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Forces of Darkness, Forces of Light, act three: Breaking the Back of Love
Darkness. Devoid. Absent of light. Absent of hope. She feels the maw of this overwhelming nothingness devour her from the inside-out - and though Namorita Prentiss, the current field leader of the New Warriors is fully aware of her every move, she has no control over her body’s movements - as she desperately tries to kill her teammates. Rich Rider a.k.a. Nova and Rage a.k.a. Elvin Haliday use their formidable strength to hold Namorita back, while across the warehouse factory that the New Warriors have dubbed their Crash-Pad, Tandy “Dagger” Bowen and Tyrone “Cloak” Johnson, two friends who are bound by the forces of darkness and light, find themselves in an uncomfortable stand-off. ‘I said this madness would end tonight, Tyrone! And I meant it!’ Dagger warns her closest friend.
Dagger declares that she is tired of the never-ending struggle between Cloak’s darkness and her light, and tells Tyrone that she doesn’t want to fight him, but that she cannot let herself become what he has - weak, possessed and manipulated by energies he either won’t or can’t gain control over. Tyrone’s red eyes glow from beneath his hooded cloak. ‘Nothing to say in your own defense?’ Tandy asks him. ‘Okay then, Tyrone Johnson - if that’s the way it has to be - let’s get to it!’
Suddenly, ‘Whoa! She busted loose!’ Rage calls out as Namorita breaks free of his grasp, knocking Rage and Rich backwards. Rich tells Rage that if he cuts loose, he is stronger than Namorita. Rage replies that he knows, but that Namorita is his friend. ‘But I guess I don’t have much choice’ Rage decides, before announcing that if he has to do it, then they should do it fast and hard, and he smacks Namorita over with a powerful punch, sending her careening across the room, where she smacks into the wall. ‘Blue blazes!’ Nova gasps. ‘Excuse me?’ Rage asks. ‘Never mind’ Rich replies. ‘Fine’ Rage mutters, before asking how Dagger is holding out.
Dagger replies that it is pretty much a draw between her and Cloak’s different powers. Nova points out that there is not a lot two bruisers like he and Rage can do against a guy who is barely there. ‘So what do we do?’ Rage asks. As Cloak hovers over them, Dagger suggests they back off, regroup and try to figure out - but suddenly, she stops herself mid-sentence when Tyrone’s cloak opens up - and several beings emerge from the Darkforce within. ‘Well, who the $#@% are they?’ Rage calls out, before seeing their missing teammate, Silhouette moving without her braces. The other beings are the Shroud, Black Mamba, Ecstacy and Quagmire.
Uptown, away from the shadows of the Brooklyn Bridge and the smells of the Fulton Fish Market. Along manicured grounds, facing the East river, is the Smythers Drug Rehabilitation Clinic. Usually the province for the children of the well-to-do, who have foolishly graduated from chocolate bars to nose candy, it has become the nexus point for this miasma of dark energy - dark thoughts - and dark deeds. One man who has always played among these shadows - a man of mystical means known as Dr Stephen Strange - tries to bring the light of reason to the one responsible. A stern-faced Dr Strange stands before the being known as the Darkling and tells him that this madness is a result of his inability to control his mutant access to the Darkforce Dimension. ‘What do you propose to do about it?’
‘Let it all hang out, Doc!’ Darkling replies. ‘Open up the darkness for all you t’see!’ he declares. But Dr Strange tells him that is not the answer he hoped to hear. Darkling grins wickedly and replies ‘So what? All my life - nobody’s ever heard what I had to say - why should now be any different?’ Darkling asks. Dr Strange releases the Eye of Agamotto and remarks that Darkling seeks to deny what is self-evident, and announces that the all-seeing Eye of Agamotto will enlighten him, and through that process of illumination, enlighten Strange himself as to Darkling’s reasoning behind these deluded assaults.
‘NO! Turn off the light!’ Darkling  howls as the Eye of Agamotto releases energy which pierces Darkling’s form. The Darkforce swirls around, and Darkling tells Strange that he is hurting the dark, hurting him. ‘I need the darkness and it needs me’ Darkling exclaims. ‘That could not be - unless your body is dependent on the energies of the Darkforce Dimension for your very survival - which disturbs and affects your sanity at the same time’ Strange remarks. Darkling releases a massive claw made of Darkforce energy and shouts that is what he has been telling everyone for years, but that they never listened. ‘So maybe now, you’ll hear this loud and clear!’ Darkling exclaims.
Strange struggles in the grasp of the Darkforce claw, and Darkling announces that for as long as he can remember, the dark has called to him, tried to get inside his head, his mind, tried to get him to take over the light. ‘And I know it talked to other people, too - but it talked loudest to me!’ Darkling cries. Dr Strange casts a spell, ‘If light and reason be abducted so abruptly - may Seraphim’s shield choose to protect me!’ Strange calls out, as a shield forms and pushes back the Darkforce claw. Strange tells Darkling that the Darkforce energy is not sentient, that it cannot call him or any others like him who wield its properties any more than the carpet beneath their feet could. Strange tells Darkling that the questions he hears, the doubts he feels, the embracing of the darkness, they are all of his own doing, not the restful of some outside influence. ‘Then why is it that I can do this?’ Darkling asks Strange as his form increases massively, and he looms over Dr Strange. ‘Why is it that I can use the dark to steal your light - and destroy your safe little world!’ Darkling declares.
At that moment, directly outside the Smythers Drug Rehabilitation Clinic, heroes from across the city rush headlong into the nexus of swirling dark madness in a desperate attempt to save their city from its own inner demons. Among the gathered heroes are Angelica “Firestar” Jones and Robbie “Speedball” Baldwin of the New Warriors, their ally Chris Powell a.k.a. Darkhawk, and their new companion Mike Jeffries, apparently Turbo. Peter Parker the Amazing Spider-Man swings along on his webbing, while Ben Grimm a.k.a. the Fantastic Four’s Thing, and the Avengers Crystal and Dane Whitman the Black Knight rush along the ground.
As the heroes gather around the Smythers Clinc, Firestar remarks that so much of the Darkforce energy seems to be gathered around the rehab center. ‘Red, all it’s missing is a big neon sign saying “this way, please!” Spider-Man jokes. The Thing points out that there is only one way to find out as he rushes forward. ‘Um, Mr Thing…we could call information, you know’ Darkhawk suggests. ‘No! Just foolishly rush in! Full speed ahead!’ the excited male Turbo exclaims - but he is knocked sideways when several razor-sharp wing knives are flung his way. Losing flight, Turbo falls, but Firestar catches him, and remarks that the wing flechettes looked awfully familiar .
Suddenly, atop the Smythers Clinic, Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Archangel, possessed by the maddening darkness, hovers, alongside other “captives”, Sersi and Johnny Storm the Human Torch, as well as the mysterious Vanisher, who popped up a few minutes ago. Firestar alerts her allies to their presence, and the Thing exclaims that the Darkforce crud is controlling their pals. ‘Like it or not, in order to get inside and find out who and why - we gotta kick the crud out of our friends to do it!’ the Thing exclaims. ‘Uhm - I got dibs on Vanisher’ Spider-Man mutters. ‘WIMP! No fair!’ Speedball calls out. Spider-Man sighs and decides that since the Human Torch is a pal of his, he will web Torch up like a hot potato. Spider-Man releases a powerful web which splurts over the Torch, knocking him back.
However, ‘What the - gross?!’ Spider-Man gasps as the Darkforce wraps itself back up along the webbing, and begins to cover Spider-Man. Firestar flies over to her ally and tells him not to worry, and she releases her microwave emissions, which scrambles the Darkforce back. Spider-Man asks Angelica if she can use it to free the others, but Firestar replies that she might be able to, but she also might end up frying them instead. The Black Knight calls out to Crystal as Sersi lunges towards her teammates. ‘Sersi’s ours!’ Dane tells his Inhuman teammate, but as Crystal releases some elemental energy, she remarks that it has no affect over Sersi. Black Knight recalls that his neural-sword did the trick on the Darkforce earlier, and he raises his sword, exclaiming ‘Let’s see what happens when I metaphorically cut her to the bone!’ - but before the Black Knight can reach Sersi, the Vanisher teleports up behind him.
Darkhawk flies down and warns Black Knight to the danger, before releasing a burst of energy, which knocks the Vanisher back. ‘Well, I used to call that my “Darkforce Blast”’ Darkhawk remarks, before landing beside the Black Knight and suggesting that after this mess, he better find a new name for it. ‘Good idea, Darkhawk!’ Dane calls out, while thanking the young hero for the save. Dane turns his attention back to the Darkforce, and finds it engulfing his sword - before overwhelming Dane himself. Possessed, Dane lashes out at Darkhawk, who dodges his attack and mutters ‘Ingrate!’, and tells everyone that the Black Knight is in a foul mood again, while wondering why the Darkforce keeps going after the same people again and again.
Spider-Man swings upwards and states that the Darkforce only seems to be able to possess some of them, and adds that the Black Knight said himself that it grabs the people who are angrier, more prone to having something inside which the psychic glop can latch onto. As the Human Torch flies up towards Spider-Man, Peter calls out for a hand. ‘Howsabout a foot, instead, Web-Head?’ the Thing calls out as he kicks open a fire hydrant, sending water spouting into the air, knocking the Human Torch backwards. ‘I gotta tell ya  that trick works every time!’ the Thing declares, before asking Firestar if she needs a hand with Archangel.
‘No, thank you, Mr Grimm. Since I seem to be the only one available who can actually make a difference here - I should have no trouble handling Archangel!’ Firestar announces as she blasts her microwave energies at Archangel, who falls downwards and lands on a car. ‘See what I mean?’ Angelica asks as she, the Thing, Speedball, Darkhawk and Turbo gather together, while possessed civilians begin to surround them. The Thing tells Firestar not to get too cocky, unless she thinks she can handle zapping every single man, woman and rugrat that has been transformed into a “zombie” all over Manhattan? Darkhawk asks if Firestar’s microwave power could so some serious damage to the normal civilians who have been possessed, to which the Thing replies ‘Yep’. ‘So then, even if she really could do something like that…she really can’t!’ Darkhawk exclaims. ‘Yup’ Thing adds.
The controlled Sersi leads a pack of possessed civilians towards the heroes, while Speedball declares that if Firestar’s plan is out, and they cannot knock these people unconscious, how are they supposed to stop them? ‘Short of breaking their legs or killing them, you mean?’ Turbo enquires nervously. ‘Yeah, wing nut. Short of that’ Speedball tells him. The Thing frowns and announces that it looks like there is only one thing they can do - absolutely nothing!
