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[Assistant]
Underground - part 2
(Hospital)
Hanna Levy welcomes Absolon Mercator from his sleep with a smile. Watching them through the window is Izzy Ortega and Absolon’s doctor. The doc can’t believe Mr. Mercator survived this assassination attempt. He received three shots to the head from a 40mm handgun at point blank range. He explains to Izzy that a projectile passing through the brain creates a tract up to three times the diameter of the bullet, not to mention secondary injuries from the shockwaves. Even a single gunshot could be expected to produce acoustic injury, facial nerve paralysis, vascular injury and cerebrospinal leakage. He places x-rays of Absolon’s skull on the lit display, and adds that, apart from a mild sporadic aphasia, Absolon appears to have suffered no ill effects whatsoever.
He shows Izzy what happened to the bullets. They seem to have stopped as soon as they entered his brain. An x-ray taken two hours later shows the bullets being spontaneously expelled. A third shot taken five hours later shows that the wounds are almost completely healed. The doctor says he has no idea what long-term damage their subject might suffer but, frankly, they have no idea how his brain is functioning in the first place. He’d love to keep him under observation. Mutants, he finds, are fascinating. Izzy responds, with a hint of sarcasm, that it must be so frustrating for him, what with mutants having civil rights just like the rest of us. Izzy heads into the corridor and calls Bishop. He wants to meet up, and doesn’t care how busy he is.
(Eleventh precinct, later)
Izzy informs Bishop of his findings in the Mercator case. He explains that rifling on the slugs reveal that this was a professional hit. He wonders who they know who might want him dead. There’s Shaky Kaufman, of course, but he’s a hair away from doing jail time. There’s no way he’ll risk drawing more heat onto himself. Bishop listens, but appears a little distracted. Izzy says that he doesn’t know who Bishop reports to, but he’s willing to bet that he told them that Mercator came close to blowing up a chunk of Manhattan into dust. “So who do you think gave the order?” Bishop doesn’t answer. Izzy adds that this guy saved his daughter’s life. He owes him. Bishop finally speaks, assuring Izzy that he’ll sort it out.
(somewhere in New York City)
Bishop arrives at a secret covert operations headquarters, somewhere in the Big Apple. Two security guards allow him in to see Alexei Vazhin. Facing away from Bishop, he asks him to take a seat and hope this is important. He’s had to reschedule a meeting with Homeland Security, and asks what the problem is. Bishop twirls his chair around and, pointing at his own chest, replies that, right now, he’s the problem. He shoves his face close to Vazhin’s, and tells him that he ordered the murder of a United States citizen. Vazhin, stumbling over his words, replies that Bishop made the report and, in it, he stated that Mercator is volatile, unpredictable and a danger to national security. He’s a rogue element.
Bishop grabs Vazhin by the throat and lifts him clean out of his chair. He is furious. He explains that he is a policeman. He works within the law. His remit, as previously explained to him by Vazhin, is to maintain stability in District X. That does not include the unjust and illegal suppression of so-called ‘rogue mutants.’ He warns Vazhin that if Mercator is harmed again, in any way, he’ll first go to the media and blow the lid off the entire operation and, secondly, he’ll be back for him.
He hurls his boss back into his seat and Vazhin clicks an alarm hidden under the chair arm. His security guards come rushing in, weapons drawn. They are surprised by these turn of events, and ask what they’re going to do now. Bishop stands behind Vazhin’s chair, and tells them that they’re going to fetch his gun, and then show him the door. As Bishop departs, he warns Vazhin not to mess with him.
Once he has departed, one of the guards asks Vazhin what they’re going to do with Mr. Mercator. He replies that they do nothing; they don’t touch him. They will maintain surveillance - end of discussion. Vazhin crams a handful of red pills into his mouth, and washes them down.
Once outside, Bishop makes a phone call to Izzy, but Armena is working at her computer, and picks up. She explains that Izzy is out and left his phone behind. Bishop is close by, so she asks him to come up and wait for him. Izzy’s gone to the park with the kids and Absolon Mercator. He won’t be long.
(Tompkins Square Park)
Izzy chats with Hanna as Absolon and the kids chat on a park bench. Izzy asks her how he is, and she replies that he doesn’t say much, but then he never really did. He’s still a little unsteady on his feet, but on the whole, she thinks his recovery is going pretty well. Izzy reckons his wife would call it a miracle. Hanna asks, “And you wouldn’t?” Izzy informs her that Armena’s catholic. His parents brought him up to be a rational humanist. He doesn’t believe in the supernatural. Having said that, he adds, there are times when nature can be pretty damn miraculous.
Hanna spots Gregor Smerdyakov in the distance with a group of people. “You know Gregor?” asks Izzy. Hanna tells him that everybody knows Gregor. He approaches Izzy and Hanna, and says hello. Izzy asks who the guys are that he’s with. Gregor says they are Tunnel Rats. That’s what people call them. They live in the tunnels under the city. The Tunnel Rats are clearly mutants and, without exception, look like they lead pretty hard lives.
Izzy enquires about the tunnels. Gregor explains that they’re old subway tunnels that no one is using anymore; service tunnels, things like that. Izzy knows that a few people sleep in the subways, but is Gregor saying that those people live underground permanently? Sure, he replies. There’s whole communities, but now the transit police are getting heavy with them and breaking up their homes. Izzy can’t believe this, and asks if they live there with children. Gregor wonders if he’s asking him as a policeman, but Izzy says he’s asking him as a father. He wishes to speak with them.
Gregor grabs Izzy’ arm and tells him that they are very sensitive about this. The police and social services take their children away from them and, although they are not bad people, and he shouldn’t really be telling Izzy this, but they have weapons. “Guns?” asks Izzy. Gregor says guns, yes, and also explosives.
(The Ortega apartment)
Armena and Bishop are sat chatting over a hot drink. Armena reveals to Bishop that Izzy feels responsible for Gus killing himself. Not only that, but he’s also frustrated that he wants to be a detective, yet he never has the time to study. This makes him angry, and their relationship is suffering as a result. She stops herself, and apologizes, saying Bishop doesn’t’ wish to hear about all this. Bishop is concerned and asks her to continue. Armena says she is worried. Izzy has all this rage building up inside him and, sometimes, she catches him looking at her, and she feels like he hates her.
Armena’s emotions finally get the better of her and tears begin to roll down her cheeks. Bishop quickly puts his arm around her shoulder, reassuringly. Outside the apartment, Izzy and the kids have returned. Esteban asks his father not to ring the bell. He wants to sneak up on his mom. They quietly enter and Chamy throws a toy bird into the living room as they try to surprise Armena. She is certainly surprised. As they enter, they see Bishop with his arms around her, and Bishop suddenly realizes how bad this looks.
“This isn’t… I was just… Armena was upset.” Izzy’s face conveys his anger. He orders Bishop out of his home. Armena stands, and asks him not to be so stupid. Bishop tries to say what he came here for, but Izzy isn’t interested. He replies that he’d like to talk to his wife. He can wait downstairs. He then turns and shouts at the two children to get to their rooms; now!
Armena tries to explain to Izzy that it isn’t what it looked like. Lucas was just trying to show he cared. Izzy reminds her that caring happens to be his job. Armena replies that he doesn’t seem to be doing that job too well lately. Izzy is becoming increasingly agitated, and the past few weeks of emotional turmoil are catching up on him. Armena says that all she gets these days is hostility. Izzy asks if she wants to know what hostility feels like and grabs her around the neck, shoving her against the wall. He puts his face right up to his wife’s, as tears roll down her cheeks. “This! This is hostility!” he cries, “Are you feeling it?”
Fortunately for Armena, Chamayra comes to the rescue, as her voice breaks the tension. Izzy releases his wife and Chamy runs to give her mother a hug. Izzy rubs his head, and leaves the room without saying another word. He wanders outside and finds Bishop sitting on the car hood. He asks Izzy if he’s okay, but he replies that he’s far from okay. Bishop tries to assure him that he wasn’t putting any moves on Armena. She was just worried about him. He promises it won’t happen again. Izzy says that’s real magnanimous of him; passing up having an affair with his wife just because he’s his buddy.
Bishop asks if he wants to hit him or what. Izzy asks what he’s saying. “I hit you and everything’s cool?” Bishop says he was just offering, but, without a pause, Izzy punches him in the face as hard as he can. Bishop isn’t really hurt and rubs his chin. “Man! You are mad.” Izzy walks away, and Bishop tries to persuade him to come back, but realizes it’s hopeless.
(Wildkat Club)
The newly refurbished Wildkat Club is lively, with several scantily-clad dancers performing on several stages. Izzy has bandaged his hand up. Bishop’s chin was harder than he realized. The pink-haired Lorelei collects a couple of glasses from his table, and he asks her if Lara the Illusionist is there. Lorelei goes over to her friend and informs her that the cop has arrived; the one she has the hots for. Lara goes over and sits with Izzy, who tells her that he’s afraid he can’t afford her prices. Lara says it’s okay. It’s her night off. Izzy just want to talk. Lara replies, “Sure you do,” before making Izzy see a more exotic form. She asks him who he wants to talk to. Izzy pulls out a photograph of Armena from his wallet, and shows it to Lara. “I want you to be her.”
(underground)
The mutants living in New York City’s underground tunnels, huddle around makeshift fires in an effort to keep warm. They suddenly turn in unison as a voice inside their heads calls them. Melek is calling them. Deep in his burrow, Winston Hobbes: the Worm, hears his voice. He watches as the underground dwellers answer Melek’s call. He does not join them. Even there, Winston is an outsider.
