Bar Stools (2nd story)
First Story: Wolverine returns back to the Danger Room and once again finds the same note on the door, which has been there for several days. Wolverine takes down the note written by Cyclops, which states that the Room is locked for reprogramming. Though the note instructs Logan to come back the next day, the feral X-Man enters anyway. Inside, he finds Cyclops busy at the control panel of the Danger Room. He complains to the leader of the X-Men about how the note has been up for four days. There is only so much reality programming one can watch. Cyclops replies that he is glad that Wolverine has been keeping his mind sharp.
Wolverine ignores the comment and asks when the room is going to be ready. If he doesn’t get into a fight soon he might have to take up hockey. Cyclops informs Logan that he is almost done loading a program, but then adds that he doesn’t think it would suit him. Surprised, Wolverine tells “mono-brow” that he can take anything Cyclops can throw at him. Cyclops asks Logan about his familiarity with Henry V. Is that the guy who carried around the big turkey leg, asks Logan. It was a William Shakespeare play, responds Cyclops. Wolverine explains that his dog must have eaten his copy then. Cyclops takes Logan down to the Danger Room and lets him know in advance that he will be facing some unique challenges in this simulation. Impatient, Wolverine tells Cyclops to forget the lecture and to get the program started.
Cyclops leaves and starts the program. In seconds, the environment around Wolverine transforms from cold metal to a green valley. Wolverine finds himself dressed in full knight’s armor with a king’s crown on his head. He is Henry V. Around him is an entire army, ready for battle. This wasn’t what he was expecting, but it does beat reruns of “Extreme Dating.” As the French army charges right at Logan and his Englishmen, his aide Gabriel turns to him and informs his highness that they should retreat through the woods immediately since this fight is of no consequence to them. Annoyed, Logan tells Gabriel that he isn’t his highness and he isn’t retreating anywhere.
At that moment the French army reaches the English army. A soldier to Wolverine’s right has his head crushed by a sledge, while a Frenchman on a horse runs charges straight at the X-Man. Gabriel tries to give Logan his sword, but he refuses to accept it. He then pops his claws and knocks the French soldier of his horse. Wolverine tears through ten French troops all by himself before the armada retreats out of fear. He looks back to see his army standing there in fear and awe with all eyes transfixed on the adamantium claws. Gabriel stutters that they should return back to the camp.
As the English army walks back to camp, Gabriel asks his king if he may have a word with him. Gruffly, Logan replies that he is not his king, but he may say what he wants to. Gabriel informs Logan that the men are wondering why he did not inform them of his plan to charge. I work better alone, replies Wolverine. Perhaps, says Gabriel, but had the other men known about his plan they could have repositioned themselves to cut off the French as they were retreating. Now, they will have to fight the same men tomorrow that they could have eliminated today.
That night at the camp, Wolverine sits in his tent, pondering. Gabriel comes in and Logan takes the opportunity to ask whom they are fighting. It’s the French, right? And they are the English, correct? Concerned, Gabriel speaks honestly and informs Logan that the men are in need of inspiration from their king. Wolverine apologizes, but he doesn’t give “inspiration.” Gabriel pleads for Logan to give a speech. The men know that they will be outnumbered five to one tomorrow. They need to have their hopes raised. Wolverine tells Gabriel that he does not do speeches, so leave him alone. Sadly, Gabriel complies and leaves. Wolverine gets up and complains that this is the dumbest simulation ever, but he cannot give up yet, though he might go nuts playing king. That is when Logan spots the tattered red cloak in his tent.
Wolverine dons the cloak and heads out into the night. He figures that an army of French soldiers is nothing compared to him. All he has to do is find their camp. As he walks, he passes by three English soldiers around a fire. One of the soldiers spots him and asks him to come over, as all he will find in the woods is the cold and the French. Wolverine decides to join them, though none of the men recognize Logan because his face is hidden under his hood. One of the soldiers tells Logan that they were just talking about their king. They heard he steel claws sprung from his hands this morning and he refused to fight with the army. Logan informs them that he heard the king killed ten French knights. Many escaped though, adds another. A third wonders why they all left their families if the king just wants to fight by himself. Concerned, Logan asks the men if they will fight with their king tomorrow or not. “If he chooses to lead us,” responds one man.
The next morning Wolverine dresses himself for battle. Gabriel comes in and informs Logan that all the men have been gathered as he ordered and his sword has been sharpened. Wolverine takes his sword and heads outside to greet his troops. He announces to them that his Shakespeare is a bit rusty so they must beat with him. A concerned troop asks Wolverine why he wants them to fight an army five times their size today. What chance do they have? Wolverine calls out that he wants them to fight, because he knows that they will win. Another troop asks him why he is so confident. Wolverine tells them that he has one reason: he has them on his side. With that, the troops all cheer.
Later, the French and English armies meet. Logan tells Gabriel that, once the French cavalry begins to charge, they will fall back to their protected positions. Gabriel informs Logan that the troops are fully aware of his plan. Pleased, Logan runs past the archers and orders them to fire the first salvo. They do and the French army begins to charge right at them. Logan orders them to keep on firing, even as the two armies meet. Wolverine rushes into battle with his sword brandished. He slaughters through the army with his troops. In the end, there are few survivors in the French army. As the French retreat, the English cheer and lift their king into the air, praising him. Logan is quite pleased.
The simulation ends and Wolverine finds himself back in his wife beater and shorts. As Cyclops comes back in, Wolverine tells him that the simulation was fun. Cyclops informs Logan that it wasn’t for amusement. It was done to assess Logan’s leadership skills. Logan thanks Cyclops, but he is not interested in leading anyone but himself. Logan leaves the Danger Room, as Cyclops says to himself, “One day perhaps you’ll have to be.”
Second Story: A shirtless man with green hair wearing an open blue vest walks into a bar. A brunette asks her blonde friend if she would be interested in him. The blonde admits that the man is okay, but she isn’t into the 1981 Los Angeles punk look he has going on. The brunette reminds her friend that the style is back in and adds that she is quite picky.
The brunette spots two more men, whom the blonde agrees are better looking. The redhead tells her friends to look again, as the two cute men are holding hands. Disappointed, the blonde complains. The brunette tells the blonde, Polly, that they will find her a boy-toy tonight. Just for the night, adds the redhead.
Suddenly, the brunette spots a man entering in and decides that he is the perfect man for her friend. Polly smiles and admits that she sees potential. The red immediately notices the shoulders and the arms of the man. Polly agrees, but notices that he is kind of short. However, that doesn’t matter to her.