Back at the Crash-Pad, the entire building is almost entirely covered by the Darkforce, while inside, Nova, Rage and Dagger struggle against the others. ‘Pour it on, Dagger!’ Nova calls out as Tandy fires her light at Cloak and the Shroud. ‘After you’re done with Cloak and the Shroud over there, can you get this muck-guy off my back?’ Nova asks as he is attacked by the “muck guy”. Rage struggles against Ecstasy, Black Mamba and Namorita, and informs Nova that the “muck guy” is Quagmire. ‘And what’re you complaining about?’ Rage asks his friend as the three women overwhelm him. ‘Oh, whoop-de-doo - you did all your homework when you were an Avenger and know everything about everybody!’ Nova mutters after Rage rattled off the names of his opponents.
‘Enough to know Black Mamba can take control of my mind’ Rage exclaims, unable to break free of her grasp. ‘No! Get out! I don’t want to see this!’ Rage exclaims, but Elvin, a boy inside the body of a man, the anger-fueled fighting machine, cannot do anything to prevent Black Mamba’s insidious assault, as she shows him his heart’s greatest hope - that he can be a normal fourteen year old child again. “With his mother and father and Granny Staples around him. And then, his greatest fear - to lose it all because of what he has become. To see the desperate dreams of an idyllic family life shattered - by the kinds of people he has chosen to fight against - and it is all so much more than he can bear. This child who wraps himself in an iron will as readily as he hides behind his iron skin. This mixing of shadows and light, dreams and nightmares - simply becomes more than he can endure.
Rage drops to his knees, the Darkforce pooling around him as Nova soars down to his teammate. ‘Rage? I heard you scream - you okay, man? Is there anything I can do?’ Rich calls out, when suddenly, Rage steps up - and smashes Nova aside. ‘No - not him, too -’ Dagger gasps. Rage turns his attention to Tandy and punches her in the stomach, before Tyrone opens his cloak, and Namorita and the Darkforce users enter it, before they are all teleported away, leaving the motionless Dagger and Nova on the floor of the Crash-Pad.
Outside the Smythers Clinic, Firestar, Speedball, Darkhawk, Turbo and the others struggle against the civilians and the possessed heroes. Inside, Dr Strange tells Henrique Gallant to look around him and see what his pain and anguish have spawned. ‘This is not the answer you seek. Succumbing to the darkness - no matter how tantalizing the option may appear at times - is never the truth solution to your problems’ Strange states as he keeps away from Darkling’s attack. Strange releases some energies and tells Darkling that there exist no demons in the Darkforce which guide and coerce him, save for those few poor souls who have become physically trapped in the Darkforce dimensional plane and the inner demons which drive them all.
‘You manipulate this energy on your own, child. And only you can undo the damage you have caused’ Strange tells Henrique. ‘ME?’ Darkling replies, to which Strange reminds him that he is a mutant, whose powers happen to be a very powerful access tap to the Darkforce energies through this dimensional plane. ‘You have opened the void which has led the energy to seep into our own dimension’ Strange tells Darkling. Strange adds that the Darkforce energy is not acting of its own regard, that it cannot, for it is simply operating under a basic tenet of physics, it is filling a vacuum that Darkling created by opening a rift the size of Manhattan.
‘But the dark -’ Henrique calls out, only for Strange to interrupt, ‘- flows so freely through your access tap because we are a plane of reality whose precepts are predicated on light - both physical and spiritual - the Darkforce energy and its dimensional plane are the opposite - so one will flow into the other until either the dark or the light is doused’. This causes Darkling to grin wickedly and exclaim ‘It’s all me, then, ain’t it? Cool. I’m the night--maker! I can flood you all in darkness and you can’t stop me!’ Darkling shouts.
Back outside, Firestar releases some microwave energy and announces that she really thinks she should start cutting loose, but Spider-Man tells her not to. ‘Spidey-sense is making like Paul Abdul here’ Peter mutters to himself, when suddenly, Cloak materializes, with Namorita, Rage and the others. ‘Oh, come oooon!’ Turbo complains, looking worried. ‘More super powered dudes dipped in Darkforce? This is getting a little beyond ridiculous’ he mutters, releasing more turbo-charged winds, while Speedball bounds past him and calls out ‘Hey, you’re the one who wanted to be a big-time super hero, right?’ and tells Turbo to just keep hitting as many people as he can, as often as he can. ‘And maybe we’ll give you temporary membership!’ Speedball tells him.
‘What makes me a full-fledged card-carrying, club member?’ Turbo enquires. ‘Your first concussion and causing random property damage! Lots of property damage!’ Speedball calls back, before using his kinetic field by extending it outwards to push the possessed civilians backwards. Spider-Man swings down and knocks back a civilian and mutters that he doesn’t mean to sound pessimistic, and that he is just tickled pink to finally see Speedball learning to use his powers, but that it still doesn’t get them any closer to finding out who is responsible for this mess.
Suddenly, there is a rumbling resonating from the Smythers Clinic. ‘Uhm, Web-Head -’ Speedball calls out, but as the roof to the Clinic explodes, and Darkforce pours from it, Spider-Man tells Speedball not to say anything to him, as he is having a triple-Tylenol night. Suddenly, Henrique Gallant emerges from the Smythers Clinic and tells Speedball, Firestar and the others that he is the one they are looking for. ‘I’m the one doing all of this!’ Henrique boasts, announcing that he is the one who has been abandoned, abused and deprived, left to rot by everyone he ever cared about. ‘I’m the emptiness between here and there. Between light and dark. I am Darkling’ he boasts.
‘I did ask, didn’t I?’ Spider-Man mutters. ‘Well, at least now we know who and why, right?’ Speedball points out. Firestar and Turbo look shocked, while Darkhawk mutters ‘Wonderful. The difference between dying ignorant or an informed young man. That’ll look good on our tombstones, speedy - “Here lie all of Manhattan’s heroes - they knew who killed them”!’….


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Forces of Darkness, Forces of Light, act four: The Unbearable Darkness of Being (first story)
First story:It began when a young man named Henrique Manuel Gallante, recovering from repeated bouts of dependencies on drugs, released the anger, frustration and darkness inside his lonely, twisted soul. What Gallante didn’t know when he did this was that he is a mutant, born with the ability to tap and control the energies of another plane of reality known as the Darkforce Dimension. And that power, abused as it has been, has resulted in the drowning of Manhattan in a tidal wave of Darkforce energy. Outside the Smythers Clinic, several heroes have gathered to put an end to the madness. While Gallante, calling himself the Darkling, stands on a tower of Darkforce energy, Firestar a.k.a. Angelica Jones and Robbie “Speedball” Baldwin of the New Warriors do their best to maintain composure under such pressure.
Accompanying them is their ally Chris “Darkhawk” Powell, and newcomer to the business of heroics, Turbo. More experienced heroes - Peter Parker the Amazing Spider-Man, Ben Grimm of the Fantastic Four and the Inhuman Avenger called Crystal are with them. ’Funky. Something like this is just gonna kill property values on the island’ Speedball jokes. ’Try telling that to the punk responsible!’ the Thing mutters, to which Speedball declares that for someone who calls himself the Darkling, he sure knows how to light up the Big Apple!
From atop his high tower, Darkling heard Speedball’s comment and tells him that he is wrong, that there is not enough light at all. ’Just a lifetime of garbage - of abuse - of neglect! Why shouldn’t I let it all out? Why shouldn’t I wash all of you in the same dark waters I’ve been drowning in my whole life?’Taking to the air, Firestar tells Spider-Man, who swings along beside her on his webbing, that she doesn’t know whether they should feel sorry for Darkling or not. Spider-Man tells Firestar that all those “-pathy” words are politically correct nowadays, but that you can only take it so far. ‘And how far is that, Spidey, considering all the pain and anguish Darkling has caused so far?’ Darkhawk enquires. Leaping over a street lamp post, Spider-Man tells Darkhawk that since Darkling just wrecked the best bagel and lox place on the Upper East Side, this has gone far enough.
‘As long as your priorities are in the right place’ Firestar tells Spider-Man as she flies underneath the lamp post, while adding that she could end this right now. Down below, at street level, Crystal keeps the Darkforce-possessed civilians at bay with a burst of elemental energy, and reminds Firestar that she could, but that her microwave powers, used on a such a level, could irradiate everyone across the city. Turbo takes to the air and remarks ‘Mrs Crystal’s got a point’ and mutters ‘Like I’m not scared enough without worrying about a two-headed Turbo Jr!’ ‘Like you really need to worry about that, Turbo!’ Speedball tells his new companion, to which the Thing, as he sets up a barrier of cars, to keep the possessed civilians away, announces that Turbo has a cockeyed, backwards point.
The Thing elaborates, announcing that they have spent so much time trying not to hurt their friends and the civilians possessed by the Darkforce that “saran wrap” kid is spewing out, that just letting Firestar fry them all kinda puts their noble effort to waste. ‘I mean, the only options we really have at this point - are talking some sense into this kid - or beating some sense into him’. Suddenly, ‘Either way, Thing - you get what you want, don’t you!’ Darkling exclaims as his now massive form moves down and picks the Thing up off the car he was standing on. ‘He’s lifting Mr Grimm like tissue paper’ Turbo exclaims as he hovers nearby. His face distorted, Darkling boasts that he will wipe his noise as if the Thing were tissue paper. ‘It’s how I been treated - like I’ve got disposable feelings, refusable pain!’ Darkling declares.
Darkling tosses the Thing aside. ‘Mr Grimm!’ Turbo cries out as he flies after him. ‘Look out below!’ the Thing warns everyone as he falls head-first into a pile of cars. ‘What a revolting development this is’ the Thing mutters to himself, while the large wall of cars begins to topple over. Speedball tries to prop them up with kinetic balls of energy, and alerts Crystal to the danger. Furious, Crystal combines her power of elemental winds with that of Speedball’s kinetic field, which she hopes will be enough to keep the vehicles from toppling on the possessed civilians.
