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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Insides
You recognize this human heart, don’t you?
It beats inside this body - which rests inside the perimeter of this bed - which lies inside this boarding room - which exists inside this building - which is built on land inside the borders of this province of Ontario, Canada. Everything is contained within something else - and occasionally, something inside needs to get out. ‘I gotta go!’ Adrian Corbo a.k.a. new Alpha Flight member Flex thinks to himself as he opens his eyes in the middle of the night.
He gets up, out of his bed and leaves the confines of his quarters in order to sneak down the corridor to the bathroom. He sneaks, even though no one would mind that he were going to the bathroom in the middle of the night here, as this is Department H, headquarters and home of Canada’s premiere super hero team, Alpha Flight. It is not Hull House, the strictly-ruled orphanage he was conditioned in as a child. Despite the fear Adrian feels inside about the trouble he might get into, he must go, so he does, unaware that this hallway which he stands in…has something else inside it this early morning as well.
Adrian screams as he turns around and see a large pink glowing “thing” behind him. He finds it monstrous, and screams again. It has one accusing eye floating inside its amorphous body, so Flex screams again. The eye is looking - he screams again, louder this time - it is looking at him. Flex turns and runs, for unlike his cocky brother Jared, he is not one to bravely face an adversary head on. He runs fast. After all, he has had a lot of practice running away. Adrian wishes that he wasn’t afraid, but he is. He hopes that when he glances over his shoulder it will be gone - but it isn’t.
It is a nightmare entity that has followed him from the dreams inside his sleep - to the reality captured by his eyes. It stalks him from the safety of his room all the way to the sterility of the men’s room. Leaning up against the door in his pyjamas, Adrian wonders what that thing was and why it was following him. He regrets not screaming for help, for now he is trapped in here all alone. Dr. Asadorian, the Department’s staff psychologist could have a field day interpreting the link between Adrian’s fear of late-night lavatory usage and his monster apparition sightings. But Adrian is afraid of much more than ridicule at the moment - he is afraid that the creature outside…might just get inside. It is a lingering fear from his childhood that will haunt him for the rest of this dark night in Department H. And suddenly, the pink glowing mass begins to seep into the men’s room.
Morning inside Department H finds the handsome Jared Corbo a.k.a. Radius up early. He is heading to the men’s room to take a shower - though one might even wonder why he would bother, since the force field that surrounds his body would never permit even a drop of water to touch him. But deep inside Jared, he feels that he must at least maintain the appearance of normality. Walking down the corridor to the men’s room, Jared passes Alpha Flight’s leader James MacDonald Hudson a.k.a. Guardian, who addresses him as Radius and asks him if he can have a word.
‘Later. I’m busy, boss-man,’ Jared replies without turning around. Mac catches up to Jared and suggests to Jared that he could just call him Guardian. ‘Yeah? You could call me Jared too, but you don’t,’ Jared points out. Guardian apologizes, and explains that it is just his habit to use people’s codenames, but that her will make a note to ease that off. Guardian points out that their fight with Mesmero obviously didn’t go well, and informs Jared that they are running some morning simulations to try and train through the problems they had.
Walking into the men’s room, Jared replies ‘Whatever,’ and tells Guardian that he will be down as soon as he can. ‘As soon as possible,’ Guardian declares, before asking Jared to tells Flex too as no one can find him this morning. ‘I’m not the little squirt’s keeper’ Jared mutters. ‘No, but you are his brother. As soon as possible,’ Guardian states once more.
Approaching the showers, Jared mutters to himself ‘Friggin’ power-hungry little -’ when suddenly, he sees his brother, curled up in the corner of one of the shower cubicles. ‘Hey! Doof! Wake up!’ Jared shouts. Adrian wakes suddenly, wondering where he is. ’Asleep in the shower’ Jared tells him, remarking that he has acted like a moron before, but that this is an all time low. Radius asks his little brother what the story is, to which Adrian explains that he was coming down the hall to “you know”, when he looked behind him and there was this big, weird glowing monster. ’With this gross red fried-egg eye’.
‘Oh brother, you are so retarded,’ Jared remarks as he interrupts his brother, telling him to shut up and take a shower then get to training, because Guardian is acting like a Nazi again. ‘But -’ Adrian protests, ‘Do it!’ Jared shouts.
Elsewhere inside Department H, Heather McNeil Hudson starts the morning by asking questions of Chief Engineer Su - questions about the new garments she wears when she assumes her role as Vindicator, certainly one of Canada’s finest super heroes. Noticing Heather is not wearing her new geothermal costume, Su asks her if she won’t need it for the training mission this morning. ‘You must have missed the part where I said I’m not putting it back on until the modifications have been made,’ Heather declares, reminding Su that she wants the head gear re-designed.