These people have no written laws. They have no elected leader but, if anyone speaks for them, it is Melek; the telepath. Melek stands on a stony platform, holding a crook and assuming the stance of a man who wishes to be heard. Mutants are lit by flaming torches as Melek begins his speech. He informs his friends that the so-called Social Services have raided their communities. Once again, they have taken children from them, and promise that the children will be returned when they leave the tunnels, and find ‘acceptable’ occupations. He tells them that they know how their song goes; they know how often their promises are kept. Their world rejected them, but they never leave them alone.
He continues to say that they will be back again tomorrow and the day after that until they have destroyed their communities. They could go deeper underground but, sooner or later, they will follow. He feels that they give them no choice. They stop running. Today they stand and fight. Melek informs them that he has already talked about this with many of those present. They know that explosives have been placed at strategic locations; junctions in the power lines that supply the city above. When he gives the command, those explosives will be detonated, and those who live above will know what it feels like to live without their machines; without light, heat, without power. They will learn how fragile the structure of their so-called civilization truly is. There is no anger in Melek’s voice, only the suggestion of an immense sadness. His eyes close, and the silent, telepathic command is given. “Lights out.”
New York City, a city inhabited by millions, all heavily reliant on electricity, suddenly goes dark. Nemesio is painting in his apartment when the lights fade. He wanders onto his balcony, and looks across the city as the snow falls. “It’s coming! He gasps.
Far below him, Winston Hobbes crawls from the sewers and leaves a trail in the snow as he approaches St. Jerome Children’s Hospital. It is a place where children with genetic disorders are treated. He sees his fearsome reflection in a window, before smashing through it. Nearby, a security guard descends a stairway carrying a torch. He is on the radio to his partner, Willy. He wonders what’s happened to the lights. He’s heard what sounds like a break-in, and is going to investigate. He asks him to send backup to records, if he hears him.
He calls out into the darkness, asking if anyone’s there. He tells the intruder not to be stupid. He’s in the records department and there are no drugs there; nothing worth getting shot for. He points his torch into the room, and sees movement. He calls for the intruder to raise his hands but, as Winston approaches, he gasps. In a flash, Winston knocks the gun away and grabs the security guard by the face with his sharp claws. The gun goes off harmlessly, and then all is silent.


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[Assistant]
Underground - part 3
(on television)
Mutant Town is a mess. Following a blackout caused by the Tunnel Rats, this section of New York City is in chaos. Looters have done their worst, and vehicles are strewn across the street, abandoned by their drivers who are oblivious to the Tunnel Rats’ concerns.
A Channel 4 news reporter, Marie, provides details on at least one brutal slaying that took place during the blackout. She is outside St. Jerome’s Children’s Hospital, in the heart of District X. A security guard was murdered, and the reporter is standing with Chief Randolph Esposito, 11th Precinct’s chief police officer.
Marie asks about the possibility that underground explosions caused the blackout, and if it could have been an act of terrorism, targeting the mutant population. Chief Esposito replies that any talk of terrorism is pure speculation. At this point, all they know is that the power outage can be traced to failures of supply lines in the immediate vicinity.
(The Ortega house)
Armena Ortega is having a drink and watching her husband’s boss on television. Izzy returns home and he looks depressed. She asks him where he’s been, and Izzy replies that he’s been walking. Armena shows concern, telling him she’s been trying to call him on his cell phone. Izzy apologizes, and Armena hugs him, pleased to have him home. However, she warns him that if he ever lays a finger on her again, they’re finished. Izzy promises that it won’t happen again. They hug properly, and their two children, Chamayra and Esteban appear. Chamy gives her father a big hug, but before Esteban can do likewise, Izzy’s phone rings. It’s Bishop, and he wants to see Izzy - in plainclothes.
(11th Precinct Station House)
Izzy arrives and says hi to Nancy who partnered him whilst Bishop was otherwise engaged. She offers a wide smile upon seeing him, and informs him that Bishop is waiting for him. She asks him not to worry about her, though. She has a rookie to take under her wing. Izzy wants to be her partner again when things are back to normal. Nancy strokes his chin with her index finger and teases him about being a detective. They seem very close.
Izzy finds Bishop in his office, standing over a map of District X. Despite what happened the other night, they’re cool, and Bishop immediately launches into his findings. Pinpointing locations on the map, he explains that there were three explosions that went off simultaneously underground. They took out the power lines at key junctions. It was a well-planned attack, calculated to cause maximum disruption. Izzy asks if he they know who’s behind it. Bishop offers him a fax which was delivered to City Hall that morning.
Izzy reads the fax. It’s from the tunnel dwellers, and basically explains that if those above ground continue to harass them, they have been shown just what ‘those who live in darkness’ are capable of. Bishop informs Izzy that the mayor’s preferred option is to go in with SWAT teams; clear out the tunnels and round up everyone who’s living down there. “No way!” Izzy replies. He’s heard that the tunnel people have serious weaponry stashed down there. If SWAT teams go in, there’s going to be a lot of bodies. Bishop agrees. He’s gotten a three-day reprieve to find whoever’s behind the attacks and bring them in.
Izzy suddenly notices the image of Winston Hobbes on a computer screen. A mutant witness has pointed him out as being the St. Jerome murderer. He is now their number one suspect. Bishop asks to see the crime scene photo’s, and tells Izzy that they need to speak to Nemesio Pietri. The artist painted the exact same person committing the exact same murder, and they need answers. Izzy says he’ll call his sister, Laline. She’ll know where he is.
(later, Nemesio’s apartment)
Bishop, Izzy and his sister, Laline, arrive at Nemesio’s, but find that he isn’t in. Laline produces a set of keys, which surprises Izzy. Laline asks him not to start. They enter, and find the place is a mess. Izzy comes across another painting, only this time it is of him, with blood on his hands. This symbolism doesn’t get past Izzy. He turns to Bishop and points to the painting. “Does he think I’m going to kill someone? Is that it?” Bishop asks him to check out another painting.
On a much larger canvas is a painting of Bishop, lying unconscious as the hulking figure of Winston Hobbes, also known as The Worm, stands over him. Behind Winston stands Izzy in the same trench coat he’s wearing now. Strangely, he has an enigmatic smile, as he sees blood dripping from Winston’s mouth.
Bishop tells Izzy that the future isn’t fixed. Izzy turns and says, “Isn’t fixed! You think I could…” He stops in his tracks, as he notices once again his wry smile in the painting. Laline appears, and informs them that Nemesio is gone, but he hasn’t taken much. However, there are a couple of things missing; some photos he always kept with him, and his Bible. Izzy wonders if Pietri could be responsible for all this. He challenged them at the gallery, and he wonders if this is all some kind of messed-up game he’s playing. Laline tells her brother that this isn’t a game to Nemesio. His visions are very real, and have come close to driving him insane.
As Bishop reaches for another painting, Izzy asks Laline just how insane he gets. Insanely violent? Laline replies that he only gets violent to himself, and he’s not going to blame this on Nemesio.
Bishop lifts the painting, which is another depiction of Winston Hobbes; this time standing over a frightened woman in silhouette. He knows they need to find Nemesio, but right now, this is the painting they should be concerned with. A crime soon to come? Izzy finds a frame nearby, though the painting that was in it has been removed. He wonders what it was. Laline doesn’t know as she never saw it. Bishop figures it must be important if he took it with him.
(the tunnels)
Nemesio is amongst the tunnel rats. It is another cold night, and many of them huddle around burning braziers to keep warm. Into the tunnel comes someone running fast, warning them to move it. The cops are coming. Dzemal grabs Nemesio’s arm and tells him he can’t stay there. The cops will beat him if they catch up to him. As they hurry away into the darkness, the cops are in hot pursuit.
“Hey, Chuds! Come back here! We just want to play,” cries one of the cops, waving his baton. Nemesio asks why they call them Chuds. One green-skinned mutant replies that it means ‘cannibalistic human underground dwellers.’ Didn’t Nemesio see the movie? He explains that they make up stories about them. They say they eat dogs and rats, and when they get really hungry, they eat each other. He assures Nemesio that it ain’t true. He ain’t never ate a dawg yet. He smiles at Nemesio; bearing two rows of ferocious-looking teeth.
The cops continue to smash everything in sight; food and drink, personal things and even children’s toys.
(later)
The mutant who spoke to Nemesio kneels before Melek the telepath. He explains that he’s seen the cops bust up his house, after he spent two weeks building it. They busted it into matchsticks. Melek replies that apparently they didn’t hear their message. This time, they’ll have to shout louder.
(11th Precinct Station House)
Bishop and Izzy are with another detective. Bishop asks what Winston Hobbes was doing at the hospital. Izzy replies that the only reason he can think of is drugs; but this was the records department. The detective asks if anything was missing. Izzy says there’s a lot of material down there, and so they don’t know yet.
Izzy asks Bishop if he thinks this incident was related to the blackout. Bishop feels it’s a bit over the top; blacking out half of Manhattan to cover up a burglary. Izzy points out that, whatever the reason, Nemesio Pietri saw this coming, and if he’s right, there’ll be another attack. Nancy pops her head around the door and informs ‘Detective’ Izzy that there’s someone to see him. It’s Mitya Smerdyakov. As he steps out with her, Izzy asks her to knock off the detective thing. Nancy says that sure she’ll cut it out - the next time she sees him in uniform with puke down his pants, hauling a semi-conscious 250-pound wino into the drunk tank at three in the morning… detective.