‘You called it, Crys!’ Speedball exclaims as he leaps into action, while remarking that knowing how to use his power sure is more fun than bouncing around like a complete feeb. ‘You still kind of do that anyway, Speed’ Darkhawk tells him. ‘Jaggin’ on me, Duckbill? Now I know you’re getting too comfortable hanging around with Warriors!’ Speedball replies, before suggesting they just stop this guy and save the city taxpayers from some massive expenses. ‘AS if this city doesn’t deserve the damage being done to it!’ Darkling shouts as he forces Speedball backwards. ‘As if it shouldn’t pay for how hard it treats us - how cold it makes us feel - how alone we are in it!’ Darkling booms. Firestar flies up towards the now massive Darkling and tells him that the city doesn’t do that, it’s them who do it to the city. ‘We do it to each other!’ she exclaims, assuring Darkling that they want to help him, want to stop this cycle of pain. Darkling shouts out in agony as Firestar’s microwave energy strikes him. ‘Nice way of showing it - by hurting me!’ he tells her. ‘What kind of hypocrite are you? You attacked the city - its people - our friends!’ Angelica tells him, adding that he made them fight each other for no reason, and now he has the nerve to blame this on them.
‘YOU’RE the villain here!’ an enraged Angelica exclaims. ‘Villain? Me? I’m just giving back what’s been given to me!’ Darkling replies. ‘All the hate, loneliness and anger - now I have the power to give it all back!’ Darkling booms as he spits out streams of Darkforce energy from his body, that wrap themselves around Firestar, Speedball and Darkhawk.
Trapped half a mile in the air, on the Darling’s Darkforce spire is the Master of the Mystic Arts, Dr Stephen Strange, hears what transpires below him, and instinctively reacts, releasing the all-seeing Eye of Agamotto from its housing in his chest amulet, so that the Eye can traverse the city streets, subconsciously seeking out the residents who have a personal link to the youthful members of the New Warriors. One such resident lives in an the isolated penthouse of the Ambrose Building, Andrew Chord, the New Warriors’ pilot, strategist and tutor, who is now recovering from a paralyzing self-inflicted gun shot wound. Walking aided by support beams, Chord tells himself to push it harder, that just because the city is flushing down the toilet, doesn’t mean he can skip his rehab.
Suddenly, ‘How was this junk able to work it’s way through the security system?’ Chord shouts as the Darkforce begins to seep around him. Suddenly, ‘Geez-Louise, Chord - you really been out of the $%$#@ merc business for a while, huh?’ Sprocket shouts as she leaps at Chord and knocks him free from the Darkforce, while telling him to analyze less and act more. Sprocket helps Chord up, and Chord thanks her for the save, while suggesting that she might be right - that turning into a businessman and a wet-nurse to kid super heroes has softened him up a bit. ‘But tell me this - you can’t fight this slop - and I can’t negotiate with it - so how do we stop it?’ he asks.
‘Beats the living crud outta me!’ Sprocket replies, before nervously suggesting that maybe they don’t stop it. Chord tells her them to move out and save herself, to which Sprocket swears at him and exclaims ‘After all we been through?’, and holding him up, declares that they will go down together because she will be needing a good poker partner when they both end up in H-E-double hockey sticks. The Eye of Agamotto leaves, having seen what it needed to see - an act of compassion among all the madness.
The Eye moves onwards, towards Chinatown, where safe inside one of the buildings, a young man and a young woman stand in the shadows of a room. ‘Kimeiko - I think you’re wrong for planning this!’ the young woman exclaims. Kimeiko calls her Hnang and tells her that she doesn’t understand, that their honor has been spit upon by this man. ‘Your HONOR?’ Hnang exclaims, declaring that the poison memories, this sickening gang Kimeiko calls his family attacked this person, so he attacked back. ‘You’re just mad because he won’ Hnang declares. Kimeiko tells her that it goes deeper than that, and turning from her, adds that she doesn’t understand. Hnang puts a hand on Kimeiko’s shoulder and pulls him backwards her, so they embrace. Kimeiko declares ‘You don’t know what the Mems mean to me…why I need them…and why I can’t let this Night Thrasher guy get away with what he did to us’. The Eye leaves, having seen what it needed to see. A cold, lonely heart which does not allow love to penetrate its self-imposed walls.
The Eye of Agamotto moves onwards, towards Greenwich Village, and the apartment building where Maddie Naylor and her son, Robbie “Speedball” Baldwin now live. Inside, several of the residents have been overtaken by the Darkforce, and they cry out for help as the blankness controls them. ‘Mr Wilburn - Mrs Jokobs?’ a young man calls out as he enters the corridor. ‘Carlton - help us!’ one of them exclaims. ‘But how?’ the boy asks, shouting that he cannot do this alone. He moves down the corridor to Madelyne Naylor’s apartment and calls out to her and Robbie, asking if they are home - when suddenly, a wall collapses, and forces him to the floor. Carlton struggles under the rubble, and once again calls out to Madelyne and Robbie. ‘Is anyone in here?’ he enquires. Lying a few inches away in the rubble is a book, and Carlton takes hold of it and sees that it is a scrap book. Opening it, he sees a photo of Speedball. The Eye leaves, having what it needed to see - a young man named Calrtdon LaFroyge who has found the means to release the courage and altruism he knows lie located within him.
The Eye moves onward, towards the Lower Manhattan abandoned factory Crash-Pad of the New Warriors, where Rich “Nova” Rider helps up Tandy Bowen a.k.a. Dagger, asking her if she is sure about this. Dagger replies that she is as sure as she can be about anything after being clocked by someone as strong as Rage. Tandy adds that she was lucky she was moving as Rage swung, or else he would have snapped her spine in two. Dagger realizes that she is avoiding Nova’s question, and asks him what else he proposes they do. She remarks that her light powres may be the only thing which can cancel out the Darkforce energy’s hold on the city. ‘Even if it kills you to do it?’ Nova asks, picking Dagger up into his arms.
Dagger replies that they don’t have much choice, to which Nova remarks that they never do. Dagger suggests they just do it before she chickens out, so Nova takes to the air, speeding upwards, and points out that the Darkforce energy seems to really be kicking it Uptown. Dagger suggests that is where all the possessed people probably are. ‘And that’s where we go’ Dagger declares, adding that what she swore earlier to Cloak gets done - one way or another, the fight between the darkness and the light ends tonight! With that, Nova continues to fly towards the Darkforce spire.
The Eye leaves, having seen what it needed to see. The heroic hearts of two young people who refuse to give up. And it returns to the towering mass of darkness, to find it’s master, Dr Strange, still sheathed in the Darkforce cocoon. The Eye’s piercing light bathes Dr Strange, the Darkforce energy begins to dissolve under its glare, until suddenly, Darkling notices the eye, and rises up on a wave of Darkforce towards it. ‘Little eye - do you see what I see - do you see me in control now?’ Darkling asks. ‘Do you see what I’ve been able to do? I have all of them fighting my fights for me’ he declares. ‘Fights between the good and the bad. The dark and the light’ Darkling remarks, before boasting that he is not so crazy now, now if he can use the super heroes the dark could over to fight those it couldn’t, and tells the Eye to look below.
Indeed, at that moment the Thing smacks back the possessed New Warrior Elvin Haliday a.k.a. Rage. ‘Kid, don’t make me have ta pulverize ya!’ the Thing exclaims, adding that he doesn’t usually like beating on the good guys, much less the kid good guys, and suggests that Rage could shout out some nasty curses or something to get him juiced up. Rage offers no response other than to kick the Thing hard in the chest, knocking him back. ‘Yeah - well, that’ll do -’ the Thing mutters. ‘Hello - is there a doctor in the house? Guess not’ Darkling jokes, while telling the Eye of Agamotto that not even its light is enough to get rid of all the dark.
Turning to Dr Strange, Darkling declares that it is better to just let the darkness wash over everything, as it is more comfortable than fighting it. ‘No - that’s just giving up! And we’re not going to do that!’ Darkhawk exclaims as he flits about in the air, staying out of reach from the possessed Warren “Archangel” Worthington, while quietly asking if anyone can give him a hand. ‘Sorry, Darkhawk, all hands are full right now!’ Firestar shouts as she fires a burst of energy at the possessed Shroud, while assuring everyone that she is holding back so that she doesn’t hurt him.
Turbo declares that some of them cannot sympathize, as he is giving it all he has to stay alive. With that, he is knocked upwards through the air, as the possessed New Warrior called Namorita smacks him hard. ‘Doesn’t Namorita realize I’m practically a teammate at this point?’ the eager young Turbo remarks. Suddenly, Namorita bursts through a large brick wall, breaking a chunk of it, which she then hurls towards a scared Turbo. ‘Guess not’ Turbo utters, gape-jawed, he is frozen in fear, and puts his hands up to his face, ‘I’m gonna die. I’m gonna die’ he utters over and over, when suddenly, hovering in mid-air, he finds the chunk of brick wall suddenly pulled backwards - thanks to Spider-Man. Spider-Man announces that he has a personal rule against letting a rookie super hero idie, at least until he’s been thoroughly abused in print by the “Daily Bugle”. Turning around, Spider-Man sees the possessed Eternal called Sersi, who attacks him by causing a crate to open in the ground. Spider-Man manages to dodge the crater, and reminds Sersi that he is sort of an Avenger, too.
Speedball dodges an attack from his possessed teammate, Silhouette, and asks if somebody can tell him how she is able to move around without her leg braces. ‘I mean, unless this Darkforce energy isn’t possessing them, so much as being used to manipulate them - and Darkling is just pulling their stings by yanking on the energy covering them. ‘That sorta makes sense, doesn’t it?’ Speedball asks as he dodges another lunge from Silhouette. ‘Too much sense’ Firestar calls out, pointing out that means their friends may still be conscious and alert even as they are being forced to fight. Angelica adds that is horrible, to be so incapable of controlling your own movements, and announces that she cannot let this go on.
Soaring higher into the air, Firestar declares that no matter how dangerous, since her microwaves are the only things which seem to disrupt the Darkling’s control of the Darkforce, she is going to have to pour it on. In spectacular display, releasing surge after surge of microwave energy. Darkling screams and coils backwards as the energies from within Firestar torrent over him, as the specific energy wavelength that Firestar transmits slices through Darkling’s psionic control of the Darkforce, and across the city, is hold is severed, long enough for those he was using to regain control of their bodies, if not their dark passions.
‘Where is he? I’m going to -’ Namorita calls out, free from Darkling’s hold. Spider-Man goes over to her and tells her to take it easy, not to push herself too hard. Darkling looks at his hand, returned to his normal form, he wonders why the darkness won’t come to him. Speedball goes over to Rage and asks him if he is okay, while Firestar drops down beside Silhouette, once again unable to walk, and remarks that she doesn’t think her powers will sever his control permanently. ‘They won’t, Firestar -’ Silhouette replies. ‘- but maybe this will!’ Namorita exclaims as she flies over and punches Darkling hard in the face, causing him to keel backwards. Darkhawk and Firestar help Silhouette up as she tells Namorita that is not the answer, as force is what has been used on him his entire life. ‘We have to show him why that isn’t the way to deal with life’s problems’ Silhouette explains.