Logan reaches the bar and is greeted by Shamus, the bartender, who cleans out a shot glass. Without even asking, Shamus tells Logan that he will give him the usual. Logan thanks the man and asks him how things are this evening. The bar is slow for a Thursday. Shamus tells Logan that it is still early and that he doesn’t get this place packed until 1 a.m. Logan eyes a man at the pool table and asks Shamus what he knows about him. Shamus admits that he never saw him before, and then asks Logan why he asks. “Oh nothin’,” replies Logan, “Just a hunch.” Shamus smiles and tells Logan that the “agency girls” want to start early tonight. Logan is confused and asks the bartender what he means. Shamus directs Logan’s attention towards the door and informs him that one of the women is eyeing him.
At the table, the brunette asks Polly if she is going to go over to the bar. Polly tells her friends she will go in a minute after she drinks some more courage. One of the women notices that Logan has looked at Polly and ecstatically tells her that he is checking her out. At the bar, Logan begins to sniff the air. At her table, Polly drinks more out of her martini. Her heartbeat rises and she begins to shake her leg. At the bar, Wolverine gulps down some of his beer. Tipsy enough, Polly walks over to the bar and orders an Amaretto Sour. She asks Logan if the seat next to him is taken and introduces herself. Logan says hello, but doesn’t show much interest in Polly.
Polly gets closer to Logan and tells him that she is a deejay. Well, she isn’t really. She is interning at a local morning show. She is on air a lot so perhaps he has heard her. She was on today as a matter of fact. Polly notices that Logan is staring at the pool table and the man there and asks if he plays pool. She isn’t that good herself. Noticing that this is a one-sided conversation, Polly asks Logan if he knows the man over there or something. Logan turns to Polly, who rests her head on his shoulder, and tells her that she and her friends should leave. Polly agrees and asks where the two of them are going. Logan smiles and tells her that she needs to leave right now.
Stubbornly, Polly tells Logan that she is not leaving without him. Logan tells Polly that he is the last man she wants to get mixed up with. Polly pulls down the zipper to her dress to reveal more of her breasts and sexually tells him that he doesn’t mean that. Look at her! Doesn’t he want to go somewhere a bit more private? Logan leans over to Polly and whispers something in her ear.
Angry, Polly leaves Logan and tells him that all he had to do was say no. She returns to her friend and tells them that they are leaving. The brunette asks Polly what Logan told her, to which Polly replies that he used the “I’m a mutant” line. He even claimed he is one of the X-Men. The redhead moans that she hates that line. At the bar, Shamus asks Logan why he didn’t give her what she wanted. Cryptically, Logan replies that some folks can’ see the train coming until they are on the tracks. He is like the downtown express. Polly likes what she sees, but that is where it ends. Besides… he prefers redheads.
Logan gets up and leaves the bar, following the three women out. He notices that the man he spotted at the pool table approaching the women and asks if they are leaving already. Polly admits that she can be talked into staying and sure enough she is. The brunette and redhead get a taxi and Polly tells them that she will call in the morning. The other women leave and Logan realizes something. He taps the man on the shoulder and tells him that Polly is heading home. The man tells Logan to buzz off and Polly tells him that he had his chance. Logan tells the couple that they are misunderstanding him, but the man, who now addresses Logan as Wolverine, tells him that he is misunderstanding. Suddenly, his eyes burn red and his skin turns gray. He grabs Polly by the throat, but Wolverine separates the two and pops out his claws. Logan stabs the mutant killer in the gut.
Polly and Logan watch him stumble off. Logan tells Polly that this is New York City and some people aren’t always what they seem to be. As he walks off to catch up with the killer, he tells Polly to get out of her before a worse creep comes along. A few moments later, Polly collects her bearings and smiles. “X-Men, huh? Wonder if any of them are available…”


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Tempest in a Teapot (1st story), Contact (2nd story)
First Story:Kitty Pryde remembers that she was only thirteen when she first joined the X-Men. And she remembers how it only took two whole seconds to fall for Peter Rasputin. And she laughs at the fact when she remembers that it took the poor guy a whole year to ask her out. Kitty thinks back at the time they were dating. She recalls that how their first date was disturbed by killer robots, so the second couldn’t go any worse. At least, that’s what Kitty thought at the time. Now she knows better and looks back at that certain date…
(flashback/interwoven with narration from the present)Colossus compliments Kitty on the beautiful white dress she is wearing. Peter asks Kitty if she has borrowed it from Storm. Kitty is a little offended by that, because Peter thinks a nice dress like this one couldn’t be hanging in her wardrobe. Kitty trips over her high heels, and Peter jokes that he thinks that walking on high heeled shoes needs practice first. Kitty angrily replies that she knows how to walk on high heels. Peter apologizes and they continue the date.
Kitty remembers how she wore the dress to make Peter look at her as not just a kid. A little while later, Peter has taken Kitty to a Russian restaurant. Peter gallantly opens the door for her and they go sit on a reserved table. Kitty is amazed at the beautiful interior of the restaurant. She was a little upset at Peter for not introducing her to his parents yet, but he has made it up by this. Peter confesses that he took Kitty to this place because it reminds him about his birthplace in Lake Baikal, and Peter is a little homesick.
The female waitress overhears Peter’s Russian accent and hits on him. The waitress asks Peter if he truly is from Siberia, and why his “little sister” sounds more American than he does. Kitty angrily gets upset and shouts at the woman to leave Peter alone and spills the food all over her dress. Kitty angrily leaves and Peter quickly follows her.
But that wasn’t the only worse thing that happened that night, Kitty now recalls. It got even worse when Peter took her to the movies…
The ticket seller refuses to let Kitty go inside the movie theatre, because for the movie they are showing, you had to be older than 17. Kitty gets even more upset than she already was and leaves and heads to a disco. The doorman notices Kitty’s young age and refuses to let her indoors, though he winks at Peter and says he can come back any time. Kitty takes Peter away and he wants to make up to her. They next go to the ice saloon, where they eat a big ice cream together. Kitty’s worst date ever turned out to be her best one.
(present)Now, Kitty finds that a little pathetic. She remembers the next date she had with Colossus, and how they ran into Mystique’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and how Peter almost got killed that day. When Kitty looks back now, she recalls that she and Peter didn’t go out afterwards. The timing simply wasn’t good enough. Kitty also wonders what would have happened if she didn’t spill the food on her dress, or had worn high heels.