Izzy meets with Mitya, who informs him that her brother, Gregor, has gone missing. She explains that, last night, Nemesio came to their house, acting crazy. Gregor went out with him and never came back. He has been friends with Nemesio for a long time. She doesn’t know where they went, and is concerned that her brother didn’t take his medicine. Izzy knows what happens when he doesn’t’ take it. He has someone take down the details, and is then called back by Izzy to the chief’s office.
Bishop, Izzy and Chief Esposito sit around the television, watching a news broadcast. The presenter explains that another communiqué has been delivered by those calling themselves ‘Those who live in darkness.’ It promises a second attack on the city, after transit police raided a group of homeless people living in the tunnels. Izzy tells the chief that he thought they had a three-day amnesty. Bishop replies that there must have been a communications breakdown. The chief looks at the picture of Winston Hobbes and figures they can expect another blackout, and that means the possibility of another attack by this psycho.
(underground)
The tunnel rats are gathered around Melek, who has his hand placed on the head of a blue mutant named Ahmed. A female mutant is concerned for Melek, as this process will cause him much pain, and he is old. Melek continues regardless. Dzemal asks the green-skinned mutant he was with earlier what Melek is doing. He replies that they can’t get to the power lines. They run close to the surface and there are too many police watching out for attacks. Ahmed is a telekinetic. He and Melek are combining their powers to sabotage the city from long-distance.
As they begin to concentrate, Melek is clearly in anguish as their power extends to the surface in one concentrated effort. Their plan is successful and, above ground, circuits are blown, plunging Mutant Town once again into darkness.
(11th Precinct Station House)
The lights go out, and Bishop immediately calls for the cops to switch to their laptops, and to keep the monitors dimmed to save the batteries.
(the apartment of Millicent Ferrall)
Millicent is frustrated that the power has gone, just as the Ricki Lake show was about to start. A noise outside her apartment worries her, and she lights a candle. She looks through the peep-hole, but cannot see anything as everything’s so dark. A thump against the door worries her sufficiently, to make her call 911. To her annoyance, it is engaged. She tries to remain calm, remembering her training at work, and grabs some pepper spray and a panic alarm. She now wishes she’d bought the Saturday Night Special from Brenda. Walking back to the door, she states loudly that she’s been trained in self-defense. Her warning has little effect.
Suddenly, the door comes crashing towards her. As she rocks backwards, she remembers the important techniques she has learnt - eyes-groin-kick. Her training has never prepared her for this. Winston Hobbes comes flying at her, and she drops her panic alarm as she instantly recognizes him.
(later, 11th Precinct Station House)
A call is received about a disturbance at Millicent’s. Neighbors saw some kind of monster leaving the scene. It sounds like their boy. Izzy asks the detective taking the call if anyone was hurt. He replies that there is one female victim. The attack happened at least one hour ago. It’s chaos out there.
(soon)
Bishop and Izzy are at Millicent’s apartment, where concerned neighbors are awaiting news. Bishop uses a small portion of his power to create enough energy to light up the room. Izzy informs Bishop that they have a link. The victim was a child welfare worker at St. Jerome’s.
(St. Jerome’s Children’s Hospital)
Millicent Ferrall’s boss is woken, and seats himself behind a large desk as Izzy and Bishop arrive to interview him. He asks if it’s about last night’s break-in, and wonders if that could have waited. Izzy informs him of Millicent’s death. He can’t believe it, and wonders who could do such a thing. Bishop hands him the picture of Winston Hobbes. He recognizes him immediately, and says that God forgive him, but he hoped Winston would be dead. Izzy asks if Ms. Ferrall dealt with Winston. He replies that she was his case worker. Izzy asks him to tell them all about Hobbes.
Millicent’s boss explains that St. Jerome’s take in children who are abandoned by their parents, or by those parents who feel they are unable to properly care for them. They make no judgments, and try to treat all their children with the same care and compassion. That isn’t always easy. He continues to point out that they deal with some of the most serious examples of physical mutation imaginable. Winston Hobbes was the most extreme distortion of humanity he’s ever encountered.
(flashback)
A four-year old Winston Hobbes is brought to St. Jerome’s by his parents; themselves mutants with physical appearances that would have marked them for discrimination. They were homeless, and lived in the subway tunnels under Manhattan. Winston’s eyes were bandaged when they brought him. He was born underground and couldn’t stand the light. His parents left him there, and departed.
During his first night there, Winston escaped from the ward. He was found digging a burrow. He was actually eating the dirt; swallowing it. After that, people called him The Worm, though not to his face. No one was ever wantonly cruel to him. As he grew older, Winston became increasingly unstable. There was one incident when he was eight years old, when he left several staff members seriously injured. He is immensely strong, and his poisonous bite is potentially lethal.
Winston had to be kept sedated. He was transferred to a more secure room in the basement. Millicent Ferrall taught him to read and write, but his vocal cords were malformed, and he was incapable of human speech. When he was sixteen, he escaped again. He must have been tunnelling for years. There was a whole network of tunnels under the hospital. Security staff followed them until they emerged in the subway.
(present)
The manager concludes his history lesson by adding that they guessed he was trying to find his parents. He kept a picture of them in his room. It was the only thing he took with him. Izzy asks if he thinks he found them. Unlikely, comes the reply. His parents left the tunnels years ago, found employment and set up home, having another child. “But they didn’t come back for Winston?” asks Bishop. The manager replies that they were advised against it. Bishop asks who by. The manager says there would have been a consensus, but Millicent, as primary caseworker, would have made the final recommendation.
Bishop asks if this is all on file. The manager sees what he’s getting at. Maybe Winston blames Millicent for being abandoned by his parents. Bishop assumes that Millicent would have kept Winston’s parents address in her personal files. The manager confirms this. Izzy reckons they should pay mom and pop Hobbes a visit.
(underground)
Winston has returned to his home. He looks at a photograph of his parents and, like a lost child, he cries.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Underground - part 4
Bishop and his partner, Izzy, visit the home of Andrea and Walker Hobbes. They are the parents of Winston Hobbes, also known as the Worm. Walker is particularly hirsute and his wife has an overly large forehead, which clearly identify them as mutants. Bishop has taken a picture of Winston with them so that his parents can verify it is really him.
The Hobbes’ sit on the couch, and are surprised at the picture. It’s been so long, his mother had almost forgotten how he looked. His father asks if he really killed people. Izzy is afraid he did. Andrea feels that maybe they can still talk to their son, but Izzy says they could try that. “Sit him down with a plate of cookies and explain why you didn’t want him in their cozy new home here.” Walker thinks they should pack.
Outside in the snow, Bishop tells Izzy that he was a little harsh back there. Izzy points out that Winston was in St. Jerome’s for twelve years and they didn’t visit him once. How’s that for harsh? Bishop’s cell phone rings, and he finds his boss, Alexei Vazhin on the other end. He informs Vazhin that they’re sending the Hobbes to a safehouse. Vazhin asks about the terrorists, and if there’s been any progress. Bishop informs him that the transit cops are taking him down to the last underground settlement they trashed. If he can find the tunnel people, he’s hoping they’ll lead him to whoever is organizing them. Vazhin orders him not to mess this up. If there’s another blackout tonight, the amnesty is over. The tunnels will be cleared out by force. Bishop asks Izzy if he can handle the tunnels in a couple of hours. Izzy needs a shave and a shower, but he’ll be there.
(The Ortega family apartment)
Izzy returns home to find Chamy there. He asks why she isn’t in school, and she reminds him that it’s Saturday. He appears to have lost track of time. She explains that her mom’s mad at him, as he didn’t call. He asks where she is, and Chamy informs him that Abuelita Elisa is acting weird again. She’s gone over to calm her down. Carrie is looking after them. Izzy gets cleaned up, but only after taking some pills from a small medicine bottle hidden in the bathroom.
He enters the living room to find their mutant babysitter, Carrie, removing strips of skin from her own body; like a snake shedding its old skin. Izzy is annoyed, and asks her not to do that in front of the children. She apologizes profusely, and dashes to the bathroom to do it in private. Esteban thinks his dad is just mean. As Carrie continues removing the skin; Izzy knocks on the bathroom door. He has to leave for work, and he asks if she’s all right. She opens the door to reveal a new person beneath the skin. Standing before Izzy is a beautiful young woman. The transformation makes Izzy take a step back.
“Oh, you look…” mutters Izzy. Carrie says she looks human. She has done for a week now. She guesses it’s better than nothing. Izzy apologizes for what he said earlier. He’s been stressed out and has been up all night. Carrie tells him it’s all right - she’s used to it.
(later)
Izzy has hooked up with Bishop again, and they join the transit cops in one of the old settlements. Their flashlights reveal a scene of dereliction. They haven’t returned. The cops aren’t exactly big fans of the tunnel dwellers, and feel they deserve to live in filth. “They scavenge food from the dumpsters!” One officer explains that up in the world, there are official shelters where they can get food, clothes and a bed. If they ask them; they’ll take them there. “You’re a real angel,” replies Izzy, sarcastically. His partner, Eddie, asks Bishop and Ismael to be careful. The ‘chuds’ are pretty harmless, but he hears stories.
Bishop and Izzy stroll through the tunnels alone. Bishop lights up a painting on one of the walls. It’s of a group of people looking either dead, or dying. Nemesio’s been there. Izzy remarks that his outlook on life doesn’t seem to have brightened up much. Staring at an image of an emaciated person, kneeling in torment, Izzy wonders what Nemesio thinks is going to happen.