The Darkforce begins to creep up Darkling’s body, and he announces that it is coming back, because it knows what he knows - it knows what it will take to beat all of them down. Namorita frowns and clenches her fists, declaring ‘This piece of crud doesn’t deserve the benefit of doubt from us!’. Silhouette turns to Namorita and asks ‘Who are you to tell me that? He made me walk again! I could feel my legs moving but I had no control over them! Do you have any idea at all how hard that was?’ she asks, tears pouring down her face. Namorita frowns and folds her arms across her chest, giving Silhouette a weak apology, before asking how she proposes they make Darkling see the light.
‘Maybe the only way to do that -’ Nova begins as he arrives on scene. ‘- is to blind him with it!’ Dagger declares as she leaps from Nova’s arms and thrusts her light power straight into Darkling’s head. Dagger somersaults onto the ground and remarks ‘If that doesn’t take the fight out of him, nothing will’ before going over to her partner, Tyrone Johnson a.k.a. Cloak. ‘Are you okay -’ Tandy asks him. Cloak replies that he is alive. ‘None of you understands!’ Darkling calls out, crying, he shouts ‘I NEED it!’, exclaiming that the darkness is the only thing that has ever cared, ever held on to him, ever let him hold it back. ‘There are better things to hold on to, Henrique. There’s love - and hope -’ Silhouette calls out. ‘Those things don’t exist’ Darkling replies as he falls on his face, overcome by sorrow.
‘Henrique Manuel Gallante - we have all endeavoured to tell you how wrong an assumption that is!’ Dr Strange proclaims as he hovers overhead, and suggests that Darling might be better served if they showed him, through the sights and sounds, words and deeds that the all-seeing Eye of Agamotto has accessed throughout the city during the course of this evening. ‘Look, Henrique - look at what this city and it’s people have to offer during a time of darkness - look and see the light!’ Dr Strange declares as he releases the Eye of Agamotto, and it shines down on Henrique, who holds himself as he sees the fear he caused, the anger and hatred he fomented, the frustration and confusion he unleashed.
But more - he also sees the love - the selflessness, the compassion, the altruism, the caring. The slightest glimmer of hope which exists - that maybe, just maybe, some of that light, can pierce his charred husk of a soul and illuminate him - and for once in his life, protect him from the dark. Crying, Henrique looks up, and utters ‘Why. Why didn’t anyone ever tell me that people cared? He asks. Silhouette is helped over to him, and tells him that he has to be lucky enough to find the ones that do. She rests beside him on the ground, and wraps her arms around him, telling Henrique that when he finds these people, he should be smart enough not to turn them away when they try to help. ‘That’s what friends - family - are for’ Silhouette declares.
But suddenly, Henrique pulls away from her, ‘NO!’ he shouts, declaring that the only friends that ever cared talked to him from inside of a freebase pipe. ‘The only family I ever knew turned their backs on me when I needed them!’ he adds, standing up, the Darkforce begins to sweep over his body once more, and he admits that he was wrong to do this, to the city - to all of them. ‘And I don’t know if I can fix this’ he adds, while Silhouette tells him to not even try, as the city can scrub itself clean. ‘Let the scars in our souls heal for themselves!’ she tells him.
The Darkforce spirals around Henrique, who announces that he has to find out why, and take all the darkness back. The Darkforce swirls and swirls around him as he absorbs it from all over the city. Transformed back into Darkling, Henrique announces that he has to take it away from here, and find out why it is such a strong part of him, and why the light isn’t. Darkling assures everyone that he will leave them with something, something he didn’t have before tonight - control - more knowledge of how the darkness works inside of them, control over how to use that darkness, and after seeing his mistakes, an understanding of how to use that darkness right.
‘What about you?’ Silhouette calls out. Darkling announces that he is leaving, leaving all of this. ‘The only way I’m ever going to find out about the light inside of me - is by learning to live with the dark’ Henrique announces, before he and the Darkforce energy sweeps off into the night. The Black Knight, recovered from his possession, walks over to Nova, while Crystal holds the Human Torch, her ex-boyfriend of the Fantastic Four, who remains motionless following his possession. ‘The madness is over. The city is safe again’ Crystal announces. Rage rubs his bruised face, while Speedball smiles and replies ‘You kidding? This is Manhattan we’re talking about y’know!’
Helping Silhouette to her feet again, along with Firestar, Darkhawk remarks ‘Overall, a pretty lousy night, huh?’. Silhouette replies that she doesn’t know about that, and remarks that if Gallante did one thing by showing them the darkness inside and around all of them, he also served to show them the light as well. ‘At the least - at the very least - we can all walk away with that much - can’t we?’, and with that, Silhouette smiles.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Child’s Play (Second Move): Sleeping With The Enemy
The glowing psionic form of the man known as the Gamesmaster floats through his swirling mindscape. He is a mutant omnipath, who for reasons of his own spends his time in the telepathic mindstream, which connects the subconscious thoughts of everyone on the planet. To maintain his sanity amidst the mental static, which perpetually courses through his mind, the Gamesmaster has chosen to concentrate on one particular group of people and their quest. These people are the Upstarts, an exclusive club that seeks to achieve power through the assassination of mutant targets: at the moment, the young survivors of the former New Mutants and Hellions groups. Already Cannonball, Boomer, and Magma have been captured, and thus the Younghunt is officially underway.
Rearing up, the massive psionic form of the Gamesmaster places the floating consciousnesses of Cannonball, Boomer, and Magma into his palm and commands them to awaken. Being that the three of them have had extensive experience in telepathic communication, he explains, it should take but a moment for them to acclimate themselves to the mindstream.
While Cannonball responds by asking who this assailant is and what’s going on here, Boomer instead ponders why their attacker has placed them at such an angle that they must stare up his nostrils. In response to Cannonball, the psionic form explains that he can be called the Gamesmaster, and in response to Boomer, he apologizes for the cheap theatrics. He explains that it is only in this realm where he can be as he truly wishes he were: dominant, controlling, and overpowering. It is really a rather exhilarating experience, he continues, and he tends to revel in it. But listen to his ramblings, he adds, stopping himself, it is rather presumptuous of him to be talking about such things when the three of them are in this unfortunate situation.
And what exactly is that situation, demands Cannonball, are they his prisoners? What sort of “game” is he the “master” of? Magma notes she was in the Brazilian rainforest re-learning her powers when she was attacked, and adds that she never even saw who did it. Boomer replies that she and Cannonball were in “Gomerville,” Kentucky, when everything just sort of exploded, then notes that instead of doing this to them, the Gamesmaster could have just had them all play Yahtzee. But, questions the Gamesmaster, would that have been as enjoyable as this has been? He continues, explaining that he is not directly responsible for her presence here, but he does arbitrate the game played by those who are.
Projecting their images as he speaks of them, the Gamesmaster names the Upstarts: Shinobi Shaw, Siena Blaze, Graydon Creed, Trevor Fitzroy, and the potential members Andrea and Andreas Strucker; they compete against themselves in the name of greed and conquest, he explains, by killing the targets of Gamesmaster’s choosing. And one guess who the targets are this time, interjects Cannonball wryly. Two guesses, replies the Gamesmaster, projecting the images of the former teams he then speaks of: any of the surviving members of the New Mutants or Hellions are quarry in this game. Then, addressing the three before him in the mindstream, he explains that they have already been captured as the first prizes in this treasure hunt, and so they shall remain until such time as they will be disposed of and the points for their deaths are appropriately disbursed among the Upstarts; taking into account, of course, that all of prospective rabbits can even be hunted down…
Manhattan, inside an abandoned factory: the New Warriors’ base of operations. The New Warriors are gathered in a meeting in front of a monitor screen displaying the images of both Justice and Shinobi Shaw. Night Thrasher says that he’s sorry, Angel, but they had no choice. Firestar, crossing her arms, retorts that they always have a choice, Dwayne. She understands why he and Vance decided not to tell her about his little scheme, but that doesn’t mean she has to like it! Night Thrasher continues: when he first found out that Shinobi Shaw was involved with the Friends of Humanity in the attempt to publicly ostracize Justice after he was paroled from prison, he knew that Shaw was going to try to use Justice as a pawn in the Upstarts game. So, replies Firestar curtly, he let them all think for the last week that Vance was leaving because he couldn’t deal with the pressure he’s been under?
Night Thrasher explains that he knows how she and Vance feel about each other, but he and Justice agreed that this was the way to go, especially because of the emotional toll it would take on all of them. Hey Red, adds Nova, explaining he was pretty peeved when he heard what happened up in Saugerties, too. But look at it this way, he continues: ain’t it great that Thrash and Marvel Boy – oops, sorry, Justice –  are back and pulling stunts like this?
Kymaera, placing her hands on Firestar’s shoulders, notes that the last few months have been really hard on all of them, but then tells Firestar to think of how nice it’ll be to get mad at Justice when he comes back, and how much fun it’ll be to make up! Firestar just notes that, her own frustrations notwithstanding, if Vance’s information is correct, then the Upstarts are going after former New Mutants and Hellions. And if that’s true, then they may come after…
The ceiling of the warehouse abruptly explodes, raining debris down upon the meeting area, and a troop of lackeys in high-tech metal armor drop in amid the cloud of smoke and dust. Their leader announces that they want Firestar, they are the Tribunal, and their employer would like her to come with them. As to whether this is accomplished quietly or through bloodshed… that is up to the New Warriors. With a quiet crackle and a glowing flare in her eyes, Firestar notes that, like she said, you always have a choice… what does the Tribunal think the New Warriors’ is going to be?
Madripoor. Specifically, the “living-standard handicapped” region known as Lowtown. Past a deserted, garbage-strewn alleyway, a voice calls out that they went over this way! Pursuing their targets to the docks, a group of thugs corners Moonstar and Empath. Moonstar explains that the thugs’ options are to either back off or have their brains fried, which, she imagines, in their case wouldn’t take but a spit of grease and a match. Blithely ignoring the threats of a spandex-clad woman wielding a bow and a flaming psionic arrow, one of the thugs replies that they got rules on the docks, girl – and she crossed over the line!
Annoyed, Moonstar explains that all they did was ask where they could find Xi’an Coy Mahn! Releasing the psionic arrow from her bow with its characteristic shriek, she notes that all the pain this is going to cause the man is all because they’re trying to help an old friend. Empath, meanwhile, simply commands the thugs attacking him to unhand him, adding that they should be thankful he does not simply command them to jump into the bay and drown!