Chief Engineer Su replies that he doesn’t see the need for that, to which Heather remarks that seeing is a huge part of it, for even though she switched from glasses to contacts last year, they keep drying out when she is flying, so she needs something to cover her eyes. Heather adds that the headpiece is irritating, that it pokes her in the face when she turns her head to the side. Handing her battle suit to Su, Heather then storms off, declaring that Department H is supposed to be support for Alpha Flight - now the other way around. ‘When did this hydra grow so many ugly heads?’ she mutters.
One question spawns many inside the esteemed former leader of Alpha Flight, and inside her quarters she uses the Department computer to search “Beta Flight”, after seeing a Beta Flight wing several weeks ago. However, the computer’s response is “Access Denied”. Heather makes her way to General Clarke’s office, where she asks his personal secretary for information. But Clarke’s secretary replies that she cannot get into the Beta files without his permission - even for Alphans.
Heather asks the secretary if she can tell her where Puck is then, to which the secretary replies that he was sent out on a mission. Suddenly, Guardian steps towards Heather and informs her that Puck should be back soon. Heather is surprised to see her estranged and de-aged husband, who then asks her if they can talk outside for a moment.
Shortly, Heather and Mac walk side by side on the grounds of Department H, and Heather remarks that it is so claustrophobic inside that she forgets how nice it is just outside the door. Mac agrees, and tells Heather that they have to work on remembering more. ‘That sounds like an opening line’ Heather replies. Mac admits to Heather that he has been avoiding the issue between them, and tells her that it isn’t because he doesn’t think about her. They sit down under a large tree, and Mac reveals that he thinks about Heather a lot - only that when the Department regressed him to 19 years old, he had to relearn half of his life.
Mac explains that everything he remembers is like something he has been told more than something he has actually done. Eyes closed, he tells Heather that it is like he has never been on a real date with her, never kissed her…never ‘A lot of things’. He points out then Heather is here, telling him that he is her husband. Mac is about to say something else, when a strong French-Canadian accent interrupts them. ‘Allo!’ exclaims the extremely scantily clad Arlette “Murmur” Truffaut as she stands in front of her teammates in a bikini. Arlette smiles and exclaims that she hope she isn’t interrupting anything important.
Arlette continues, informing Heather and Mac that she was out for a swim in the lake and that it was magnificent. She asks them if she can join them here to enjoy the sun, commenting on how rare it is to have sun at this time of the year. Mac informs Murmur that he and Heather were actually in the middle of something, but that doesn’t seem to deter the sultry new Alphan as she tells Mac, addressing him as James, that in their session this morning she would like him to have a look at her form on the hold he has taught her.
‘Hold?’ Mac asks, trying not to look to hard at her. Arlette begins to explain the move that he showed her last time, when he interrupts, informing her that they will look at it later, but for now, she will have to excuse them. Mac grabs Heather and takes to the skies, surprising Heather and annoying Murmur, who calls after him that there is always later.
Landing on top of Department H, Mac tells Heather that what he was trying to say is that he is attracted to her - very attracted. However, he points out that he needs to get to know her again, and asks if they could take this slowly, maybe date for a while then - Heather interrupts, ‘Date?’ she asks, before reminding Mac that he is her husband. She remarks that it would be easy if couples had to deal with one persons emotions, but that she has her own feelings about the two of them - including one that says he might not even be the man she loves…loved.
Mac puts his hands on his hips and tells Heather that what he remembers of her, whether real memories or ones someone created for him, is that she is understanding and compassionate. He informs her that he needs that from her now. ‘Please’. Suddenly, ‘What the -?’ exclaims Heather as she looks over Mac’s shoulder and sees the mysterious pink glowing mass seep up through a ventilation grate. Heather points at it and asks Mac if he sees it.
Heather starts over to the grate, when Mac pulls her back, telling her not to run away from him - ‘From us,’ with that, Mac plants his lips on a very surprised Heather’s.
‘All right, he finally kissed her!’ exclaims someone in the mysterious monitoring sector of Department H. ‘About time, I was getting tired of watching,’ someone else remarks as they both sit in front of several television screens. Other screens show Murmur walking off into the woods, and Jared still in the bathroom, combing his hair. One of the men remarks that except for “the French chick” there is not much action in this bunch. ‘If you know what I mean’.