Suddenly, from out of the darkness comes a real scary face, baring two rows of fearsome jagged teeth. The creature charges Izzy, who falls backwards with shock. Several more of these creatures emerge from the shadows, and they look like they mean business. Bishop uses his X.S.E training to throw one off him and then unleashes a blast of energy from his hands that zaps another. Bishop then grabs one of the creatures by the neck, but freezes when he hears a voice inside his mind. “Stop.” Everyone else hears it too, and Bishop realizes it’s a telepath.
One of the creatures, who are actually tunnel rats, asks him who they’re looking for. Izzy replies that, according to their handwriting expert, they’re after a well-educated, middle-aged male who tends towards depression and megalomania. Bishop feels his tact will be more productive than Izzy’s barbed comments. He asks to meet the person who wrote the messages from ‘Those who live in darkness.’ The guy replies that Melek says he can visit him, as long as they hand over their weapons. Is that all right?
Soon, Melek is disturbed from his slumber by Sarah, who informs him that Bishop and Izzy have arrived. Joining his fellow tunnel rats in a larger room, Melek greets them both and introductions are got out of the way. Melek, it turns out, isn’t a mind reader. He can communicate with people telepathically over a limited distance; that’s all. Down in the tunnels, it can be useful, but with the advent of cellular phones, his abilities are fairly limited on the surface.
Bishop asks if Melek is the leader of these people. He replies that they don’t need a leader. He is just a spokesperson; someone to put their point of view across. Bishop adds that the bombs must just underline their point. The statute books list that under terrorism. “Bombs?” replies Melek. “No one here knows anything about bombs.” Bishop makes him a deal. It’s a one-time offer and won’t be repeated. He offers to give all the people there a chance to come up to the surface peacefully within twenty-four hours. They will all be safely accommodated and provided with emergency health care. Melek doesn’t find the offer particularly appealing. Bishop adds that, if they aren’t out by then, SWAT teams will move in and clear the tunnels by force.
Melek asks what will happen to the children. Bishop can only promise that every effort will be made to keep families together. Melek asks if he knows how many times they’ve heard that. Words, promises, assurances. Izzy points out that the media will be there this time. With the world watching, they should find that things will be different. Melek thanks him for the offer, and tells him he’ll talk to his people. Perhaps he can persuade them.
Melek puts his arm around Sarah, and informs Bishop that he’ll have his reply by tomorrow. He asks whether when, and if, they come to the surface, does Bishop plan on arresting him? Bishop truthfully replies that there were serious acts of terrorism. What happens to those responsible is out of his hands. He does, however, suggest that a further blackout won’t make things any better for him. Izzy adds one more thing. He mentions the two recent murders by someone from the tunnels. Melek knows of this, but says the culprit isn’t a member of their community. There are places deeper underground, and he can’t answer for whatever lives down there. Melek departs and has his friends escort the two cops to the surface.
As they depart, with Bishop lighting their way with a flashlight, he notices someone following them out of the corner of his eye. He asks Izzy not to turn around, and then suddenly lets out a burst of energy that lights up the tunnel. Their stalker turns out to be Dzemal, who covers his eyes immediately. Bishop recognizes him. Dzemal says he just wanted to ensure they got out safely. Some of those guys sometimes do bad things. Bishop asks what he’s doing there, and Izzy asks what he’s on. Dzemal admits that he’s been on quite a few things, but right now he’s on nothing. That’s why he looks so bad, he figures.
Bishop is surprised that he’s admitted to using drugs. Dzemal tells Bishop that he thought he could make something of himself. He informs Izzy that Bishop helped him. He was working for Filthy Frankie Zapruder; a stupid thing to do. He got him free of Frankie, and gave him some set up money. “So what happened?” asks Bishop. Dzemal asks if he means… why did he let him down? He bows his head, and replies that the money he was given was taken to his father, so he could use it to give up driving taxis, study English and get a real job, like he should be doing. But, he knew where the money came from. He could smell Frankie on it.
(flashback)
Dzemal is at his father’s apartment. He stands helplessly as his father rolls the money into balls and throws them at him, one by one after spitting on them. It takes a long time.
(present)
Dzemal continues to say that when his father had finished, he picked them all up and took them with him. The money his father spat on was no good, so he spent it all on drugs; Toad Juice, speed, coke - whatever was there. He apologizes to Bishop. It’s not his fault, but his father’s right. You can’t buy a life with dirty money. Dzemal disappears back into the darkness of the tunnel, leaving Bishop and Izzy to continue their investigations.
(later, the Hobbes apartment)
Bishop looks out the window. It’s snowing outside, and Izzy wonders whether the Worm will turn up if there’s no blackout. Bishop reminds Izzy that all Winston has cared about for years is getting back with his parents. Now, he thinks he knows where they are; he doesn’t think a few streetlights will deter him.
Izzy checks out the photographs on a nearby table. Andrea and Walker Hobbes are smiling, and with them is their second child; a normal healthy-looking boy. Izzy can see why Winston was replaced in their affections by him. They must have got lucky second time around. Human genes beat out mutant.
They leave the apartment, and head to their car. Izzy asks what happens if he doesn’t show. How long before they let his parents back home? Bishop is certain that Winston will show. Izzy tells Bishop that they can’t make a career out of this. If he doesn’t see Armena soon, she’ll forget what he looks like. Bishop reiterates that he’ll come. Izzy climbs into the driver’s seat, and Bishop asks him if he’s okay. He seems kind of tense. Izzy replies that he’s fine. He promises that, if he sees anything, he’ll give Bishop a heads-up, and then call backup. Bishop shouldn’t worry; he’s on it. “You won’t fall asleep?” asks Bishop, wanting a little assurance. Izzy says he’s got a flask of coffee. He’s good.
As Bishop returns to the Hobbes’ apartment, Izzy produces the bottle of pills he had earlier. He drops a few into his gloved hand. "I’m good," he adds, with a grin that borders on the nefarious.
(underground)
Nemesio Pietri is reading by candlelight when he hears something in the sewer. He extinguishes the candle, looks into the sewer, and watches the strange figure of Winston Hobbes making his way to the surface. Once there, he travels quickly through the snow towards his parents apartment; crying all the way. In the car, Izzy is too busy phoning someone on his cell phone to notice Winston passing right by. As Winston enters the cellar of the building, Izzy asks, “Hi, did I wake you?”
Winston flicks the switches on the electric boxes, cutting the power. In the Hobbes’ apartment, Bishop thinks it must be Melek up to his old tricks. He looks out the window and notices that all the other buildings seem to have power, so it can’t be that. He calls Izzy’s cell phone, but it’s engaged. He wonders who the hell he’s calling.
“Okay Hobbes,” says Bishop to himself, “Let’s do this.” As he turns the door handle to the apartment and opens the door, Winston’s hulking figure comes leaping at Bishop, toppling him and sending him crashing to the floor. Immediately, he bites Bishop’s shoulder, and he lets out a scream of agony. Instinctively, Bishop unleashes a burst of energy at Winston, who is thrown backwards. As Izzy continues his conversation, Bishop begins to stumble, and realizes that he’s been poisoned. “Izzy… where are you?” he mutters as he begins to black out. In the car, Izzy is wholly unaware of Bishop’s predicament. “I’ve been thinking about you all day, Lara.”


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[Assistant]
Underground - part 5
(District X)
It’s evening and the snow is gently falling. Ismael ‘Izzy’ Ortega is sitting in his car, chatting to Lara the Illusionist on the phone. He explains that he’s on stakeout but nothing much is happening. Suddenly, Bishop comes crashing through a window and into the street below. Izzy looks across the street in shock and hangs up. As Bishop’s body hits the street, Izzy immediately gets on the blower to central. “Ten-thirteen central! Ambulance and back-up to Two-Twenty Rankin Avenue!” He then dashes over to Bishop, who staggers to his feet. He asks where the hell he was. He tried to get through on his cell, and he asks who he was talking to. Izzy lies, and says it was Armena, his wife, before asking what happened up there.
Bishop explains that the Worm showed up. His bite’s definitely worse than his bark. He’s been bitten by some kind of soporific. Izzy helps him to his feet, and Bishop warns him to be ready when Winston comes down. He’s not in a good mood. Upstairs in his parent’s apartment, Winston leaves a trail of destruction, spurred on by him seeing the photographs of his parents and their ‘normal’ second child. Winston smashes the frames in anger and hurt.
Outside, Nancy pulls up in a squad car and asks Izzy what the problem is. The answer to her question appears in the doorway of the building Bishop just came out of. A fellow officer orders Winston to stop, but Nancy panics and just wants to shoot it. Winston sprints across the street, knocking them both out of the way with his bulk. Shots ring out, but fail to slow him down.
Izzy begins to give chase, but Bishop knows it’s futile. As Winston reaches the sewer, Izzy is still on his tail. He aims his pistol at Winston, who turns and looks right at him. Izzy realizes he cannot go through with it, and allows Winston to escape into the darkness beneath New York.
(later)
Izzy has returned home, and Armena provides a relaxing neck rub. She’s pleased he didn’t shoot, as he’s never had to resort to that before. Izzy isn’t so sure. Hobbes has killed two people, and he could have ended it. But, he didn’t, and he wonders what if he kills again. Armena assures him that he made the right choice. Izzy asks if it’s the right choice if he kills ten people… or a hundred? How many does he have to kill to make it the wrong choice?