Suddenly, the sky above the docks crackles and rips open, prompting Empath to ask what it is and Moonstar to reply that it’s trouble. As every window in every warehouse across the docks explodes outward, Siena Blaze descends from the sky, explaining that it’s big trouble, “torks”! For the two of you, she clarifies, since she isn’t in a mood to tool around! Verifying that the two before her are Moonstar and Empath, Blaze adds that she didn’t expect to find them here, and they kinda look different than the old pictures she saw of them, but she can still smell these New Mutie and Hellion geeks a mile away. She then tells them to close their eyes: this is going to hurt a lot! Blaze, however, abruptly halts her attack…
… and Xi’an Coy Manh steps forward, clad in her New Mutants uniform. Dani, she says to Moonstar, if it is her under that mask, and Manuel: it has been a long time, has it not? Indeed it has, replies Empath, and under the circumstances he wishes it had been longer! Yes, well, replies Karma, she takes it that Blaze wanted to kill the two of them, or her, or all of them, but the question is: now that she has Siena Blaze under her mind-control… what do they do with her?
The mindstream. Here, the Gamesmaster plays his part, bouncing from one mind to the next, always living vicariously through the thoughts and actions of others, a part of him ignoring the reasons behind his avoidance of life while deep inside his heart he covers the truth inside a shroud of loneliness. He senses the thoughts of others, the youths, and in particular Vance Astrovik and Angelica Jones, who carry as great a burden of pain, of guilt, as he does. He smiles both in respect and regret that, while he chooses to hide from his own emotional injuries, they have the strength of will to strive so hard to carry on, and he thinks: what a shame that the very thing which makes them so noble… is the reason they must die!
The New Warriors’ headquarters. The two groups of combatants, New Warriors and Tribunal, are poised to face each other. Speedball tells Night Thrasher to give the word, and Night Thrasher explains he’s just waiting to gauge their measure. Taking flight into battle, Firestar tells him to let them try to gauge theirs! The Tribunal responds by announcing that weapons have been deployed, as their suits shift various parts into combat configurations. Then the two teams break the tension as all-out combat begins. The battle continues to rage on, as neither side appears to take the lead, but just as the Tribunal leader announces that they’re going to need to cut loose if – his thought is interrupted by the sudden ripping apart and shattering of every single Tribunal member’s armor, the force of which is sufficient to also knock the men inside out cold.
Kymaera notes that their armors looked like they were just forced apart at the seams, and Silhouette questions how that could… oh… as Firestar excitedly whispers Vance? As Justice descends through the hole the Tribunal originally ripped in the warehouse’s ceiling, Firestar exclaims his name again and rushes up to meet him. They embrace, and Justice stammers that he thought she’d be mad at him. Firestar replies that she is, she’s not, she… He mumbles that he’s sorry about tricking her like that, he didn’t want to hurt her… but, he continues, speaking up, it may get even worse for them all. They have problems, he informs the team.
Night Thrasher asks if the Upstarts’ plan is going like they expected, and Justice replies that it’s as if they wrote the script themselves. Firestar is their next target, and Justice himself is supposed to be taking her down for Shinobi Shaw! Nova, picking up some large chunks of rubble left over from the attack, notes that this is a pretty tough corner the two of them painted them all into, and asks what they’re gonna do to get out. Kymaera suggests they find out who sent the Tribunal and start taking down the Upstarts one player at a time; Justice replies that it’s not that simple: each of the Upstarts, on their own, whether they realize it or not, are just small fish in a big pond, swimming around behind a big shark. In this case, the shark is a man named Gamesmaster.
Night Thrasher explains that he’s the one they want to take down. Kymaera asks if what they’re saying is that the best way to do this is from the inside, and Firestar, startled, notes that that would mean… the only way to get closer than Vance already has… is by sacrificing her to the Younghunt! Stroking her hair, Justice explains that they have to, it’s what they do, it’s who they are. Even if, questions Firestar, the price she pays is her own life? Justice pauses, troubled, and then replies that her life, his life, all of their lives if necessary, if that’s what it takes for justice to be served. Firestar turns away and crosses her arms in defeat.
Shinobi Shaw’s penthouse apartment in Tokyo. Shaw sits down to a quiet dinner as his balcony window suddenly opens, seemingly of its own power. Justice flies in soon after, with the unconscious Firestar in tow, and explains that he has her. Excellent, Vance, exclaims Shinobi, noting that he keeps surprising him in the most pleasant of manners. Shaw then asks if Justice’s friends put up much of a stink. Justice replies that they care about her a lot, and so does he. Observing the subdued Firestar, Shaw replies that he knows Justice does. Then, phasing his way through the force field around her, he grabs her chin in his hand and notes that he can understand why: she’s really a babe. Turning back to Justice, Shaw states that he promises him that they’ll use Firestar just like they discussed: as bait to get them inside the assassination parlor, and from there to use the other captured young mutants to overthrow not only the Upstarts but the Gamesmaster himself!
And, continues Shaw, by eliminating the players in the game, as well as the one who arbitrates it, it will be he who wins the Younghunt and gains all of their combined power in turn! But, questions Justice, if the Gamesmaster is as powerful a psi as Shaw says, isn’t he already aware of their plans? Shinobi responds that he’s not an idiot, Vance. He recently had his apartment heavily screened against all forms of energy wavelength incursions, including telepathic ones! As the Gamesmaster’s psionic form listens in upon Shaw’s astral projection, Shinobi continues: so he guarantees him, the Gamesmaster has no idea what they have up their sleeves!
Child’s play, mutters the Gamesmaster, crushing the projection of Shaw in his fist. Akin to anticipating the actions of a mouse in a maze… this is all too easy! He needs more from this game! Trevor Fitzroy is prepared to confront X-Force, he notes, producing a projection of this event, and… Interrupting himself, the Gamesmaster notes that Siena Blaze seeks council with him. Her astral form pops into the mindstream as the Gamesmaster sighs out of bored irritation and bids her speak.
Hey, boss, beams a grinning Siena Blaze, take one guess who just pulled into the lead! Then, dropping the astral bodies of Empath, Karma, and Moonstar into the Gamesmaster’s open palm, Blaze announces eagerly that, added to the two she nabbed earlier, this gives her five kills!


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Trust
‘Attention all super-villains! Please walk - don’t run - to the nearest exit! This is not a drill!’ orders Rich Rider a.k.a. Nova as he and his teammates - Robbie “Speedball” Baldwin, Namorita, Mickey “Turbo” Musashi, Chris “Bolt” Bradley and Trey “Aegis” Rollins burst into a warehouse. ‘The Warriors are in the house!’ Nova exclaims, and down below, five mutants - Burner, Lifter, Peeper, Slither and Shocker - look up at the young heroes in shock. As the New Warriors begin to apprehend the mutants, Turbo asks ‘These guys are called “Mutant Force”?’ Speedball replies that he is afraid so. ‘Sheesh. All the good names really have been taken!’ Turbo declares as she knocks Lifter back on a powerful turbine.
Aegis informs Shocker that his chest plate will absorb whatever energies he throws at him, while Namorita dives towards Burner and tells Aegis to stop explaining his powers to these losers and take them down. ‘Er, sorry, Nita’ Aegis mutters, while Slither and Peeper start to run away from the battle. ‘Don’t let them hurt me, Slither!’ Peeper calls out, while Speedball and Bolt chase after them. ‘Come on, did you guys really think you could just walk off with this armoured car full of money - and not have someone come after you?’ Bolt asks. Peeper goes into the fetal position and asks him to go away.
Nova locates the armored car and rips open the outer, while telling Bolt to do a little less talking and more hitting. ‘Hey! This cracker-jack’s got a big surprise!’ Nova declares as two security guards are inside the vehicle. ‘Whew! Nova, thank God! We didn’t know what we were gonna do if those goons broke in here!’ one of the guards tells him. ‘Just remember our names when those reporters come talking to ya’ Nova tells the guards, before asking Speedball if he needs a hand. ‘Almost got it…just one more bounce…and voila! Right into the truck!’ Speedball calls out as he bounds past Nova after grabbing Slither, and slams him into the truck. ‘Very nice!’ Nova smiles.
Namorita dodges some flame thrown by her opponent, and thinks to herself ‘I bet this “Burner” moron will have a checkout time trying to hit what he can’t see, while Bolt approaches Peeper, and calls out ‘Hey there, little guy…relax, we don’t have to fight’. ‘What? Which one of you is telekinetic?’ Burner calls out as he finds himself lifted into the air, while Bolt tells Peeper to surrender, suggesting that the cops might go easy on him. ‘I’ll put a good word in, for what it’s worth’ Bolt adds. ‘A telekinetic? None of us. Biut one of us is invisible!’ Namorita declares as she no longer remains transparent, and slams Burner into the ground. ‘You really are dumb, you know that?’ Peeper declares as he fires a blast of energy from his eyes at Bolt, striking him at close range. ‘ARGH!’ Bolt exclaims, and retaliates by blasting Peeper, knocking the strange mutant backwards. ‘That stings! I have gotta stop being so gullible!’ Bolt tells himself.
‘Sorry, Shocker, did I forget to mention that my breastplate can also dish out whatever it takes in? Silly me’ Aegis exclaims as he releases the absorbed energies, knocking Shocker backwards. Bolt grabs hold of Peeper, while the Lifter has regained his footing after being knocked aside by Turbo. ‘You think you’ve beaten us, kids? Think again! I’m the Lifter! I can nullify gravity and lift anything!’ he boasts. The New Warriors all smirk, and Nova grins: ‘Yeah. Okay. What’re you gonna do, lift us to death?’. Lifter frowns, and gives himself up. ‘You haven’t seen the last of me’ Lifter threatens as he is loaded into the truck. ‘Yeah, whatever’ Nova tells him. ‘Whoa! Time really flies when you’re enforcing justice! Guys, I’ve gotta run!’ turbo tells her teammates as she makes her exit.
Meanwhile, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, civilians go about their business as the snow falls around them. Dalton Beck is amongst them and speaks to Joe Silvermane on his mobile phone. ‘I know. Turbo’s on her way. We’re going on a date’ Dalton reports. ‘Yeah, another one’ he adds, assuring Silvermane that Turbo doesn’t suspect anything. ‘I’m very convincing’ he boasts, before telling Silvermane that as soon as Turbo trusts him, he will make his move, and then her armor will belong to him. ‘Hey, Dalton! Sorry I’m late. I was busy super-heroing, you know?’ Turbo smiles as she drops down from above. Dalton smiles back and tells Turbo that she will get no complaints from him, adding that he just got here himself.