This was Kitty’s worst date story, and now she wants to know what Sage’s one is. Sage doesn’t want to talk about it, because she nearly managed to stabilize the pressure seals in the fuselage of the X-Plane. Sage hopes that it will hold, but it will fail once the A.I.M. Kill Team that shot them down to the bottom of the ocean manages to locate them and terminate them for good. So Kitty will have to forgive Sage for not wanting to talk about boys right now.
Emma telepathically warns Sage to watch her tongue, and reminds her of the little air supply they all have. If Sage doesn’t do that, Storm will completely go catatonic. Emma explains that without weather down here for Storm to manipulate, and A.I.M. waiting on the surface in case Kitty phases them out of the plane, neither of them can do such a thing at the moment, so Emma suggests that a little chit-chat might keep Storm’s mind from all of this. Sage understands, and now realizes the good use of her brain being capable of parallel processing. Emma thanks Sage for that, and suggests that she will go first if that will make Sage feel better.
(flashback/interwoven with narration from the present)But Emma wonders how she can hold onto one date, since she has had so many terrible ones in her younger years. Emma reveals that every date, even every relationship has its disappointments. Every single one, Emma says, because when you look down to it: men are all the same. Emma remembers men flirting with her back in high school, college, at the office and, even when she was in the Hellfire Club, she could easily resist Mastermind’s attempts, despite his manipulating powers. Emma recalls the costume that Sebastian Shaw wanted even his “White Queen” to wear. Emma knows that Shaw believed it to be necessary, but Emma knew in herself that Shaw was as just of a slime-dog like all men are.
Emma also remembers a time when she was first with the X-Men, sitting in the cafeteria, and how she thought that all men were boring. But then Scott Summer stepped up, and convinced her to not to judge a book by its cover and to take a chance now and than. Scott believed that Emma might like what would happen afterwards.
(present)Emma stops talking and wants Sage to take it over. Sage claims that she has hardly been in any relationship and doesn’t really want to talk. Storm gets up, and begs Sage to say something, because the talking actually helps her to keep courage. Sage says that there’s really nothing to tell, since she has spend the past decade or so undercover in the Hellfire Club, spying on them, pretending to be one of them, and she always had to keep her guard up in the hope not to be discovered by their members. Sage never allowed herself an honest emotion there. Sage couldn’t allow it in such a hostile atmosphere. And unless keeping Sebastian Shaw from pinching as her posterior counts as a date, which it did for Emma, Sage is afraid that she has no dating stories.
Storm knows a thing or two about hostile atmospheres and tries to stand on her legs. Kitty compliments Ororo on that. Storm was just realizing something. At first, sinking beneath the waves, watching the light dim to nothing, Storm felt like she was being buried alive. But Storm came to the conclusion that there isn’t any stone or earth out there, just liquid atmosphere.
Of course, Sage concludes. Ocean currents and wind currents aren’t so much different from each other. They are both driven by convection patterns and pressure differentials, which means that the jet stream and the Mid-Atlantic current are practically the same thing! And if such winds are in Storm’s commands, she can do anything with them! Storm manipulates the ocean patterns and succeeds to levitate the X-Plane up. Storm wants her lady friends to promise her that they will give her something in return when they make it pass to the A.I.M. agents.

As Storm gets the plane pass the A.I.M. agents, she makes Sage promise to date any man, but one man, to make up for past losses. And Storm makes Emma promise to never again compare Cyclops to the legion of losers she had just described. Emma says that’s entirely up to Scott. That’s good enough to Ororo. The X-Men destroy the A.I.M.-agents weapons and airplanes, and Storm goes next to Kitty’s promise. Kitty asks Ororo what she wants from her. Storm simply says that she always wanted to know what happened to her white dress…
Second Story:Rogue and Marvel Girl rush into a hospital with Rachel carrying a heavy wounded man in her arms. A doctor gets to them and recognizes the two mutants and asks what happened. Rogue says that they found the man three miles down the road. Rogue explains that the man was in a bad car accident, and she and Rachel barely got him out.
Another doctor shows up, and asks Rogue and Rachel what they think they are doing here. Rogue tries to explain that they are from the X-Men, but the doctor knows who they are: he watches the news. While other doctors operate on the wounded man, the other doctor keeps complaining. He suspects both Rogue and Marvel Girl to be responsible for the wounded man’s condition. The two X-Men try to defend themselves that they have saved him, but the doctor wonders why the super-heroes are so “good” into “saving” people, why they always end up sewing them back together? The doctor commands his helpers to get the wounded man to an operating room and to call security. The doctor suggests Rogue and Rachel to have better left once the guards get here.
Another doctor tries to apologize for Dr. Laughlin’s manners, but Rogue tells him not to worry about it because they are used to the hatred. The doctor asks Rogue to at least let him take care of her cuts. Rogue lets him, and the doctor takes out some bandages. Rachel asks why Laughlin hates mutants so much. The doctor jokes that Laughlin simply has severe combined immunodeficiency. He asks Rogue if she ever saw the movie “The Boy In The Plastic Bubble?” Rogue thinks she has, asking if it’s the one in which germs could kill the boy. Exactly, the doctor adds.
Rogue asks the doctor if he shouldn’t be kicking them out by now. The doctor says that he would never do that, since this is a hospital. He only kicks people out when they don’t have health insurance. Rogue isn’t sure if the Xavier Institute has heath insurance, but the good doctor was only joking. He wants to check on Rachel now, but… she is gone! Rachel has walked out of the room, and meets the security guards. They want to arrest her, but Rachel fights back, using her powers to keep the guards away from her. Dr. Laughlin begs Rachel to stay away from him. Rachel is confused why her “dad” acts this way.
Rogue hears the noise and walks out and tries to stop Rachel. Rachel’s eyes turn weird, and she telekinetically pushes Rogue against a wall. Rachel keeps calling Dr. Laughlin “dad.” Rogue is angry and attacks Rachel. Rogue thinks that she knows what’s going on: Rachel’s mind has been taken over! Rogue pushes Rachel against a wall and touches her, in the hope to find out who’s behind the attack. The world around Rogue turns black. Rogue is confused, since her absorption powers have never done this before.
Rogue notices a kid and asks who he is. The kid says that they told him that he would die if he went outside, but he wonders why, because he is fine. Rogue tells the kid that they are in his head now, but he doesn’t know what Rogue is talking about. Rogue asks the kid if he remembers what happened to him. He remembers being in a room, and wishing to get out of it.
Suddenly, the kid was suddenly somewhere else in the hospital. So he decided to look his dad. And that’s when Rogue attacked him! Rogue tells the kid to hold on, explaining to him that she only attacked him because he took over her friend’s mind. The kid asks Rogue who her friend is. Suddenly, he realizes who. Rogue and the kid both look up, and see a gigantic Rachel standing next to them.