Armena changes the subject, and informs her husband that the kids told her about Carrie. He really upset her. Izzy asks if he’s missing something here. How did the conversation change from not shooting a homicidal maniac to upsetting a babysitter? Armena climbs under the covers, and replies that he upset the kids too; especially Esteban. She thinks he needs to spend some time with him.
(the next morning)
Esteban is doing his homework when Izzy enters his room. He tries to engage his son in conversation, but Esteban doesn’t respond. Izzy asks if he’s getting the silent treatment because he yelled at Carrie. Again, no response. “Turn around and look at me,” he screams. Esteban reels in shock, as his father grabs the math book from him. He looks at the equations and tells Esteban they’re wrong. Esteban knows, so Izzy asks him why he does it like this if he knows. It’s easy stuff. “What’s nine multiplied by seven?” he asks. Esteban says he doesn’t know, and answers seventy-three. Izzy leans down next to him, and puts his face close to his son’s. He asks Esteban to answer him this one. “Are… you… stupid?”
A tear tracks it’s way down Esteban’s cheek and he tries to leave, but Izzy’s not finished yet. He explains that Armena wants him to help with his homework, so they’re going to stay there until he gets it right. Esteban folds his arms, defensively, and says he’s mean. Izzy is angry, and replies, “Yeah. I’m mean. Daddy’s a bad, mean, horrible man. Daddy made Carrie cry.” Esteban replies by telling him he made mommy cry. Izzy is surprised, and takes a step back. Esteban adds that she cries all the time when he’s not there.
Izzy asks if he wants him to go, and Esteban says yes. Izzy tells him he’ll pack his bags and walk out the door - then everyone will be happy. Esteban didn’t mean that, and Izzy asks him to make up his mind. “You want me to stay or go?”
Armena appears in the doorway and asks Izzy to stop it. She ushers Esteban from the room and asks how could he? She says that what he just did to Esteban was worse than hitting him. Izzy replies that he’s tired and stressed. He can’t do this right now. Armena holds up a bottle of pills, and asks if these help. Izzy tells her they do. A lot of guys use them as it helps keep them awake on night tours. Armena asks if a lot of guys leave a loaded gun lying around their house where their kids can find it.
Izzy isn’t in the mood for this. Armena reminds him that, if it wasn’t for Mercator, Chamayra would be dead! Izzy points at her, and says she couldn’t leave it alone. Armena then bows her head, and tells him she wants him to leave. He can’t be around the kids like this. Again, Izzy realizes he’s in the wrong, and puts his arms on his wife’s shoulder. He assures her he’ll stop taking the pills and spend more time with them. Good, she replies. He can stop the pills, sort himself out and then come back.
Izzy says that if everyone wants him to leave, he’ll leave. As he starts to walk, Armena asks, “Who is she?” He looks at her, but Armena doesn’t really want to know. She hands him the pills and, and Izzy departs.
(Eleventh Precinct station house)
Izzy arrives at the precinct, only to find Mitya Smerdyakov with her young son, Mikhail, waiting for him. She informs him that her brother, Gregor, hasn’t come home yet. Izzy had forgotten all about Gregor. He tells Mitya that he has to be somewhere, but he’ll make sure someone is looking into this.
Izzy enters Chief Esposito’s office, and his boss asks him what he’s doing there. He replies that he’s meeting Bishop. They’re bringing the tunnel people up. The Chief informs him that Bishop’s already there. He said for Izzy to go home. He isn’t needed.
(later)
A SWAT team commander informs Bishop that he has four full teams on standby. He has until 1500 hours to bring the tunnel people out before they go in. He tells Bishop that he should understand they will use lethal force if he feels his men’s lives are under any threat. Bishop understands perfectly. He notices Izzy’s arrival, and asks if he got the message. Izzy says he’s not needed; he got it. He asks if this is to do with Nemesio’s painting. “You think I’m going to get you killed?” Bishop replies that it’s to do with him. He can’t afford any mistakes here. The SWAT teams are itching to go in and shoot anything that moves. Izzy apologizes for screwing up last night, and promises it won’t happen again.
(underground)
Melek is informed by Sarah that some people are there to see him. He heads into the main room, and finds Dzemal standing next to a man and his daughter. Many other tunnel dwellers stand by to listen. Melek asks if they’re ready to leave. They need to be as far away as possible when they come. The man replies that some of them have decided to go up. “Up?” enquires Melek. The man says they can’t take their children any further down, and Dzemal adds that the children need light. Melek says they will take their children away if they go up, but the man feels they must take that chance. Melek accepts his position. Whether they go into the light or down into the darkness - who can say which is the greater folly? The two groups wish each other well, and Melek leads his followers into the darkness by torchlight.
(above ground)
Bishop introduces Izzy to Wilma Parks from Child Welfare. Wilma will be taking care of family groups with children, he explains. They shake hands before heading underground. As they venture deeper, using flashlights to find their way, Bishop tells Wilma that he’s not anticipating any problems, but there is one thing. If it comes up, the kids won’t be separated from their families. Wilma replies that she can’t say that. Some of the parents are likely to be addicts, or psychologically disturbed. The children may not be safe with them. Bishop tells her that what she says later, when they’re above ground is up to her, but while they’re down there, he suggests she tell them exactly what they want to hear. Wilma says she isn’t going to be intimidated. “I’ll tell them…”
Her voice tails off as the tunnel rats are revealed to be standing all around them in silence. “Exactly what they want to hear,” she adds, quietly. Bishop says hi to Dzemal who tells him everyone is ready to go with him. Bishop asks about Melek, and Dzemal informs him that he won’t be coming out. A few people followed him, but not many. He shouldn’t follow them. They just want to be left alone.
(elsewhere in the tunnels)
The artist, Nemesio Pietri, dashes through one of the tunnels, splashing through the water. He stumbles and drops his torch. He turns and sees the shadow of Winston Hobbes approaching. He quickly grabs his torch and continues at pace, frightened of being caught.
He emerges into the opening where Bishop is departing with all the tunnel dwellers. “Wait!” he cries. He tells Bishop he knows where the Worm is, and will take him there. Bishop asks Dzemal to go with Ms. Parks. She’ll take him up. He advises her to take it easy on her way out. The SWAT guys are on a hair trigger. He asks Izzy if he’s coming. Izzy recalls the painting he saw earlier of him with blood on his hands, but says he will.
As they follow Nemesio, Bishop lights up paintings on the ceiling. They are depictions of people fleeing; terrified. Nemesio says they’re only rough sketches. He has to work fast. He shows them into another opening and informs them that Winston’s been here. “You see, I’m never wrong,” he adds. “It’s just how I saw it.” Lit up by their torches, they see around a dozen tunnel dwellers lying dead; one of them with a dismembered head lying beside its body.


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[Assistant]
Underground - part 6
(New York City - the tunnels beneath District X)
Bishop, Izzy Ortega and the artist, Nemesio Pietri, have come across some of the Worm’s victims. Everyone there is dead, but Nemesio tells them he can lead them to the Worm’s burrow. Izzy asks if they should put out their lights so he doesn’t see him coming, but Bishop reminds him that Winston is used to the dark. It’s better they at least see him coming.
They come to a hole in the wall, and Nemesio removes a large piece of material covering it. The smell that emanates is appalling, but they enter the lair and discover what appears to be Winston’s home. It is decorated with furniture plundered from above ground, including a chair, table lamp and chessboard. It’s as if he’s been trying to live like a human being.
They discover piles of children’s books including The Cat in the Hat, Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh. Izzy figures they’re probably the books his parents read to him, before they dumped him at St. Jerome’s. Bishop shines his torch inside an adjoining room, and says he should take a look in there before he starts feeling sympathetic. Inside the room are the remains of several people in various states of decapitation and decay. “Looks like we can add cannibalism to the rap sheet,” exclaims Bishop.
Izzy covers his mouth as he feels nauseous and the smell is truly disgusting. Before they can look around the rest of the place, they hear a telepathic cry. ‘Leave her!’ it says; ‘Don’t touch her.’ Bishop realizes that it’s Melek, and he’s in trouble. They run through the tunnels and discover the Worm attacking Melek. His companion, Sarah, lies beside them, motionless. Melek manages to smash the Worm with his staff, and Izzy asks Bishop if he can’t just zap Winston with a power beam or something. Bishop replies that Melek’s too close.
Winston fights back, and Melek is knocked to the ground. Bravely, Nemesio steps forward and waves his flaming torch in Winston’s face. The intense heat forces him backwards and Winston’s light sensitive eyes are unable to cope with the bright light. Reacting defensively, Winston thrusts his clawed hand forwards, and it plunges straight into Nemesio’s chest. Izzy rushes to his aid, as Bishop takes his opportunity to attack.
A burst of power throws Winston flying to the ground, and Bishop stands over him, preparing to deliver the killing blow. Despite Izzy warning him about the Worm’s venom, he fails to avoid being caught by his spit, which splats into his eyes, causing him considerable discomfort. Winston then slashes him up the back, leaving Bishop floundering.
As Winston rises and stands over Bishop, he calls for Izzy to shoot him, but for some reason Izzy hesitates. He recalls Nemesio’s paintings, both of this event and of the one he painted with blood on his hands. He recalls finding Bishop with Armena in his arms, and his ex-partner Gus lying dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He thinks of his son firing the bullet that almost killed his sister. Izzy has to make a choice. He raises his pistol, and delivers six shots before being called to stop.