Turbo wraps her arms around Dalton, then takes flight, ‘Where to?’ she asks him. ‘You’re in the driver’s seat! You tell me!’ Dalton replies, to which Turbo suggests that they could find a secluded pond somewhere and go ice-skating. ‘Is that too dorky?’ she asks. ‘Heck no, I love ice-skating’ Dalton exclaims, while thinking to himself ‘I hate ice-skating!’. Suddenly, there is a loud noise, and Turbo and Dalton turn their attention to the street below, where cars have crashed and water bursts from a pipe, while some of the road is broken. ‘It looks like a bomb went off!’ Turbo exclaims as they drop down. Dalton points out that they are right over the 1/9 track, so if a train was passing underneath here, it would have been crushed. He uses his cell phone to call 911.
Dalton tells the operator that he is with the FDNY and reports that explosion on 86th and Broadway, adding that they could be dealing with a gas leak. Civilians start to gather around and Turbo tells them that it is okay, as she is with the New Warriors. ‘Who?’ someone calls out. ‘Look, I’m a super hero, okay? Now I need you to get back so we can try and find out what happens’ Turbo declares, before telling Dalton that if this is a gas leak, they cannot afford to wait for the fire department. She points out that if there are people down there, they could be breathing gas fumes. Turbo tells everyone to stand clear, as she has an idea, and begins firing turbines at the road, close-range, she hopes to blast a tunnel entrance.
Turbo’s plan works, and taking hold of Dalton, they drop into the subway beneath the road, where they find a derailed train, full of dazed and confused passengers. Turbo can’t see any bodies, so hopes that means there are no casualties. ‘You know first aid, right? See if you can help some of these people’ Turbo tells Dalton, who thinks to himself ‘Guess I’d better play the hero…if I wanna keep getting close to her’. Dalton finds his first “patient” and tells the woman that he thinks her leg might be broken, so they will have to set it. Dalton calls out to Turbo, telling her that he doesn’t smell gas, so it must have been something else that caused the explosion.
Some of the passengers begin running towards Turbo in a panic: ‘Get us out of here!’ one of them, shouts. ‘What happened?’ another enquires. ‘You’re a super hero…do something!’ someone pleads, while another declares that they are going to miss their interview, and someone else announces that their cell phone won’t work. ‘I can’t find my husband!’ someone exclaims, while another asks if mutants caused this. ‘What are you going to do?’ someone asks. ‘Why are you just standing there?’ another demands. ‘HELP US!’ someone shouts. ‘Okay, okay, just back up and give me some room to tunnel!’ Turbo exclaims, releasing turbines which unfortunately knock several of the civilians backwards.
There is a loud rumbling, and some of the tunnel begins to cave in. ‘Oh, no…’ Turbo mutters. ‘She’s gonna bring the whole street down!’ one of the civilians exclaims as they cower away from Turbo, who turns to them and tells them that it is okay, and that she shouldn’t have freaked out the way she did. ‘I will get you out of here, but you’ve got to remain calm, okay?’ Turbo tells them, before announcing that she will fly back up through the entrance hole she made, and will rig up a ladder or something to get them all to safety. But, Turbo hears another rumbling and the street caves in from where she entered the subway. ‘TAKE COVER!’ Turbo tells everyone as large rocks fall around them. ‘Oh, no…now we’re really trapped’ someone gasps. ‘And it’s her fault!’ another declares. ‘Um…not to sound unsupportive, but maybe you should call in some backup’ Dalton suggests. Turbo knows he is right, and taking out her comm-badge, hopes the signal can penetrate all the rock.
At the New Warriors Firehouse HQ, under the Manhattan Bridge, in Brooklyn, the hover pod is being painted by two of Aegis’s young friends, Lester and Payton. He goes out and asks them how it is going. ‘Hey, Aegis! Thanks for letting me and Payton paint your new ride!’ Lester declares. ‘You kidding me, Lester? I’d rather have you two putting your skills to work here than bombing some building somewhere’ Aegis replies. One of the boys asks him where he got that funky piece of “jewelry”, and realizing he is referring to the chest plate, Aegis explains that is a long story. One of the boys declares that they don’t have time to hear his secret origin now, ad that they have to admire their handiwork. ‘Check it!’ he adds as they look at the painted hover pod.
Meantime, at a pub in the East Village, footage of the New Warriors with the arrested Mutant Force is being shown, as the reporter states that the New Warriors pitched in when a band of mutant criminals hijacked an armored car earlier today, and when questioned, the authorities had no comment on the help they received from the teenage super heroes, but that the two security guards who were locked inside the armoured car were eager to thank them. Aegis is displayed prominently on the television screen above the bar, and a certain person sitting at the bad suddenly slams their mug of beer down upon seeing Aegis and shouts ‘Zounds!’
Meanwhile, over Central Park West, Namorita flies Bolt up to her penthouse apartment that Bolt now shares with her. ‘But they called me “Bulk”, Nita! “Bulk”!’ Bolt complains. He remarks that the Warriors finally get some press after they recovered the armored car, and the reporters cannot even get his name right. Namorita points out that “Bolt” does sound a lot like “Bulk” if you don’t enunciate clearly. Chris sighs and supposes that the next thing you know he will start getting called “Jolt” like the girl in the Thunderbolts. Namorita mutters that she wish she knew what a whiner Chris was before she invited him to be her roomate, and starts to take her clothing off, announcing that she is going to have a shower. The doorbell rings and Chris goes over to it. ‘Who is it -?’ he calls out, but as he opens the door, he sees his girlfriend, Donna Funaro standing there. ‘Hey!’ Chris exclaims.
Donna asks Chris if he knows how many reporters she had to pass just to get in the elevator. ‘Oh, yeah, Nita’s something of a celebrity, you know’ Chris replies. ‘Yeah I - OH!’ Donna gasps when Namorita walks past them, naked, with just a small towel wrapped around herself. Donna doesn’t look impressed. ‘Oh, geez…’ Chris utters, while Namorita waves to Donna and tells her that she is glad she could stop by. ‘Um, hi, Nita’ Donna replies, while Namorita tells Chris that when Johnny gets here, to let him know she will be ready in a minute. ‘Er, yeah, I’ll…um…tell him’ Chris stutters in response.
‘I thought you said this living arrangement was strictly platonic’ Donna asks Chris as she turns to him and frowns. Chris replies that it is, ‘Nita’s not…that is, we’re not…’ he begins, but Donna just laughs and tells Chris that he is so gullible. ‘I know there’s nothing going on between you guys, Chris. Like Nita would ever go for you’ Donna adds. ‘Oh, very funny! You know now that I’m a big-time celebrity I could always break up with you’ Chris points out. ‘Whatever you say, “Bulk”!’ Donna replies, before noticing something on the balcony. ‘Hey, Chris! Nita around?’ Johnny Storm a.k.a. the Human Torch of the Fantastic Four asks as he drops down on the balcony. Chris replies that Nita is almost ready while Donna gushes and tells Chris that he never told her Nita’s “Johnny” was Johnny Storm the Human Torch.
‘I am just gonna die!’ Donna exclaims. Namorita is showered and dressed and walks onto the balcony, telling Donna to put her tongue back in her mouth, before asking Johnny if he is ready to go. Taking flight, Johnny replies that if they hurry, they can still get a good seat. Namorita waves goodbye to Chris and Donna, and tells Chris not to wait up for her. ‘Wow, Chris, that’s awesome’ Donna exclaims. Chris tells Donna that if she has her composure back, he wants to show her something, as he thinks he has a problem. ‘Sure, babe, what’s wrong?’ Donna asks. Lifting his costume up and showing Donna his back, Chris replies that he doesn’t know if this has anything to do with his fight with Biohazard a few weeks back, or if it is the Legacy Virus slowing eating away at his body. ‘either way, my skin’s starting to break down’ Chris declares, while Donna looks at the flaky skin on Chris’s back.
Back at 86th and Broadway, one of the angry passengers asks Turbo what is taking her friends so long. ‘We need to get out of here!’ he exclaims. Turbo replies that she knows, but points out that they are buried deep, so she is not sure if her comm-badge signal is getting through. Suddenly, they hear a scratching noise, and turn to the train tracks, here some strange creatures have revealed themselves. ‘Oh my GOD! Some kind of creatures! They must’ve caused the disaster!’ someone exclaims as the yellowish creatures with large eyes stare back at them. The aggressive man raises a gun and begins firing at the creatures, despite Turbo telling him to wait. ‘I’m done listening to you, kid. Time to take matters into my own hands!’ the man shouts.
Turbo looks at the gun anxiously, recalling the last time she tried to disarm a gunman, how someone ended up dead. But she doesn’t have to intervene, as Dalton whacks the aggressive man in the back, ‘That’s enough, pal!’ Dalton exclaims as he takes the man’s fun, and puts it in his jacket pocket, deciding to hang onto it, as having a gun might prove useful later on. ‘Just sit there for a while and cool off, man’ Dalton tells the man, before turning to Turbo and asking her if she is thinking what he is - that since those creatures disappeared, there must be another way out. But Turbo isn’t sure and replies that she thinks they should remain here and wait for the rescue teams. Dalton points out that it isn’t safe, as they have already experienced a second quake. ‘Who knows when another one will occur?’ he adds, before smiling at Turbo and assuring her that he can lead them out of here. ‘Trust me’ he tells her.
Meanwhile, topside, ‘Why can’t we ever just be off-duty?’ Namorita asks as she and the Human Torch drop down on 86th and Broadway, where rescue teams are in operation around the opening of the road that broke apart. ‘That’s not how the game is played, Nita. You know that’ the Human Torch tells her, suggesting they see how they can help out. One rescue worker is on the phone to the Mayor, and announces that they don’t have an ETA yet, but are doing the best they can. He adds that the people below are in a very precarious situation. ‘We can’t move in our heavy machinery because it could cause another cave-in’ the rescue worker adds, before assuring the Mayor that he will keep him informed.
Namorita approaches the rescue worker and introduces herself and the Human Torch, before asking how they can help. The rescue worker informs the young heroes that there is an entire subway car sealed off, and at best estimates there are twenty people trapped, ‘And we’re having very little success getting them out’ he adds. The Human Torch tells him to leave it to them, while Namorita motions to a crowd that has gathered nearby, and people are starting to take photos of them. The Human Torch begins to use his flame to weld part of the sinkhole together so that there will no danger of another cave-in.