‘I believe I do!’ exclaims General Jeremy Clarke as he enters the room, telling the men that he is certain that is not what they are paid to do as monitors for the Department. ‘General Clarke! We were just…just’ one of the men exclaims trying to make an excuse. ‘Just about to get fired?’ suggests Clarke. Clarke informs the men that a number of security breaches have come to his attention, breaches that were not reported by his monitors - by them. He asks the men to explain to him why his new “harvest” Lilli walked out of her room and straight into the reception area with no one notifying him.
As the mysterious Alphan Manbot comes up behind Clarke and begins recording, one of the monitors informs Clarke that Lieutenant Oculus didn’t add Lilli to the tracking reports until today. He is about to say something else when Clarke interrupts, declaring that the he has already reprimanded Oculus, before telling the men to get this straight: ‘You are paid to record the actions of Alpha Flight. If one of them so much as sneezes inside these walls, I want video of their tissue hitting the waste bin’. With that, Clarke leaves, and Manbot lumbers down the hall behind him.
Meanwhile, in Combat Centrale, the state-of-the-art training facility for Alpha Flight, pent-up hostilities fine their way out of a slowly gelling team. Though you would never hear any of them admit that, for to them, this is a honing of skills and nothing more. ‘I’m coming for you, Flex!’ Guardian exclaims. ‘Me? Why me?’ Flex replies. ‘Okay, Sunfire, I’m me and you’re Mesmero. You -’ begins Radius, until Shiro “Sunfire” Yoshida, Alpha Flight’s ally, tells him that they should follow through with the training mission as it was assigned to them.
Heather, back in her Vindicator suit, announces to Manbot that there are some targets straight ahead of them, to which Manbot whirs and clicks before confirming. Guardian easily dodges Flex’s attacks, and points out to Adrian that he is just lashing out. He tells the young Alphan that he needs to concentrate and remember what he told him. Murmur approaches Guardian and reminds him that they were going to work on the hold that he taught her, but Mac tells Arlette that she needs to let her injuries from Sasquatch heal and that there will be plenty of time for her training later.
Manbot uses the powerful arsenal at his disposal to neutralize the targets, to which Heather congratulates him on his good work, before motioning to the second assault coming towards them. Manbot once more confirms this. Suddenly, Heather remarks that Manbot reminds her of one of Alpha Flight’s old members, Box. ‘”Box” is recorded as “container”. Was “Box” a container?’ Manbot asks. Heather explains that in a way, it was, for it was an armor system first inhabited by the charming quadriplegic Roger Bochs, and later by…’Madison Jeffries…?’ Heather exclaims, her voice lowering and eyes narrowing.
Radius has over powered Sunfire and has him in some sort of hold. Sunfire struggles and tells Radius to release him. Jared asks Shiro if he gives already, and exclaims that he knew Sunfire isn’t as strong as he, but that he didn’t know he was this weak! Shiro replies that he is not weak and that something is wrong with him, adding that he did not sleep well last night. Adrian over hears this comment and asks Sunfire if he also saw the energy monster, which pikes Heather’s interest as she flies towards them to listen in.
Sunfire tells Flex that he has no idea what he is talking about, but that his rest was disturbed by matters of his own, not by the imaginary beasts of dreams. With that, Sunfire begins to leave Combat Centrale, as Flex wonders out loud why no one believes him. Heather assures Adrian that she believes him and asks him to tell her exactly what he saw. Nearby, Guardian asks Chief Engineer Su how his readings were, to which Su replies that there was an anomaly in his coronary charts, and asks to see his monitor.
Adrian stands close to Heather as she asks him if he saw a monster last night, to which Adrian replies that he thinks he did, that he knows he saw something and he thinks it was a monster. He describes it as a big weird-colored thing with a red eye which chased him down the hall. He adds that he knows it might sound dumb, to which Heather assures him that it doesn’t, and reveals that it sounds like something she saw on the rooftop with Mac earlier.
Heather calls to Mac, who turns and looks at her and Flex. Heather informs him that Flex just described to her the same creature she told him about on the rooftop - energy form, red eye, everything. ‘Stop it, you guys are freaking me out!’ Radius remarks sarcastically. Adrian tells his brother to shut up as Heather informs the older Corbo boy that this is serious and suggests he take his mouth elsewhere if he cannot be civil. ‘Elsewhere it is - let me know if you need a spare monster hunter!’ Jared exclaims as he leaves Combat Centrale.
Heather asks Flex to tell her if he has anymore sightings, noting the time and place. As he leaves, Adrian replies that he will and that he will be in his room if they want to know anything else. Mac asks Heather if she thinks they are being invaded, to which Heather replies that it seems that way, but points out that aside from being chased and peeped on, this thing hasn’t posed much of a threat, whatever it is.