Winston Hobbes is almost dead. He leans against the wall, struggling to speak, with goo pouring from his eyes and mouth. He soon dies from his wounds. Bishop stands and asks Izzy to get the crud out of his eyes. Melek manages to come round, but he holds Sarah in his arms. She wasn’t so fortunate. He picks her up and heads for the exit. Bishop calls after him to wait, but Melek turns and asks what he wants to do. Arrest him? Punish him? Without another word, he turns, and disappears into the darkness.
Izzy goes back to help Nemesio who’s bleeding badly. He knows death isn’t far away, and he asks Izzy to give a rolled-up painting of his to Izzy’s sister, Laline. He’s sure she’ll get a good price for it. It’s his last work. Izzy opens up the painting and sees that it’s a painting of Nemesio being fatally wounded by Winston. Izzy asks why he came down here if he knew this would happen. “Why did you?” replies Nemesio. Nemesio’s face suddenly looks startled, and Izzy asks what wrong. “What are you seeing?” Before he can respond, Nemesio dies, leaving Izzy none the wiser.
Izzy blames himself for the deaths of all these people, but Bishop assures him this is all about Winston Hobbes. Izzy then bows his head, and admits to Bishop that last night, he had Winston down cold. He had him in his sights, but couldn’t shoot. He also admits that he’s never fired his gun outside of a shooting range. Bishop again reiterates that this isn’t his fault. He shouldn’t have involved him. Bishop’s used to this, and says Izzy is just an ordinary, decent guy who shouldn’t have to deal with this. He adds that he did good when it counted and saved his life. He won’t forget that.
He suggests that Izzy go home as he’s in shock, but he replies that he can’t. Armena threw him out. Bishop tells him any idiot can see how much she loves him, and will take him back. A tear edges its way down Izzy’s cheek.
(later)
Izzy is reunited with Armena, and that night they cuddle together as they sleep. How can this be so, when Armena subconsciously creates a forcefield when asleep? The answer comes in the morning, as Izzy sits up and stretches. His wife is gone, and lying beside him is Lara the Illusionist. She wakes, and asks if she should revert to Armena’s form, but he gently touches her cheek and tells her to be herself. No more illusions. She smiles and hugs him.
They head into the kitchen for breakfast, and Lara asks if he’s going to see her today. Izzy replies that he’s taking his kids to see a movie; to do all the dad stuff. Lara asks if Armena will go with him. He doubts it - just him and the kids. He pulls on his jacket and says he’ll see her that evening, if she’s not working. They kiss as he departs and, as Lara watches him head off, she offers herself a warning. “Careful girl. That guy is going to break your heart.”
(epilogue - flashback)
Izzy makes some notes in his journal. After leaving Lara, he stopped to see Gregor Smerdyakov. The transit police had found him. He must have been wandering around, lost in the tunnels for days, and he guesses he stopped to rest. As always when he fell asleep he put down roots. He’d done it a hundred times before. Izzy met Mikey, Gregor’s nephew, who was saying his goodbyes. He was reading his uncle a passage from Alice in Wonderland, and said hi to Izzy when he arrived. Gregor had fallen asleep one last time. With no one to wake him, he had become part of the flora in the tunnels. If the cops had tried cutting his roots, it would have killed him.
Izzy looked up at Gregor who was now a motionless living statue, with greenery blossoming around his appendages. Poor Gregor, Izzy wrote. He’s more plant than human now. He was even growing some strange kind of fruit. He offered to take Mikey home, and so he waved his uncle goodbye. Unseen by both, a bug enters Gregor’s mouth.


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[Assistant]
One of us - part 1
(Mutant Town)
Bishop is on the phone to a young mutant named William Bates, a handsome blond teenager with a poor complexion. Their chat is amiable, and Bishop’s okay to call him Billy. He asks if his parents are with Bishop, but he hasn’t been able to locate them yet. Billy kinda wishes he’d gone shopping with them. He could be checking out this week’s comic books instead of being where he is now. He asks who he’s speaking to, and Bishop offers his name. Billy’s heard of him, and figures this must be pretty serious. He asks what happens now.
Bishop replies that it’s up to him. Does he want to come out? Billy thinks not. Bishop then asks what’s happening here, and wants to know how it came to this. Billy asks if he wants his life story, but Bishop says he’ll make do with the edited highlights. Billy reckons there’s not much to tell. None of this would have happened if he’d stayed in bed this morning.
(flashback - Billy’s home)
Billy lies in bed. He works a summer job in the garment district unloading trucks and stuff. He knows this awaits him should he drop out of school. He doesn’t work weekends, but sets the alarm out of habit. When it beeps, he usually has to get out of bed to turn it off, as it’s too far away. However, this morning, thanks to some changes he’s been going through, this isn’t an issue. His left arm begins to transmogrify, becoming longer and altering its appearance, mutating into a gnarled form with long claws on the end of its fingers.
His mother opens his bedroom door, and is startled by his appearance. He quickly covers himself in his bed sheet and reminds her to knock next time. She almost saw him naked. She appears not to have noticed his mutated arm. His mother ushers herself out of the room, and informs him that, when he’s dressed, they’re having breakfast and going for a family day out to the mall.
Billy joins his family for breakfast. He lives with his mom and dad, and two sisters, Jordan and Natalie. His dad asks if he’ll be joining them today, but Billy replies that he was kinda planning some stuff. His dad fancies doing some shopping, and then maybe they can take in a movie and eat somewhere; maybe the Japanese place Billy likes. Billy picks up a slice of toast, as Jordan remarks that he’s going to see his girlfriend. Billy is speechless. His mom is surprised, and Natalie says no way; asking if she’s blind, or like… challenged. Jordan adds that she’s a mutie.
Billy’s dad erupts at hearing the word, slamming his newspaper down on the kitchen table. “A what?” Jordan produces a photograph of Billy and a blonde girl. His dad takes a look, and asks who she is. Billy replies that her name is Sylvette. She’s a friend. His dad asks where they met, but Billy doesn’t appreciate the questions. His dad reminds him how he feels about these people, but Billy clearly doesn’t see eye-to-eye with him on the issue.
His dad explains that mutants refer to themselves as ‘Homo superior,’ as in superior to Homo sapiens. They hate and fear humans, and think that they’re the next stage of evolution. Well, they’re not, he adds. They’re nature’s failed experiments, but that isn’t going to stop them trying to take the whole planet away from them. When they fight back, they’ll use their mutant powers to destroy them - maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day.
He asks Billy to think about the future, and the kind of world he wants for his children. Billy asks what if his kids are mutants. His dad doesn’t have a response for that. Natalie points to the photograph, and says that if Billy hooks up with that furball, they probably will be. He tries to get the photo off his dad, but he rips it in two, and tells Billy he is not seeing this person. Billy begins to sweat, and holds his forehead. Jordan looks at him, and immediately regrets bringing this out in the open. Billy leaves the room, and his mom puts her arms around his father’s shoulders. She says it’s his hormones. He’s seen how bad his complexion is these days. Natalie guesses these mutant girls aren’t that particular about zits.
As Billy makes his way to the bathroom, inch long needle-like protrusions extend from his ‘zits.’ He’s got to learn to control this thing, he thinks, as he looks at his reflection in the mirror. He touches one of the needles with his finger. “Ow! Man, that’s lethal!” His arm grows once again, and he rehearses a little monologue. “Homo superior. Yeah, right. Why not? This has to rate as a super power. Nobody messes with… The Porcupine!” He picks up a bar of soap with his extended claw, and thinks, “Yeesh! Gotta come up with a better name.”
He manages to retract the needles using will power, and then puts on some make-up to cover the holes. As he heads out, telling everyone he’s going to Mutant Town to see his mutant girlfriend, Natalie remarks that wearing her make-up is so gay. Her mom asks her not to use gay as a pejorative term. Some of her father’s best friends are gay. Natalie replies that he has one gay friend, and he only acts gay so he can hit on women without looking like some predatory sex-fiend. She asks Natalie how she knows that.
Jordan follows Billy outside, and apologizes for her behavior earlier. She’s sorry for the picture too, but Billy holds up his phone. He has the original. He touches Jordan’s chin, and tells her she’s still his favorite sister. “Like I have a lot of competition,” she replies with a grin. She tells Billy that Sylvie looks nice, and she should say hi for her.
(later, Mutant Town)
A bunch of guys are being refused entry into the Wildkat Club by the doormen. One of the group, PJ, asks a doorman why he’s wearing shades. Does he have some kind of heat vision or something? The doorman dryly replies that he’s got the power to beat him to a pulp without breaking a sweat. Billy passes by, and continues to the Café des Artistes. Sylvie is a waitress there, a young blonde mutant with an over abundance of hair covering her skin, and a long tail.
They’re not actually going out. Billy just got her to pose for a photo when he was there once. He says the place is quiet, and she informs him that the breakfast crowd is gone. It always gets like this. Billy likes her accent. She sounds like the chick in Amçlie. As two mutants leave the café, the guys who were rejected from the Wildkat Club enter and sit down. Sylvie goes over to take their orders, but they treat her disrespectfully, and make fun of the mutant photographs that adorn the café walls.
Billy makes his feeling known to them, but Sylvie asks him to cool it. She can handle things. It goes with the job. When one of them asks Sylvie if she ever works the Wildkat Club, and asks if she’d dance in his lap if he slips her a ten, Billy stands up and tells them not to talk to her like that. The guys turn to face him, and Sylvie tries her best to prevent a scene. Billy calls the guys morons, and says they’re going to apologize and then leave. PJ asks who he’s calling morons. He says Billy is no more substantial than the stains on his underwear.