With the hole secure, Namorita uses her super strength to start pulling rubble away from it, in an attempt to dig the people out. ‘Hold that pose!’ someone shouts. ‘Are you getting this?’ another exclaims. ‘Go for the upshot!’ someone else tells Namorita, while another photographer boasts that this shot is going to buy him a new car. ‘Hey, kids! Bring your mother! You gotta see this!’ a man calls out, but with the cameras flashing in her face, Namorita gets annoyed. ‘Smile!’ someone shouts. ‘Okay, that’s it!’ Namorita shouts, warning the photographers and other people to move, otherwise she will drop the rock right on top of them. Everyone scatters immediately, leaving her in peace. ‘Much better’ Namorita declares.
High above the Earth, a large Xandarian spacecraft hangs, cloaked from all sensors and in a steady orbit. Inside the New Warriors’ hover pod, Speedball and Nova approach the spacecraft, with Robbie telling Rich that he is surprised he doesn’t come up here more often, that it is like having a summer house that you never use. Rich tells Robbie that it is no big deal, and adds that he is not just a member of the New Warriors, but a member of the Xandarian Starcorp. He explains that each member of the Starcorp has a specific sector that they have to guard, and his sector is the Terran Sector - Earth. ‘One of the perks is this Xandarian Cruiser, it’s basically just a floating office, though, really’ Rich adds.
‘Still, I’d be bringing dates up here all the time’ Robbie exclaims as they dock the hover pod in the spacecraft. ‘That’s a great idea, but it’d require you to get a date first, Toothpick’ Rich tells his friend. ‘That’s right, flatter me. That’s a great way to get me to go along with your scheme’ Robbie tells Rich, who replies that it isn’t a “scheme”, and that he just happens to think that a Warriors movie would be a big hit. ‘It’s a no-brainer!’ Rich adds as they make their way into the spacecraft proper, pointing out that they are the two best suited to write the screenplay. ‘Dude, people don’t even know who the Warriors are. The press can’t even get Bolt’s name right. You really think they’re gonna make a movie about us?’ Robbie asks.
‘You better believe it! And your Hollywood contacts are our ace in the hole’ Rich adds. ‘Hollywood contacts? You mean the internship I have at my Mom’s soap opera?’ Robbie asks, telling Rich to get real, and pointing out that if he doesn’t get his act together, he won’t have an internship. ‘I gotta stop ducking out for Warriors business’ Robbie declares. As Rich reaches a control panel, he exclaims ‘Oh no!’, so Robbie asks him what is wrong. ‘You were right about me not coming up here often enough. I’ve got a message from Queen Adora - that’s my boss - and it looks like it’s been here for over a month!’ Rich exclaims, concerned. He hopes it is nothing is important.
Rich activates the holographic messenger, and a projection of Queen Adora appears, pointing at Nova, she states: ‘Richard Rider…first centurion prime of the Starcorp of Xandar…you are in violation of Xandarian regulations’ the message begins. ‘What -?’ Nova exclaims, while Adora’s message continues, informing Nova that they have been monitoring his status and that he has been out of uniform for many cycles. ‘If you do not comply with the Xandarian dress code and reinstate your official uniform - we will be forced to take disciplinary action’ Adora’s message concludes. ‘Out of uniform? What the heck is she - d’oh! I’m an idiot!’ Nova exclaims, slapping his helmet. ‘Dude, what are you talking about?’ Speedball asks his friend. Rich explains that he forgot his morphing costume isn’t a costume - but a uniform! With that, Rich shifts his costume - uniform - back to the authorized version, and he smiles. However, he is unaware that on the planet Xandar, this is being monitored via cameras on the spacecraft. ‘Young Rider has overcome this hurdle admirably…now let’s just hope he can weather the coming storm’ one of the Starcorps officers declares.
Meantime, back beneath 86th and Broadway, Turbo and the civilians continue to follow Dalton, who tells them that he knows this isn’t easy, but that it will all be over soon. ‘Er, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded, honest’ he utters, before assuring them all that they just keep heading this way and will make it out of the danger zone. Suddenly, there is another loud rumble. ‘Oh, no! Another quake! We’re gonna die!’ one of the panicking civilians exclaims, while Turbo tells Dalton that he has to get these people out of here, and now. ‘Me? What about you?’ Dalton asks. ‘Just go! I’ll hold off the cave-in!’ Turbo replies as she releases turbines which blast back the falling rocks. ‘Let’s go people, stay with me!’ Dalton tells everyone. Turbo suggests they do as he says, and explains that she will cover them.
‘Talk about uphill battles - but I’ve got to buy them some time’ Turbo thinks to herself, as she places herself in danger, the rocks come spiralling down towards her, but she continues to fire turbines of wind at the falling rocks. Suddenly, a voice calls out: ‘Hey, lady - you gonna stand there all day? Let’s go!’, it’s Namorita, who helps Turbo fight off the falling rocks. ‘NITA! Man, am I glad to see you!’ Turbo tells her teammate. ‘Yeah, likewise. Now let’s move it before I rip my jeans!’ Namorita suggests, as they take flight down the tunnel. Namorita tells Turbo to follow her, as they have a command post set up in the connecting tunnel. ‘So, you got my distress signal?’ Turbo enquires. As she sees rescue workers up ahead.
‘Distress signal? No - we just saw a large hole in the street and figured something might be wrong down below’ Namorita explains, as they lead the civilians to safety. Turbo leaps into Dalton’s arms and exclaims ‘We did it!’. ‘We sure did!’ Dalton agrees, before the Human Torch approaches Turbo and tells her that Dalton told him about the creatures they saw, and that it sounds like they were Moloids. Johnny explains that the Moloids have been trying to find a new source of water for their underground home, and that they must have dug too close to the subway line. ‘Nice work, you two’ Johnny adds. Turbo smiles at Dalton, while Namorita frowns at him, and tells herself that something about him bugs her, but she can’t put her finger on what. ‘We really did it, didn’t we?’ Turbo grins. Dalton tells her that they did, and thanks her for trusting him.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, inside the corporate offices of Stark-Fujikawa, the parent company of Rand-Meachum. A security officer is doing the nightly patrol when he hears some creaking in the private office of Daniel Rand. ‘Freeze, you’re -’ the officer calls out as he enters and points his weapon, until he thinks he recognizes the intruder: ‘Oh my God! Are…are you the black Panther?’, but the teenager turns around, and after scattering various papers that are on Danny Rand’s desk, he replies ‘My name’s Night Thraser - and I must find Danny Rand!’
At Mickey Musashi’s Long Island apartment, Turbo and Dalton enter through the fire escape. ‘Wow…I mean, are you sure you’re ready for this, Turbo?’ Dalton asks her, pointing out that she has never told him anything about herself, and now she is bringing him to her apartment. ‘You proved yourself to me today, Dalton. And I’ve decided that I should be a little more giving to the people who are important to me’ Turbo adds, as she walks to her bedroom, telling Dalton to make himself comfortable while she chances. ‘Finally. I’ve waited weeks for this moment’ Dalton thinks to himself. He takes the gun from his pocket and tells himself that once Turbo is out of the suit, she is as vulnerable as the next guy, which means he can take the suit and collect his cash from Silvermane. Mickey enters the living area, and tells Dalton that she is sorry she took so long, but that this is the real her. ‘I am not going to regret this, am I?’ she asks, smiling, unaware that Dalton has the gun behind his back….


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
The Mask Behind The Facade
Gambit, Psylocke, and Betsy prepare to fight the Silver Samurai who has already taken out the Beast. Gambit informs the Silver Samurai that they were not there to fight, just to look, listen, and learn. Stoically, the Silver Samurai tells Gambit that he has never known him to battle, when running would serve him equally. Adding further, the Samurai tells Gambit that his fight, and that of his lord's, is with the females. With these words, the battle begins as Gambit, Psylocke and Betsy rush to the sword drawn Samurai.
Gambit taunts the Silver Samurai, jumping over his head. After landing, Gambit narrowly avoids a dagger, thrown by the Samurai. Originally intended for Gambit's head, it winds up hitting the right breast of the picture of Kwannon/Psylocke. Gambit notes how ironic it is that the Silver Samurai's blade would do what a lot of people would like to do to Psylocke now. Insulted, but not deterred, Psylocke attacks the Samurai, along with Betsy, both fighting in tandem. The two females simultaneously sink their psi-weapons into the Samurai incapacitating him. The Beast, who is just returning to consciousness, hits the Samurai in the head, shattering his helmet and knocking him unconscious. Taking stock of the situation, Beast apologizes to the other X-Men for missing out on the frolic and fun. As Gambit pulls the Silver Samurai's knife from the painting of Kwannon, he finds a scroll hidden behind it. Shocked, Betsy immediately recognizes it as Lord Nyoirin's diary.
In the Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan a limousine pulls up to a building called the "Cocktail Lounge". Shinobi Shaw phases through the door of the limo and does so again through the front door of the club. After walking through a room full of patrons, he phases through another door and enters a private dining room, where three members of the Jigoku criminal underworld sit and eat. Sitted cross-legged on floor cushions are Matsu'o Tsurayaba, Lord Tatsu'o, and Lord Nyoirin. Shinobi apologizes for being late, but Matsu'o dismisses the apology, telling him that they expect no less from an irresponsible, fledgling industrialist like himself. Dismissing the insult, Shinobi notices that there is no representative from the Hong Kong district. Nyoirin tells him that should the Mandarin be alive, he will claim it as his own. As it stands, the territory is best left unallocated.
With the meeting officially begun, the three crimelord’s listen to Shaw as he rambles on about how he would rather be left alone and not have to come to these silly meetings. Lord Tatsu'o becomes angry and grabs Shaw, telling him not to tell them that matters of clan honor mean nothing. Throwing Shaw across the table, he tells him how his own daughter tried to poison him and failed due to the intervention of loyal kin. He adds that ensuring their mutual well being is vital if they are to carry their tradition down to their descendants. On the floor and rubbing his jaw, Shinobi tells Lord Tatsu'o that he did not seek to disparage his family name. Offering his sincerest apologies, Shinobi asks if they can't continue.