The kid asks Rogue what they are going to do now. Rogue suggests that he better goes back into his own body now, but the kid doesn’t even know how he got out in the first place. Rogue asks the boy to think real hard, so that he might remember it. The plan works and Rogue lands back into the real world.
The hospital hall is completely empty, except Rogue, Rachel and the doctor are there. The doctor asks Rogue if she’s okay. Rogue hasn’t got the time for that now and asks the room of Dr. Laughlin’s kid. The doctor doesn’t understand why Rogue wants to know that, but he says that the kid is in room 1124. Rogue asks the doctor to look after Rachel, and she herself runs to the room.
After a short time, Rogue finds it and opens the door. She finds the kid locked inside a plastic chamber. The kid introduces himself as Connor. Rogue says “hi” and tells Connor that she is a mutant and suspects that Connor is one too. Dr. Laughlin angrily enters the room and shouts that his son is not a mutant! Rogue defends the boy, but Connor cuts in, telling his dad that Rogue might be able to help him. Laughlin calms down and decides to give it a shot.
Rogue comforts Connor not to be afraid. She just wants to talk to him. Rogue explains to Connor what her absorbing powers are. Rogue says that in case of mutants, she can absorb their powers. For example, Rogue has once absorbed Rachel’s telepathic powers and thinks that’s how they both got into Connor’s head. But Rogue continues, and says that when she touches someone too long, the absorption becomes permanent. For a long time, Rogue was afraid. She didn’t want to hurt, so instead she hurt others. But then one man believed in her: Professor Charles Xavier, the founder of the X-Men. The X-Men gave Rogue a chance on a happy life and to understand her powers. Rogue thinks that maybe, the X-Men can help Connor too.
Some time later, Beast arrives in the X-Plane. While some hospital staff members load Connor’s chamber on the plane, Dr. Laughlin congratulates Beast on the fine paper on immunodefiency he has read from him. Beast thanks him for the compliment and was glad that he could help out at least a little bit. The other doctor shakes hands with Rogue and asks if she thinks that Beast could help Connor solve his problem. Rogue has no doubt at that at all. Rachel says that, in the least, the X-Men can help Connor learn to control his powers.
Rogue asks Rachel how she is doing. Rachel smiles and tells Rogue that this one is not too loose. Rogue apologizes for her punches. They walk together to the X-Plane, and Rogue and Rachel keep joking about being possessed.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Double Feature (1st story), The Boy Who Wasn’t There (2nd story)
First story: Nightcrawler, dressed in blue jeans and a red hooded top to cover his blue features, exits a theater in Manhattan’s lower east side. Attack of the Mutants and Plan 9 from Outer Space are showing in the double feature, and Kurt eyes the poster for Attack of the Mutants. It shows a monstrous mutant attacking a helpless woman lying on the ground.
As Kurt wanders away from the theater, a gang calling themselves the Misfits, all wearing identical red T-shirts, hurl abuses at him. Kurt is used to this kind of treatment, and knows well not to react. As he passes an alleyway further along the street, he hears a call for help. He takes a peak, and sees three males, one carrying a chain and the other two bearing clubs. They are standing over a black woman wearing a headscarf. The scene is similar to that in the poster. They warn the woman to shut up, and they might let her live. His friend says she doesn’t deserve it.
Nightcrawler teleports immediately, and appears in the air right above her assailants. With speed and agility, he easily takes out the first two men, leaving the third to consider his options. Despite carrying a club, he knows his best option is to run. He drops the club and turns, joining his friends who stagger away, nursing their bruises.
Kurt kneels, and asks the woman if she is all right. She replies that she thinks so, but then puts her hand out. “Who… where are you?” she asks. Kurt realizes that she is blind. She stands and puts both hands out, thanks Kurt for saving her, and asks if she can touch his face. Kurt is reluctant, but the woman insists she didn’t mean anything. Kurt apologizes, but says he just doesn’t like to be touched. She asks if her cane is nearby, and Kurt retrieves it for her.
She thanks him, and introduces herself as Grace. Kurt does likewise, and tells her he’ll walk her home. As they walk the now empty streets on a warm evening, Grace tells Kurt that she doesn’t know what she would have done if he hadn’t shown up. She asks where he came from. “Oh, I just… dropped in,” Kurt replies. Grace asks what the noise was, and the smell; like sulphur or something? Kurt grins, and replies that New York is a wonderland of unidentifiable sounds and smells.
The head to her place, and Kurt remarks that it’s hard to believe how quickly New York got put back together after ‘that Magneto guy’ attacked… like nothing ever happened. Grace is almost glad she couldn’t see the destruction. Kurt adds that some say it shows mutants are out to destroy normals.
Grace stops in the middle of the street, and asks if Kurt would like to know how she lost her eyesight. She explains that, ten years ago, Africa witnessed the worst genocide since Hitler. In Rwanda, almost a million people were killed while the rest of the world just… watched. Kurt replies that it’s sad, but what does that have to do with her. She continues to say that she was there. The men who came to slaughter her family beat her so badly with their rifles, she lost her sight. But, she was lucky. Everyone else died; her whole family.
She bows her head in remembrance. Kurt says he’s sorry. Grace tells him that the men who killed her family weren’t mutants. Neither were the men he just saved her from. So, she’s not exactly sure mutants are any worse or better than ‘normals.’ She has a good point, he concedes. Suddenly, she asks him to shush. They’re being watched. He wonders how she can tell, but his concentration is broken when a stone connects with his skull. He looks up to see several members of the Misfits standing in a bay window above them, each baring a rock. Grace says she’ll handle this.
To Kurt’s surprise, she places her fingers on her temples, and concentrates. He looks up at the gang members, who suddenly look out, as if they’d seen something they didn’t like. They quickly turn and flee. With the danger over, Kurt asks what she just did. Grace replies that she just scared them off with a little hallucination.
“You… you’re a…” Kurt stutters. Grace removes her head scarf, and replies, “Why do you think those guys were after me?” With the scarf removed, Kurt can see that she has a third eye in the middle of her forehead. “You’re not the only mutant here, Kurt.” Grace explains that she is a telepath, but her powers only work on people she catches off guard; like those kids, or like him. She calls him by his codename. “You read my mind? You knew all along and didn’t tell me,” he says. “You had no right to make me think you were…” Grace cuts him off mid-sentence. She tells him that he had no right to hide his identity from her. She reads minds to stay alive. How does he think she survived Rwanda?