His friend explains that they were just fooling around, and there’s no call for Billy to be getting an attitude. Billy replies that they don’t know who they’re messing with, and grabs one of them by the shirt. His friends laugh at the proposition of the slightly built Billy taking one of them on. Suddenly, Billy doubles over, and looks like he’s having some kind of fit. PJ is warned by one of his friends that he should let it go now. The kid could be a mutant.
Sure enough, Billy’s needles extend from his skin, and he grimaces at the as he stands upright. As he does so, the needles shoot from his body at speed, and the razor sharp weapons slice straight through PJ. He drops to the floor as Sylvie looks on in horror. Billy is also aghast. He didn’t mean to kill him! He didn’t even know he could do that.
(present)
Billy is sitting in a storeroom, chatting with Bishop. He adds that after that, things went crazy, but he guesses Bishop knows that by now. Bishop asks if he can speak with Sylvette, just to make sure she’s okay. Billy hands her the phone, but she’s terrified of him, and shies away. Billy assures her he’s not going to hurt her. She just needs to talk to Bishop. Billy gets back on the phone, and tells Bishop she doesn’t want to talk right now, but assures him she’s okay.
Bishop asks him to listen. He’s going to need Billy to send her out. Billy knows what fate awaits him should he do that. On the other side of the door are guys with flak jackets, CS gas and stun grenades. Billy knows that as soon as he comes out, they won’t be chatting like this. It’s gonna be yelling and shoving and he’s gonna be lying flat on the floor with a gun in his face with some cop slapping cuffs on him. Then, Bishop will come over and read him his rights and lock me in a cell. His life is over. So, if it’s okay with Bishop, he adds, he’ll stay in there a while. Above the café, a helicopter delivers a SWAT team. This isn’t looking good for Billy.


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Strange Bedfellows
A portal opens in the night sky, as Dr Stephen Strange, a.k.a. the aptly named Doctor Strange, emerges from it alongside a group of other mystics. He recalls the words of Captain America, instructing him to take the mystics back to Earth and see what they can do. Dr Strange decides that this is a rall order, and a broad one at that, but because Captain America gave the order, in the middle of the so-called “Infinity War”, he does as he is told. Arriving back on Earth, Strange thinks to himself ‘Hoggoth, we must look a weird crew - or at least we would - if everyone else on the entire Earth hadn’t been rendered totally immobile and probably insensate by Adam Warlock’s badder half, the Magus’. Strange decides that his group are every bit as weird as they look, and as the mystics gather themselves and check their surroundings, they find all the civilians in the area frozen in place, as they were going about their business.
Dr Strange thinks about his companions - Dr Druid, who at one time was a human test-pattern for Strange himself, and who has recently found a renewed sense of purpose, along with youth and restored hair. Agatha Harkness, formerly the most powerful witch in New Salem, she was also the governess of Reed Richards’s son, Franklin. The old woman is accompanied by her cat, Ebony. Strange turns to Wanda Maximoff a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, long-time Avenger, daughter of Magneto, and a mutant who has studied some sorcery under Agatha Harkness.
‘Wanda - where is Shaman?’ Dr Strange asks his ally. ‘He was right beside us when we all made the jump through the dimensional portal from Galactus’s ship, wasn’t he?’
Wanda replies that she hardly noticed, as she was so busy trying to get her mind around the scene she knew would greet them here. ‘But I don’t think anything could have fully prepared me - for seeing the world turned into a garden of inanimate statues!’ Wanda declares.
Dr Michael Twoyoungmen a.k.a. Shaman of Alpha Flight calls out from where he is examining some of the civilians. He reports that they don’t breathe, have no heartbeat, and that their skin gives under his touch no more than if it were marble. Dr Strange remarks that it is funny, for three of them have been medical men, yet in this situation, they might just as well be wandering through a museum. Addressing Druid by his given name, Anthony, Strange asks him what he is up to.
Druid is approaching a woman whose petrified body is on the road, looking in horror at a car that was approaching her. Druid points out that she could have been a half second from being run down when the Magus’s deep freeze occurred. ‘I know she’s only one of many, but I can’t leave her like this’ Druid declares. He explains that his magic is less spells than ritual, and explains that his heritage may allow him to tap into just enough innate power, but as he casts a mystic glow over the woman, nothing happens. ‘Celtic power works best in threes’ Druid points out. ‘Could a couple of you…?’ he asks the others. Shaman blows some dust onto the woman, ‘Perhaps I can persuade the spirits of life to reanimate her inert body… not quite. You said you needed three?’ Wanda turns to Agatha and asks her if she can help them. ‘I know so little magic - and my mutant hex power’s liable to do more harm than good’ Wanda explains.
Agatha replies that she will do what she can, but as she waves her hand in front of the woman, Agatha reports that it is as she feared, the woman’s mind is just as much “frozen” as her body. ‘Stephen? You’re Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. If you can’t provide our third part, no one can’ Druid points out.
Dr Strange stands before the woman, ‘Let the Eye of Agamotto now guide us to our goal…let the gaze of the all-seeing peer deep into her soul…’ Dr Strange chants. He begins to feel a strain, perhaps as great as any he has ever felt. But he won’t quit. He knows that Anthony Druid is a changed man, a caring man, and he won’t let him down, if he can help it. ‘Release this woman’s thoughts and frame from evil’s o’everweening might…that she may cast off deaths dark shroud, to walk forth into the light!’ Dr Strange chants.
Energy surges around the woman. ‘Dr Strange!’ Agatha gasps, and Dr Strange’s eyes suddenly meet the blankly staring orbs of the unmoving recipient of all their raging mystic energies - and he stops cold. ‘What’s wrong Stephen?’ Druid asks. Strange reports that probing the woman’s mind he could feel another presence, and if he went on, he knew he would kill her. ‘You must have sensed it too…some force is already helping her fight the evil that grips her!’ Strange tells his companions, before pointing to the sky, ‘Look!’ Strange tells the others. They all look to the sky, ‘Two moons! Identical to each other - heading toward each other!’ Wanda gasps as she sees the two moons converging. Strange declares that it is the Magus’s doing, while Agatha reports that she also senses a second, unseen Earth. ‘Nay, a duplicate of our entire universe - moving toward merger with ours’.
Agatha tells the others that when that merging is complete, there will be but one New York, one Earth one version of this universe, and in it, the Magus’s infernal doppelgangers will hold the upper hand, on his behalf. ‘Maybe so, but I’m still going to give helping that woman another try, on my own, this time. Who knows. I might get lucky’ Dr Druid calls out, before he notices something. ‘Look! Over there!’ he shouts. ‘That green-skinned humanoid - walking on thin air - what in the name of -?’ Wanda asks, while the green-skinned being, wearing a blue and purple costume, floating beneath the two moons tells the mystics that they may call him the Sleepwalker. Dr Strange informs Wanda that Sleepwalker is an alien visitor, maybe even an exile, on their world, but that is all the Orb of Agamotto has been able to reveal about him up until today.
‘Even that is more than you need to know! Do not -’ Sleepwalker begins, before Shaman casts a chant and sends a mystical energy bolt towards Sleepwalk. Wanda asks Miss Harkness if they should join Shaman in attacking the creature, but as she strokes her white cat, Ebony, Agatha replies that she doesn’t think so, as she can sense no evil in this “Sleepwalker”, though she does sense a swiftly rising animosity. Agatha adds that given his apparent power, this would make him a formidable opponent. ‘You dare raise your hand against me? That I cannot condone!’ Sleepwalker declares as he punches Shaman backwards. ‘Stop!’ calls out to Dr Strange as he rushes towards the quarrel. He puts up the Shield of the Seraphim between himself and Sleepwalker and tells Sleepwalk that he won’t find that as easy to pierce as Shaman’s defenses.
‘Ah yes - you are this astral plane’s Sorcerer Supreme. But then, I am not from this plane, so that hardly impresses me’ Sleepwalker replies. ‘Then suppose you tell me where you are from and why you are here?’ Dr Strange asks. ‘That is my secret, wizard!’ Sleepwalker replies as he lunges forward. ‘You look like one of Nightmare’s minions to me!’ Dr Strange calls out as he dodges the attack. ‘Nightmare? That shadow-skulking despoiler of the dreamscape?’ Sleepwalker replies. ‘Well, at least we’ve established that you know him’ Dr Strange remarks, before Sleepwalker exclaims ‘Know him - loath him - fought him!’ and tells Dr Strange that he resents his implication of any alliance between them. ‘Good!’ Dr Strange thinks to himself, pleased that he has managed to goad the alien into talking instead of fighting for a moment.
Dr Strange informs Sleepwalker that Nightmare is his enemy as well, before telling Sleepwalker that, if he doesn’t mind, he would like to show him something. Sleepwalker’s curiosity is aroused as Dr Strange’s amulet opens, and something pops out, immediately floating to rest on his forehead, becoming his third eye. Green energy pours from the eye as Dr Strange gazes at Sleepwalker, stating that the Eye of Agamotto shows him that Sleepwalker is telling the truth about his encounter with Nightmare. ‘You add insult to attempted injury - by considering for even an instant that I was lying?’ Sleepwalker retorts. ‘That was less for my benefit than for Shaman’s’ Dr Strange explains as Shaman and the others gather nearby.