At the home of Cyclops' grandparents Cyclops' Grandmother Deborah is shocked to learn that Cyclops let his own son be taken away to the future. As Philip Summers' tries to calm his wife down, he decides he needs a smoke from his pipe, despite not having smoked in ten years. Cyclops apologizes for burdening them both, but tells them he needed to tell them what happened. Deborah tells Cyclops how rough it must be for him not to know whether his decision was the right one or not. Cyclops then tells them how his son returned as a madman; a demagogue from the future named Stryfe. Stoking the fire, Cyclops tells them that because of his choice, his son became everything that he has fought his entire life to stop. As he about to tell them about Cable, Mike Milbury, one of Philip's neighbors, knocks on the door. Telling them that a tree has fallen on his shed, he asks to borrow Philip's chainsaw. Philip says okay and introduces him to Cyclops. Mr. Milbury says that they have met before, but Cyclops doesn't seem to remember. Pulling off his hat and revealing a diamond shaped mark, Milbury tells Cyclops that he was young... very, very young.
Back at Nyoirin's estate the X-Men are surprised to find that Psylocke cannot read the scroll because it is Japanese. The British Betsy, however, can. Feeling anxious, Gambit decides that it would be better to read the scroll in the Blackbird saying that a good thief never hangs around to count his purses. Psylocke agrees and turns her back to leave. Betsy seizes the opportunity to sink her psi-blade into Psylocke's back, saying that the answers lie here; in the mansion written on the scroll and in her mind. She tells the group that they will not leave until the situation has been settled. As Gambit asks Betsy to stop, she informs him that the only reason it hurts Psylocke is that she is resisting her psychic link. As Psylocke whispers no, Betsy asks why? Is she unwilling to discover the truth?
(flashback) Betsy tells Psylocke to listen to what the Nyoirin's scroll says. Nyoirin writes that Kwannon has not returned. She was sent on a routine assignment in Osaka days ago. Sources have informed him that she was seen in Hong Kong. Why would she go there? Was she there of her own free will or was she abducted?
Through the words on the scroll, and through Psylocke's telepathically broadcasted thoughts, the X-Men see the past. They see Kwannon's past. On the docks of Osaka, where she was sent by Lord Nyoirin to end the life of a shipping clerk, Kwannon stalks with her sword drawn. Instead of finding her prey she finds Betsy Braddock's body, unconscious from having just emerged from the Siege Perilous. Although still wrapped in her armor, her mind is fractured and her body battered raw. For once in Kwannon's life, instead of reaching out to kill, she reaches out to save and she touches Betsy. However, the touch was not merely physical, but spiritual as well. In Betsy's chaotic state, Kwannon's mind and Betsy's minds merge. Having lost all sense of self, Kwannon runs off blindly and unstable. Later she was found by Matsu'o, who used the Mandarin and the resources of the Hand to piece together the two fractured minds into a unified whole.
Going back to the text, Betsy reads Nyoirin's thoughts. He writes his disbelief that it is his Kwannon who is in the employ of the Hand. Yet, he notes the rumors of a British woman found at the docks the night Kwannon disappeared. Nyoirin's last thoughts in his diary are of visiting the sanitarium where the British woman lies and start finding out what truly happened that night.
(present)
Betsy removes her psi-blade from Psylocke's back. As Psylocke falls to the ground, Betsy tells the X-Men that Nyoirin found her took her in, and little by little helped her regain her memory. His motives, she tells them, was so that he could regain the services of Kwannon, a woman who was not only his prime assassin, but his lover as well. On the ground, Psylocke quietly whispers no.
With his head in his hands, Beast tells his comrades that the story does complicate matters, leaving quite a number of unanswered questions. Gambit chimes in with one, pointing out how British looking Betsy can read Japanese and Asian looking Betsy cannot. Betsy then says the only questions she wonders about is, why Psylocke chose to impersonate her and walk among the X-Men, impersonating her. Answering her own question, Betsy tells the X-Men that she is still employed by the Hand, and as soon as she is ordered, will betray the X-Men.
Back at the "Cocktail Lounge" in Tokyo, Matsu'o tells Shinobi that he thought for certain that Tatsu’o was dead when he manhandled him earlier. Downing a bottle of wine, Shaw tells him that it was just not his style. When Matsu'o scoffs, stating that he never knew Shinobi to have style at all, Shinobi angrily asks Matsu'o what he has done to claim the delusional title of "murdering artiste". Suddenly, the argument is interrupted when the Gamesmaster's astral form appears, telling Shinobi not to belittle Matsuo’s accomplishments. Looking up at the immense hologram that fills the room, Shinobi asks the Gamesmaster why he granted Matsu’o, who is not a member of the Upstarts, the right to kill Psylocke. The Gamesmaster tells Shinobi that when they asked him to arbitrate their ongoing competition, they never told him that he couldn't respect the carefully planned games of others. With this cryptic phrase, the Gamesmaster disappears in a flash of light.
Back at Nyoirin's estate, Psylocke, who has recovered from Betsy’s psi-probe, attacks Betsy. In full kick attack, Psylocke tells Betsy that she cannot stand for anymore of her lies. Gambit intervenes, using his staff to knock Psylocke to the ground. As Beast holds Betsy back from counter-attacking Psylocke, Lord Nyoirin and the Silver Samurai walk into the room. Nyoirin explains to the female X-Men that the answer to their little ongoing debate is as simple as it is obvious, they are really both who they claim to be. He tells them both are "Kwannon" and both are "Betsy Braddock". They essential question, he tells them is, can either of them ever truly become whole again, and more, do they desire to?
At Mr. Milbury's house in Alaska, Cyclops comes to try to help his Grandparent's neighbor remove the fallen tree. However, as he walks around the house, he finds not the elderly Mr. Milbury, but the villain, Mister Sinister. Taunting the X-Men, Sinister tells Cyclops that he has grown to such a kind man... but then he was a kind boy. Continuing, he tells Cyclops that the only tree he is interested in is Cyclops' family tree. Standing before Cyclops in all of his power and evil, Sinister he asks if Cyclops would prefer to join him, or will the Summers' family line end here and now?


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Life and Consequences
Psylocke and Gambit are entering the basement of the abandoned State Home for Foundlings in Sage, Nebraska. Betsy feels very sad for Cyclops that he had to grow up in such a lonely place. However Gambit doesn’t want to chat and tells her that he has seen worse places in his life, besides they should stay alert, since they are in the stronghold of one of their deadliest enemies, investigating a hint of Sabretooth, who is not the most trustworthy person.
Linked through Betsy’s telepathy, Rogue and Beast follow their exploits from the Blackbird. Beast, who is the current field leader, asks the two to stop their argument, as it is already difficult enough to sense everything through Betsy’s eyes. The two X-Men find a secret panel that opens a hidden doorway to an Mr. Sinister’s secret underground headquarter, exactly where Sabretooth told them it would be. Psylocke points out that recently Creed has been telling the truth, though they sometimes have been unpleasant and hard to accept. Yet remembering that Rogue has given Gambit the cold shoulder because of something Sabretooth said about her lover, she quickly apologizes to Gambit. Gambit in turn says he is sorry for acting so harsh, he just doesn’t like that Creed is staying at the mansion.  From his thoughts Betsy finds that there is more to it, as he is also concerned about New Orleans and his family. She doesn’t want to pry, but she has troubles to adjust to her full telepathy, which has been restored thanks to Revanche’s death.
Once Psylocke and Gambit begin to descend deeper into the lab, they are attacked by the Marauder Riptide. Psylocke is puzzled, not only because she can’t lock onto any mental imprints, but also because he was reported dead. Beast tells them that they should try to keep Riptide until Rogue arrives to help them - her invulnerability would be the perfect shield for his throwing stars. However Gambit says that he doesn’t need to hide behind someone else to handle this threat. He electrocutes Riptide with a non-lethal dose of electricity from his staff, which recently has been modified and upgraded by Forge. As rogue bursts in, Riptide is already lying on the ground, his skin rashing everywhere. Gambit thanks Rogue for her concern, though she coldly answers that she is just doing her job. Psylocke in the meantime investigates some of Riptide’s throwing stars and finds that they are actually organic, apparently hardened resin secreted through his skin.
The three X-Men proceed further into the base and when Gambit overrides a locking sequence, the entire wall before them melts away. On the other side they find the empathic mutant Threnody sitting in a chair. She is connected to hundreds of screens floating in the chamber, and welcomes the X-Men. Though she only knows Rogue, she recognizes them as X-Men and asks if they knew that opening the Tesseract release without proper back-up codes would trigger the internal security measures. Right on cue, several flying robots enter the room, but before they can attack, the robots fall to the ground. Rogue wonders what the heck is going on until Beast enters and explains that he pulled the plug on them.
Beast is happy to see that Threnody has recovered from her previous state. She explains that Sinister has stabilized the plasma build-up in her system, and she has learned to handle the depressions caused by her powers. Rogue asks what the cables attached to her head are for. Turns out that Sinister is using Threnody to control his data system and to scan for legacy infected mutants. From his data banks, Threnody has learned much about mutants, history and science. Gambit warns her that Sinister won’t give away such knowledge for free, but she says that he rarely shows up. She is using him as much as he uses her. Rogue reminds her that it ain’t that simple – should she ever want to leave, Sinister might not let her go. Threnody appreciates the concern, but she knows more than anybody else about Sinister.
To demonstrate, she shows the X-Men a second secret room filled with genetic material of apparently every known mutant. The Beast deduces that it must be cloning material. Psylocke agrees. They have always suspected that Sinister had the means to clone. This explains the recurring appearances of the Marauders despite them being killed in action, like for example Riptide whom they just fought above. Hearing about the battle, Threnody is surprised. She has online access to all systems of the base and did not know of the cloning chambers having been used – apparently a malfunction.  The Beast says that this malfunction explains his deteriorating skin, though Threnody says there is another problem. The cloning baths were designed in pairs, and if a Riptide was created his matrix partner was too.
As Rogue asks who that partner is  a half-formed Sabretooth attacks. The X-Men are kind of happy to let out their frustration of the real Creed currently living at mansion by fighting his clone, but to their disappointment it falls after only one punch from Rogue. This clone was even in worse condition than Riptide.
Beast says that actually they can to find out if Sinister had any data on the Legacy virus, but now discovered this cloning technology. The X-Men debates whether the lab should be left, because of its potential for good, or destroyed, because of its potential for evil. Threnody solves the dilemma by giving the destruct sequence command herself. The X-Men hurry out of the chamber containing the genetic material, right as it folds upon itself and implodes. Beast is worried about what Sinister will do when he discovers Threnody‘s betrayal, but she says he is gone so much it could be months before he notices. Threnody decides to stay, as she wants to uncover more of Sinister’s secret agendas. Beast and the rest of the X-Men reluctantly leave her behind though her argument to have someone on the inside of Sinister’s operations is too convincing.