Grace takes his hand, and tells him she knows he’s a good person. She can feel it. She knew the moment she read him, and knows what it’s like to look different. She doesn’t blame him for wanting to pass as normal. She finally touches his face and smiles. “There now. You’re not so scary.”
She puts the headscarf back on her head, and walks up the stairs to her apartment. She thanks Kurt once again for saving her. You’re welcome, he replies. As she says goodbye, she adds that maybe someday, they won’t have to hide who they really are. Kurt heads for home, only this time, he walks proudly, with his hood down.
Second story: (Xavier Institute for Higher Learning - Danger Room)Overseen from the observation deck by Emma Frost and Hank McCoy, Kitty Pryde is trying her best to help one of the pupils with a particularly worrisome problem. As her mutant power is having the ability to phase through objects, she is the best qualified to help out Jacob. Inside a special pressure chamber, he hovers slightly above the ground, trying to bring his hands together around a fizzy drink can. He knows what he must do, but doesn’t appear to have the ability to do it.
She urges him to try again. Sometimes, she suggests, some good old-fashioned visualization is all a mutant needs in order to get some control. She recalls how, when her own powers kicked in, she woke up downstairs and had no idea how she got there. She continues speaking until Jacob asks her to stop. He finds it hard to concentrate with her talking all the time. She apologizes, but still manages to ask Jacob to once again mentally bring his hands together.
In the observation room, Emma Frost says that she thinks they’ve heard enough. Kitty’s doggedness would drive anyone mad. She wonders if maybe someone else should work with Jacob. Hank McCoy asks whom she would suggest. The boy’s abilities seem to mirror Kitty’s, and the rest of them have come up empty trying to figure out exactly what his mutant powers are. Emma replies that the boy isn’t the one she’s worried about.
Kitty takes time out, and floats up through the observation window. She asks if the pressure chamber is helping Jacob, or not, because it’s definitely preventing her from phasing in there. With no response forthcoming, she asks what’s going on. Hank informs her that it looks like Jacob’s integrity breakdown has continued. His molecules haven’t slowed any, but they’re still slamming together with great force. The attractions between the compounds are weakening. He’s basically undergoing sublimation.
Kitty looks at the data, and asks Hank if he means that Jacob is going straight from a solid to a gas. He’s afraid so. She asks how they fix it, but Emma replies that they can’t. The boy is literally becoming air. That’s his mutation. He doesn’t have more than a few hours left. She thinks it’s amazing that he’s kept himself together this long. She informs Kitty that, if it’s any consolation, Jacob is becoming difficult to read, but he’s calm. He’s accepted what’s happening to him, even if she hasn’t. Kitty is upset, and cannot accept Jacob’s fate.
She phases back into the Danger Room, and Hank suggests they should contact his parents. Emma informs him that he’s an orphan. Hank wonders if he shouldn’t talk to Kitty alone, but Emma says no. They should have their time together.
Kitty asks Jacob to come out of the pressure chamber. They’re going to change strategy. Four mannequins based on four of the X-Men’s opponents ascend from the floor, and Kitty tells Jacob that sometimes the best thing for her to do is to get angry. The dummies aren’t very hi-tech, but they’re good to practice on. When she was having trouble, they helped her focus.
Kitty launches herself at the first dummy, Emma Frost, smashing it with a left-footed kick. Jacob asks what this does for him but, truth be told, it’s Kitty who’s getting the benefit; unleashing her own frustrations out on the dummy. Jacob, looking fairly transparent at this stage, guesses she doesn’t like Miss Frost much. Kitty has proven that anger makes her solid. It focuses your anger into one spot, then Bam! Now, Jacob must try.
He stands in front of the Sabretooth dummy, but doesn’t feel any anger. Kitty tells him that he should, then. He’s not going to baby him anymore. His condition is serious, and isn’t getting any better. “Baby me?” replies Jacob. “You think I don’t know what’s happening to me? That I’m disappearing?!” He swings in anger at the dummy, but he goes straight through it without making any contact whatsoever. Kitty apologizes, but didn’t know what else to try. She’d do anything to help. Jacob smiles and appreciates it, but he doesn’t want to be angry. He doesn’t want it to end that way.
He tells Kitty that he’s been thinking lately, about how he’s never been out on a date. He’s never going to college. He’s never going to go on spring break and watch the sun come up with some girl… like in those cheesy movies. He’s just going to be gone, but he’s okay with that. He just needs Kitty to be okay about it with him. He begins to float away, and she asks him not to leave. She smashes the Sabretooth dummy in frustration.
Outside, the night is still, and Jacob floats just above the jetty. Kitty joins him, and he asks what time it is. It’s about two-thirty in the morning. Jacob tells her he isn’t going back in the chamber. It wasn’t helping any. Kitty admits to him that she knows, and that they don’t know what’s happening to him. They can’t stop it. Jacob actually apologizes for not being able to figure out this ‘solid thing’ himself. “You’re sorry,” replies Kitty. Jacob feels like Kitty’s put in all this time and effort with no reward. She tells him not ever to be sorry. It’s just his mutation, she adds; it’s just…
“Stupid,” answers Jacob, in her place. “Yeah,” Kitty replies.”
As he floats above her, he thanks her for coming out there. It’s no problem, she tells him. Their hands interconnect, only without touching. Jacob says it’s the closest thing he’s had to a date; and it’s with his teacher. She smiles, and asks him to call her Kitty. Most dates go better if you use first names. They hug, and Jacob thanks her again. He didn’t want to go through this alone. Kitty tells him he’s never alone.
Hours later, as the sun rises, Kitty is still sitting on the jetty, looking at the reflection of the sky in the water. Jacob is no longer there.


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Wings Over the World (1st story),  A Night at the Opera (2nd story)
First Story:Warren Worthington sits at his desk, reviewing paperwork and investments. He checks his palm pilot, noting appointments for lunch with the Minister of Transportation, a tour of SpaceShipOne with Rutan, and a Genoshan Survivors’ charity dinner.
Feeling the burden of his busy schedule, Warren decides to stretch his wings and glides out of his office window for a relaxing flight. He wishes everyone could feel the joy of flying, but then wonders if it would be as special to him if everyone could do it.
Later, Warren arrives at the Xavier Institute in his limousine. Several of the students greet him, asking to join his flight class or if he’s here to help the X-Men fight. He waves to Rachel, Kitty and Danielle and knocks on the Headmaster’s door.
Scott invites him in and thanks Warren for his prompt arrival. The old friends sit down and Scott asks for Warren’s help. Due to the bad publicity the Institute has been getting, Scott wants to establish a charity to project a more positive image of the school.