Strange informs Sleepwalker that he and Agatha Harkness suspected the truth, but he wanted their colleagues to be certain. Wanda announces that she is convinced, and turns to Druid, ‘If you are, Anthony?’ she adds. Druid confesses that Sleepwalker’s appearance confused him as well as Shaman. ‘But - seeing the whole human race turned into statuary -’ he begins, before Sleepwalker reveals ‘Not just your species, mage, but all through this dimension. He adds that he can comprehend why they were distressed to the point of imprudence, as his own host upon this world has likewise been rendered in an immobile dreamlike state. ‘But I choose to say no more about him’ Sleepwalker adds.
Agatha Harness tells Sleepwalker that if he fells as benign to this reality as she suspects, then perhaps he can help them. She explains that a conduit is needed for the mental emanations of one called Professor X, if this universe is to be saved. ‘A powerful conduit, such as you might well prove…’ Her voice trails off as Dr Strange declares: ‘Do you not understand, Agatha? He’s already acting in concert with Professor X! Sleepwalker is the presence we felt earlier!’
‘This is true’ Sleepwalker confirms, and Agatha turns away from them. Sleepwalker explains that he noticed they were the only moving humans, so he came to investigate. He reveals that he had already opened his mind to Charles Xavier an hour ago. Through the mutant’s mind, and though the green-skinned alien flows the indomitable mental energy of Earth’s mightiest psychics - Jean Grey, Psylocke and Moondragon. The three women are psychically connected to Xavier, and thus, Sleepwalker, with the purpose of freeing the Earth’s billions from the mind-enslavement of the Magus.
Wanda suddenly notices that Sleepwalker is standing still. Agatha supposes that now that Sleepwalker knows they pose no threat, he is no doubt re-focussing his attentions to Xavier’s task. She adds that with Sleepwalker’s help, perhaps the brains of Earth’s masses can be stirred to telepathic resistance against Warlock’s darker self. Dr Strange points out that even if they succeed, they are only fighting a delaying action. He remarks that the real battle to the finish will be fought in the world of the Magus, and that they must soon leave to take part in it. Dr Strange asks his companions if they will forgive him if he takes a moment to check on Clea. He flies towards his mansion, and sees, frozen almost on the steps of his mansion, Wong and his fiancée Imei Chang. Strange notes their shopping bags and supposes that it looks like they were returning from doing some shopping for their approaching wedding when the Magus struck.
Dr Strange tells Dr Druid that he can understand his actions better know, as it is one thing to see people you don’t know in peril for their lives, but it is something else when it is someone you care about. ‘But you are this plane’s Sorcerer Supreme. You must watch over all your unsuspecting flock’ Agatha tells Dr Strange, who replies that he has not forgotten that, only, sometimes, the burden gets a bit heavier than usual. Dr Druid approaches the front door and assures Strange that Clea and Rintrah are all right. ‘In case you forgot your key, here’s the spare you told me to hand onto. We can -’ Dr Druid calls out as he is about to open the door, but Wanda suddenly tells him to wait, as there are still protective spells around the mansion which will knock him for a loop. Druid smiles at Wanda and points out that they haven’t zapped him so far, and suggests that they could be on the fritz, thanks to the Magus.
Druid announces that he will take his chances, but Strange tells him to stop, and reminds him that he had a certain ritual to recite before using that key. ‘Clearly in his well-concealed anxiety for your loved ones, he has forgotten that’ Agatha remarks, before pointing out that the door is opening for Druid, and as Druid steps in, he calls out ‘See, Wanda? Stephen? I told you there was nothing to worry about’, before he calls out to Clea and Rintrah. But, Wanda quickly tells Druid that there is something in the shadows, and an instant later, Druid and Wanda are knocked backwards by a horde of demons that burst forth from the shadows. ‘Are those…yours, Dr Strange?’ Shaman enquires. ‘Bite your tongue’ Strange tells the Alphan, before admitting that those minor demons look vaguely familiar somehow. Strange points out that they seem to be mute, not too big, probably not too powerful.
‘But I’ll say this - there sure are a lot of them!’ Strange exclaims as more demons burst forth from the windows at the upper levels of the mansion. Strange supposes that they are more of the Magus’s shock troop and casts mystical energies towards some of them, while telling his companions that if they don’t stop them, the demons are liable to harm some of the immobiles. Strange needn’t have played cheerleader, as Shaman leaps into action, the aged hero already proving that his power to harness the very elements against his foes is very much intact. He casts forth elemental energies, keeping the horde that attacks him at bay. At the bottom of another pile of deviltry is one who doesn’t stay down for long, and although she is surrounded and set upon by the lesser demons, the Scarlet Witch gathers herself and casts the demons back with a burst of energy. ‘On your feet, Druid!’ Wanda declares as Druid struggles to get up. Wanda tells him that her hex power doesn’t affect those things, so she had to use while little magic Miss Harkness has taught her. ‘Looks like you know more than you think’ Druid replies, as the demons are kept at bay.
‘Agatha - Miss Harkness - you just stay out of harm’s way!’ Dr Strange calls out to Agatha, assuring her that the demons won’t get through their human gauntlet, as he keeps them at bay with a mystical shield. ‘Really, my dear Doctor…I’m not completely helpless’ the old woman responds as she raises her arms, Ebony leaps from them, and energy bursts forth, keeping a number of the demons back. Dr Strange realizes has been caught being condescending again - not one of his more endearing traits. Wong and Imei’s motionless bodies are near Agatha, while Dr Strange turns his attention upwards, deciding that, all the same, they demons do keep coming. The demons leap from the upper levels and land around Dr Strange, and it makes him wonder whether that Sa’arpool in the basement didn’t spring a dimensional leak.
But as he observes the demons, Dr Strange decides that these are not the N’Garai, or even the undying ones, but just minor demons, hobgoblins and poltergeists, with delusions of grandeur. But, no matter how many of them there are, they are nothing. Dr Strange casts forth a huge charge of energy, not even bothering to waste any rhymed spells on them. He can knock them over like bowling pins without calling in big guns like the Vishanti. But Dr Strange doesn’t want to denigrate the others, though the others gather behind him as he casts up a mystical barrier, which the demons slam into. Strange knows that his companions have all got mystic specialities of their own, and the world is likely to need them all before they put the Magus away. But, this kind of demonic house-cleaning is Strange’s area, more than theirs, and he estimates that one more spell should do for his mansion what Hercules claims he did for the Augean Stables. He gets set to “let ‘er rip”.
But, that is all Strange remembers, as he is suddenly knocked back. Wanda rushes over too her ally, as someone with a blank-like face, and the same costume as Dr Strange appears at the mansion doorway. ‘Stand away from that fallen impostor, woman! So commands Dr Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts!’ the Dr Strange double calls out, while Wanda tugs at Strange, telling him to wake up. ‘The man who just zapped you - is you!’ she gasps. ‘At least, he looks just like you do did, back when you went for more of a super hero look’ Wanda explains, adding ‘And Heaven help us…he even seems to think he is you!’ Wanda alerts Strange, who looks up, shocked. The doppelganger strides forward, demons scurrying about behind him, ‘I don’t just “believe”, girl. I am!’ he boasts.
‘Sure. I get it. He’s one of the doppelgangers the Magus created to help in his takeover!’ Druid calls out. ‘Whoever you are, man - whatever you may be - keep your demon lings away from us - and everybody else!’ Dr Strange commands Dr Strange instructs his double, adding that he may even deem himself the “Master of Mystic Arts” as he once was, but now, he is Sorcerer Supreme. ‘You’ve given your orders. Now I shall give mine. TAKE THEM ALL!’ the doppelganger orders his demons, who leap forward towards the mystics. ‘Isn’t there any end to these things?’ Wanda calls out as she throws one behind herself. ‘I hate to tell you, Wanda - but the answer, for all practical purposes, may be no!’ Strange replies as he readies mystical energies, while Shaman and Druid take on some demons themselves.
‘Magic or muscle - we can’t keep this up forever!’ Druid points out as he attacks his foes with physical strength. Wanda remarks that if they retreat, the demons will spread into the world at large. ‘And I shudder to think what they might do to the helpless populace’, before a demon kicks her in the stomach. ‘If only we could reach the doppelganger!’ Shaman declares, realizing that he is the key with which they can re-lock the door. ‘Leave that bogus Dr Strange to me, Shaman’ Strange instructs his ally. He sees his brave comrades overwhelmed his sheer weight of necromantic numbers, he hurls encouragement in lieu of his bolts of bedevilment. ‘I’ll show him that the difference between “Master of the Mystic Arts” and “Sorcerer Supreme” is a lot more than just something to stick on a marquee’.
‘Speaking of “stick” pretender -’ the doppelganger calls out as he stands before Wong and Imei, holding a large sword. ‘No!’ Strange utters. ‘That’s precisely what I intend to do to faithful Wong and this luscious lady with him!’ the doppelganger exclaims. Strange knows that the scimitar which has materialized in his blue-faced double’s hand is the spitting image of the Sword of the Ultimate Shadow, a talisman that he thought protected by spells in his Sanctum Sanctorum. Dr Strange swoops down with all the speed his cloak of levitation can give him, and throws up a hasty seraphimic shield between them - but it nearly isn’t enough. As Strange’s body is between the doppelganger and Wong and his fiancée, the shiled stops the mystic blade from cutting though him, or his companions, like a knife through butter. But the magical pain is transferred through the shield into his innermost being - and his consciousness cowers dazed in some dark corner of his mind, suddenly afraid of the light. Demons scamper about on the ground, as Shaman, Agatha Harkness, Dr Druid and the Scarlet Witch lie motionless at the feet the of the Dr Strange doppelganger, who holds the real Dr Strange up in the air, and shouts ‘Dr Strange is finished! Long live Dr Strange!’