Warren assumes Scott wants his financial aid and tells him that funds will be transferred as soon as he returns to the office. Scott interrupts him, as it’s not Warren’s money he needs, but his vision.
Scott wants this charity to not only do good things, but also to reflect what the Xavier Institute stands for: overcoming perceived disabilities, personal transformation, empathy and cooperation.
Warren replies that is a hefty agenda, but Scott has confidence that he is the one for the task. Warren ponders the idea, but quickly agrees to helm the project.
Over the next three weeks, Warren visits many different charities but none of them help him to define what the X-Men mean to him. Longing for a flight to clear his mind, but too exhausted, Warren sits down to read a favorite book-“The Past through Tomorrow”.While reading, Warren is inspired and jumps in excitement, suddenly struck by an idea.
Warren visits Gilblane Construction about constructing a dome-shaped building. Calar Tensiles have created metal wings attached to harness for him and Warren consults S.H.I.E.L.D. about variable gravity conditions. He also visits a hospital for people with physical disabilities.
As the project nears completion, Scott joins Warren at the site of “Wings Over the World”. Scott is very impressed and wonders where Warren got the idea. Warren tells him the idea was from the book, that the lunar colonists took advantage of the moon’s lessened gravity to fly in a giant bubble. “Wings over the World” uses S.H.I.E.L.D. anti-gravity units to achieve the same effect within the dome, allowing participants to use the metal wings to glide.
As Scott and Warren talk, Reverend Salthouse, whose organization objects to the project, interrupts them. The reverend believes they are encouraging “celestial delusions”, that for mortals to don wings and fly is almost blasphemous.
Warren asks Reverend Salthouse if he considers Warren to be one of God’s children. The reverend agrees that Warren is a child of God and Warren spreads his wings, replying that whatever God gave him, he can share with the world.
With “Wings over the World” open, participants with many disabilities flock to try it out and Warren happily flies amongst them.
Second Story:
At the Xavier Institute, Kitty Pryde is badgering Hank McCoy. She wants to know where they are going for their weekly evening out. Hank tells her it’s a surprise and shoos her away, as he’s busy working on a paper.
Kitty scoffs that he’s always busy working on a paper, but concedes that it is his week to choose where they are going. Hank reminds her that she took him to see Bryan Adams the previous week. Exasperated, Kitty tells him it was Ryan Adams and Hank asks if there’s a difference.
Still wanting to know the evening’s agenda, Kitty continues to probe Hank. She says that although rules and structure are good, sometimes you need to shake things up. Glancing at a picture of him when he appeared more human, Hank tells her not all change is progressive. Kitty asks if they could break the rules, just once, and let her choose again this week, as there is a Marx Brothers double-bill showing.
Later, dressed in an evening gown, Kitty tells Hank she hates him. He asks her if something is the matter and she complains that they are at the opera. Hank thinks it’s wonderful, but Kitty thinks “Acis and Galatea” sounds like a pharmaceutical firm.
Hank compliments her on her wit, but tells her he’s been looking forward to seeing Professor Xavier’s favorite opera for some time. Not all evenings out should involve denim and sneakers, Hank tells her, and she should know better than to close the door on new experiences.
As they try to enter the theatre, the doorman blocks their way. Hank tells the doorman that he made arrangements with the management, but the doorman tells Hank he looks like no one in the mutant database.
As a frustrated Hank lunges for the obnoxious doorman, a gunshot goes off outside the opera. Kitty and Hank rush out to find a young man has been shot trying to prevent thieves from stealing a wealthy opera patron’s necklace.
Hank sniffs a scarf left at the scene as Kitty questions the owner of the necklace. He tells her the thieves escaped in to the sewers. Kitty turns around to tell Hank, but he’s gone.
A few blocks away, the thieves are trying to take off in a car after leaving the sewers. Suddenly, there is a loud thud on the roof of the car. Hank starts to tear the roof off the car, having followed the scent on the scarf to the criminals. One thief starts screaming that Hank is a monster while the other pulls his gun.
Hank smashes through the windshield and tosses the thieves from the car. He tells them he is not a monster, at least not yet, as he recovers the stolen necklace.
At a diner later on, Kitty remarks that Hank is awfully quiet after the night’s events. She tries to talk to him about it, but he loses his temper and tells her to drop it. Hank apologizes for his outburst and Kitty tells him he has every reason to be angry.
Hank tells her he’s not angry - he’s scared. Kitty asks what he’s scared of and he tells her it is change that frightens him, as he looks at his reflection in the diner’s window.
Kitty comments that she thought she was the only self-indulgent mutant in town and phases through the wall, telling Hank to follow.
They arrive at the theatre showing the Marx Brothers double-bill and Kitty gives Hank permission to growl if he has any problems at the door. Hank thanks Kitty for bringing him and they enter the theatre, with Kitty telling Hank there is hope for him yet, as she gets him to try something new at the snack bar.


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[Assistant]
Dead Man Walking (1st story), Resignation (2nd story)
First Story:
Wolverine travels across the Mojave Desert on his motorcycle, en route to his friend Johnny’s funeral in Barstow. As he rides, he thinks about death, and how is makes no sense to him. Logan’s view of death may be a little skewed, however, as he thinks about how hard he is to kill.
(flashbacks)He recalls being eaten by a dinosaur in the Savage Land and numerous tussles with ninjas. Logan had even been trampled by horses trying to escape poachers - he still likes horses, but killed the poachers.
He’s been scorched by Phoenix’s fire, incinerated by a Sentinel’s blast and fought the alien Brood. Wolverine has survived gunfire from Nazis and more Blackbird crashes than he can count.
Taking a break from his ride to sit by a campfire, Logan remembers his bloody battles with Sabretooth and his first encounter with the Hellfire Club. Another first encounter, with the Hulk and Wendigo, reminds Logan that it’s good to have friends.
(present)Johnny loved to hear about Logan’s adventurous encounters. He was in the merchant marines when he and Logan first met. They were drinking buddies, first and foremost. They also made plenty of money, fighting together in paid matches.
Logan arrives in Barstow and settles into a trashy motel for the night. He thinks about a particular night with Johnny, when they were celebrating with some local girls after winning another fight.
(flashback)In an alley, they were confronted by a group of men who think the fight was fixed and one of them pulls out a shotgun. Logan denies that they cheated and the man fires at him.
Johnny leaps in front of Logan, taking the bullet in his back. As Johnny collapses, Logan unsheathes his claws in rage and slashes at their attackers.
He returns to Johnny’s side and berates him for taking the shot, as Logan would have healed from it, and asks Johnny what he was thinking. Johnny tells Logan he wasn’t thinking anything, it’s just what you do for a friend.
The shooting disabled Johnny, and he had to use a cane. Although the cane slowed him down, it was his wife Grace that got him to stop and put all the bad days behind him.
(present)After the funeral, Logan talks with Grace and tells her he goes to too many funerals these days. Grace tries to give Logan the cane Johnny used, but he tells Grace that Johnny has given him enough already.
Logan leaves on his motorcycle, saying “Goodnight, Johnny”.
Second Story:In the icy confines of his room, Bobby Drake jolts awake. He turns on the light and trods across to the thermostat and turns it down, although everything is already covered in icicles.
After a freezing-cold shower, Bobby sits down at his desk. Pulling out a sheet of paper, he starts to write a letter to Scott Summers, tendering his resignation from the X-Men.
Bobby writes that although he has always been loyal to Scott, that loyalty is all that is keeping him with the X-Men.
(flashback)He recalls the night he first met Scott, years ago. Bobby was walking his girlfriend, Judy Beasley, home when a group of teenage boys started throwing rocks at him because he was a mutant. Scott arrived on the scene, blasting the ground with his optic blast and scaring the teenagers away.
Bobby remembers seeing past the image of a skinny kid with weird glasses and seeing a hero and a leader. A yearning to be like Scott is why Bobby joined the X-men.
(present)Recalling the practical jokes he’s played on his teammates during the years, Bobby is sure most of them think he hasn’t matured much over the years. The Institute is full of kids now, and Bobby can’t tell if they’re getting younger or he’s getting older.
A memory of playing videogames with Angelo Espinosa, who was later crucified on the school’s front lawn, makes Bobby shy away from getting to know any of the students.
When his powers first manifested, Bobby hated the cold chill and the feeling of ice coating his bones. Now he welcomes the cold and the ice, as he feels the ice protects him.
Bobby looks at a picture of the original five X-Men and thinks of how they all have changed, except him. Archangel and Cyclops suffered at the hands of Apocalypse, Jean died, Beast has regressed to his cat-like form and Professor Xavier spawned Onslaught.
Realizing that he has changed as well, Bobby writes that the X-Men have been his family for as long as he can remember, which makes it so hard to leave. He knows what can happen when you’re not around when your family needs you, recalling the attack on his father by Graydon Creed’s men.
William Drake was attacked because Bobby was an X-Man, and that almost made Bobby leave the team to lead a normal life where his father would be proud of him.
Bobby hopes Scott and the others can forgive him, but he just can’t be an X-Man anymore. He has to try and find a normal life for himself and resign. Bobby signs the letter and puts it in his drawer, where it joins a huge stack of previously written resignation letters.
Leaving his room, he encounters Hank, who has eaten the last of Bobby’s cereal. Peeling down the hall in pursuit of his friend, Bobby begins another day as an X-Man.


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[Assistant]
After-school Special (first story), Ghost in the Graveyard (second story)
First Story:Hanging from the light fixture in the library, Beast reads the poetry of John Donne. Leaving the library, he meets up with Cyclops and Emma Frost in their office.
Miss Downing, the Xavier Institute’s guidance counselor, has tendered her resignation. She shows Hank the white spots covering her face and hands, inflicted on her by one of the students. Unable to maintain her professionalism, Miss Downing is afraid she will do something to one of the students that she may regret.
Hank reminds Miss Downing that the students are only children. She retorts that they are cruel little monsters and she has had enough. Miss Downing storms off, slamming the door behind her.
Scott turns to Hank and asks his friend to fill in as guidance counselor until they find a suitable replacement. Hank thinks this must be a joke, but Scott assures him it is not. Trying to convince Hank, Scott tells him he has a great rapport with the students, plus he gets his own office!
Later, Hank settles into the guidance counselor’s office and starts reading the file of his first appointment, a student named Linus Sinker.
A voice from the door points out that Hank is not Miss Downing and Hank looks up to find Linus in the office. Noting Linus’ keen observation skills, Hank approaches the young mutant.
Linus nervously questions where Miss Downing is and Hank informs him that he is filling in. Hank asks Linus if he can do anything for him, but Linus abruptly turns him down and morphs into a bright pink blob of goo and disappears from the office. Hank thinks to himself that could have gone better.
Walking down the hallway, Hank notices two girls arguing in the hallway. Hank interrupts them and demands to know who started the fight. A sophomore, Anne Moore, admits to initiating the argument and she accompanies Hank to his office.
Hank asks the girl what the problem is and she exclaims that it is just terrible. Anne rattles on about her parent’s divorce, problems with a boy and her roommate, and being unable to control her powers, which are currently causing her to cry an oily substance all over Hank’s office.
Unable to handle the girl’s highly emotional state, Hank suggests she return next week after she has calmed down. He then escorts Anne to Kurt Wagner’s drama class to explain her tardiness.On his way back to his office, he notices a shadowy figure lurking in the hallway. He leaps over and grabs the student by the arm, asking her why she is sneaking around.
Jaime Vanderwall tells Hank she is ditching fourth period and plans to drop out at the end of the semester. Hank asks her why, and she replies that this place is not for her as she is a normal kid, not a freak.
Hank picks up a book labeled “Thoughts about myself” and inquires about it. Jaime says it is her journal for English class and is supposed to be her private thoughts and feelings. Hank again presses her on why she wants to drop out so badly, but Jaime evades his questions and walks away.
In the boys’ locker room, Linus Sinker sits on a bench. A group of boys approach him and throw a jock strap on his head. Calling him “Amoeba Boy”, one of the bullies transforms his hand into a metal club and starts smashing it into Linus, who has taken on his pink, gelatinous form.
In English class, Hank fills in for Emma while she is away. They are working on poetry and the girl Hank caught in the hallway, Jaime, reads an impressive poem that she has written. Hank asks her to stay after class to speak with him.
After class, a nervous Jaime tells Hank she didn’t rip that poem off, that she really wrote it herself. Hank says that is why he asked her to stay, as he feels she should be applying to creative writing programs at college with her talent. Hank helps her fill out her application to Pratt and Jaime gives him a big hug to thank him.
Feeling good about his progress, Hank is certain he is one of the best counselors the Institute has ever had. After a few short weeks, Hank thinks his accomplishments with his students have been nothing short of extraordinary.
However, he runs into Anne Moore fighting with her roommate in the hallway again. Hank ensures the roommate is okay and sends her off to class. Approaching Anne, he tells her violence will not solve anything and she will have to apologize to her friend.
Anne seems indifferent to anything Hank is saying and he asks her what the problem is. Anne tells him that he thinks he knows what it is like to be a teenager but he’s clueless and the worst guidance counselor ever.
Walking away, Anne says everyone thinks he is a total joke and that his sweaters are awful. Hank watches her leave, mumbling that he likes his sweater.
Later, Hank returns to his office to find Linus sitting there. Hank is happy Linus has returned and inquires what he can do for the boy. Linus starts to cry and says “it” happened again in the locker room today.
Pleading, Linus asks if Miss Downing is never coming back. Hank replies that unfortunately, until a replacement is found, Linus is stuck with him. Again, the poor boy dissolves into his gooey form and leaves the office.
Jaime stops by Hank’s office later to thank him and he tells her there is no need for thanks. She disagrees, as she needs to thank him for getting her hopes about going to college, only to have them send her a letter of rejection.
Hank tries to talk to her, but she cuts him off. She has a trigonometry test that she really doesn’t have to pass now that she is not going to college. Jaime snarls that maybe she will just live a mediocre existence and become a really unsuccessful guidance counselor and ruin kids lives. Disappearing in a poof of smoke, Jaime leaves Hank muttering about an available counselor position that has just come up.
Hanging from the light fixture in the library, Hank’s reading is interrupted by the arrival of Linus. Linus asks if things get any better the older you get. Hank says in some important ways things do get better, but in other ways not at all.
Hank tells a crestfallen Linus that loneliness does not get easier with age. Seeking common ground, Linus asks Hank if he likes science fiction. Hank prefers more classical works, but quickly leads Linus off to show him “The Martian Chronicles”.
Second Story:<In Dunfee, Illinois, a pickup truck pulls up along the side of a dirt road. Scott Summers turns to a bandaged Henry McCoy and ask him if he really wants to get out here, as it’s so dark and empty. Hank tells his friend that is precisely why he asked Scott to pull over here.
Scott reminds Hank that he doesn’t have to leave, that Jean, the Professor and the rest of the X-Men are worried about him. Hank thanks Scott for his concern and for the ride, but all he wants is to be left here alone.
Scott leaves and Hank walks up a dusty driveway to an old farmhouse. He opens the barn door, and it creaks loudly. The noise brings Norton McCoy out of the house, wielding a shotgun.
Mr. McCoy approaches the open barn and is stunned to find his bandaged son lying on the ground. He helps Hank to his feet and asks him what happened to him.
Hank tells his father about taking a hormonal extract while he was employed at the Brand Corporation. Something went terribly wrong and Hank was transformed into a grey-furred, apelike figure.
Inside the house, his mother, Edna, puts Hank to bed. No matter what the reason, she is glad to have her son at home and will help him get as much rest as he needs. Norton tells Hank that perhaps it would be best if he stayed away from the windows for now, as the town hasn’t changed much over the years and Hank’s “condition” may cause a panic.
Apparently the town folk are spooked as something has been killing small animals and no one has been able to trap it. Edna tells her husband to shush, and assures Hank that he is safe with them.
Downstairs, Edna and Norton sit at the kitchen table. Edna says she always dreamt that her son would come home like this, but worse. She figured he would be brought home dead, so no matter his condition now, she is happy to see him alive.
Norton fondly reminds his wife that even as boy, Hank caused her to worry and it is no different now that he is a man. They go to Hank’s room to check on him but they find the bed empty and the window wide open.
Walking down the empty main street, Hank finds a dead bird. He walks on and approaches the Nyles residence. Hank climbs up a tree and peers inside Jennifer Nyles’ bedroom.
Jennifer is sitting on her bed but approaches the window and calls out “Mom?” when she hears a noise. Hank says her name and she demands to know who he his. It’s me, he says, Hank McCoy.
Hank leaps onto her windowsill and a startled Jennifer asks what he is doing in her mother’s tree. Hank tells her he has been in an accident and he has come home to “recover”.
Jennifer notes that Hank looks awful and asks what he has done to himself. Hank replies that he doesn’t really know and asks why she is at her parent’s house when she should be overseas studying.
Teary-eyed, Jennifer fills Hank in. Her mother past away last week, about a year to the day since her dad died, and she has come home to pack the house up and sell it.
Jennifer asks about Hank’s parents and he replies that they are as worried about him as ever. Recalling his father’s comments, Hank asks Jennifer what has the town’s people so afraid.
Jennifer says there is something terrible living in the woods by the cemetery and it has been killing all the animals at night. She turns to talk to Hank but he has disappeared.
Hank walks to the high school football field, where he remembers his days playing football, dealing with bullies and being told he had a promising future in athletics and sciences. He could have done something really wonderful, become almost anything, and now look at him.
Hank stumbles back to his parent’s house and collapses on the front lawn. His father rushes out, thankful that his son has returned. After letting Hank sleep for two days, Norton and Edna bring some food up to his room. When they enter, they are disappointed to find Hank has taken off again.
Hank roams around the local fairgrounds, lost in memories. Jennifer comes up to him, knowing she would find him here as this was where he would go when kids picked on him in high school.
Hank feels that not much has changed for him since then and he is still the awkward creature he used to be. The only difference is back then there was hope that he would become something else.
As they walk, they discover three more dead birds. Hank frets over their unknown cause of death and Jennifer remarks that she has never known Hank to shy away from the unknown, that he is one of the bravest people she knows.
Hank asks what she would think of him if he told her how terrified he is of everything right now. Jennifer grabs his hand and tells him he’s never been afraid of anything in his life. Perhaps they should both be brave and go check out what might be hiding in the cemetery.
They walk to the cemetery and discover a dead rabbit. At first Hank thinks the death was quite sudden and mysterious, but quickly notices lesions on the rabbit’s side. They find three more dead rabbits and Hank deduces what the problem must be.
The dead bodies buried there have contaminated the water running down the hill from the cemetery. Most of the people had worked at the power plant and been exposed to radiation for years, which was now running down the hill into the town’s water supply.
Jennifer excitedly tells Hank they must tell the police and the newspaper, as they may have just saved all the animals and livestock, as well as the entire town. Hank regrets that he can’t go into town with Jennifer and tells her there is something she must see.
Hank removes the bandages from around his face and reveals his furry appearance. Jennifer kisses him on the forehead, but Hank takes off into the woods.
Later, Hank looks in on his sleeping parents and leaves some flowers on their windowsill. He also climbs up the tree to peek in at a sleeping Jennifer before walking down the road out of town.