Heather reminds Mac of the Master scenario they were put through recently and suggests that it is not illogical to assume that the creatures could be of the Department’s design. Mac suggests that he will go and find General Clarke, to make sure they are not interpreting something official as something intrusive, before telling Heather that he hopes the two of them can talk some more later.
Elsewhere…you recognize this world, don’t you? Chances are that everything you know exists inside the atmosphere of this tiny speck of cosmic dust called Earth. Despite its relative insignificance in the Heavens, it does have a certain majesty…perhaps because of its geometric simplicity. To many world civilizations the circle represents the cosmos. To practitioners of magic, the circle represents the interconnected nature of all things. To mystics, the circle is cast in three dimensions as a sphere.
A crystal’s sphere which contains the secrets of the cosmos, of the world, and of everyone inside its undeniable gravity. All of which begs one key question…’What do you see, Ecliptic?’ the man known only as Scorpio, the leader of the newest incarnation of the Zodiac. The frazzled woman dubbed the Ecliptic looks up from her crystal ball and exclaims that she sees Paris, and explains that it is where the missing twelfth of their unholy constellation can be found. Scorpio declares that they will go to Paris and retrieve her - then, once complete, the Zodiac will rule the Earth as it does the Heavens!
Back at Department H - Flex believes in Heaven, just as he believes there are souls inside every living being, souls that call out to each other across the great void of life. Jared enters his brother’s room and sees him sitting at his computer. ‘Cruising the Net for cyber-porn, squirt?’ Jared asks. ‘No!’ Adrian replies almost defensively, before declaring that he is doing something important and tells his brother to leave him alone. ‘Whatever,’ Radius mutters, before informing Adrian that he is going down to eat, and asks him if he is going to come too.
Tapping away at the keyboard, Adrian replies ‘Later, I’m busy’. Jared doesn’t seem to impressed and asks him what he is doing, playing “Doom” or - Adrian suddenly interrupts him, asking him why he cares, and reminding him that he said the Internet is for nerds and geeks. ‘It is. What’re you doing?’ Radius asks again. Adrian reveals that he is putting their names on this adoption finder board, Adoption Uplink Network, as it is free.
Murmur suddenly enters Adrian’s room and putting her hands on Radius’ shoulders, she asks him if he is coming to lunch. Jared smirks and replies that he was, but now he is watching “Doofus” try to find their parents. ‘I’m going to find them!’ Adrian boasts. Jared exclaims that they had one mom and two dads. ‘Mine was a world middleweight champion, His was a stick of spaghetti’.
Arlette is intrigued. ‘You can find our parents on the computer?’ she asks wide-eyed, before exclaiming that Adrian must find her mother. Arlette reveals that her mother was a house cleaner who had a passionate encounter with Francois Truffaut. ‘The film guy?’ Radius asks. ‘The legendary film director,’ Arlette remarks, before explaining that her mother left her to Hull House when she went to find her love, Francois, but that she never came back.
Jared asks if they are supposed to believe that story, to which Arlette declares that it is true, and tells him that when Adrian finds her mother, he will see for himself. Adrian finishes entering Arlette’s name into the computer and announces that it is done, to which Radius asks if they can go and eat now.
As the three young heroes walk towards the dinning room, Adrian exclaims that it would be so cool if they could find one of their parents - or all of them. Jared declares that they can easily find Arlette’s dad, as he has been dead for years - all they need to do is find the right tomb! Murmur asks Jared why he is so cruel to her, as it is not funny. ‘I think it’s a riot,’ Radius replies, before telling the others that they are probably going to find out that their parents are a couple of test tubes in the Department H basement.
Suddenly, Flex shouts ‘Look!’, and motions to the large mysterious pink thing that is following them. Jared begins to tell his brother not to interrupt him when he is cracking on him, when he sees the mysterious thing also. Murmur asks what it is and Adrian exclaims that it is the thing he saw the other night. Radius begins running towards it, telling the others to not just stand their picking their noses, they need to get it.
Running behind Radius, Arlette asks if they should notify the others, to which Jared declares ‘No way! We’re Alpha Flight, lets just go pummel that thing!’ ‘Hey, wait for me!’ exclaims Flex. Rounding a corner in the hall, Jared exclaims that there is no time to wait, as this thing is moving at warp speed. He points out that it is heading straight to a dead end, which means they have got it cornered, but as the trio arrive at the dead end, they see nothing. Jared is confused, he knows it went down this hall, but where is it now? Arlette suggests that it might be in one of the rooms, but Radius is certain none of the doors opened. ‘Weird…’ he mumbles.
Where the creature went may be unknown, but where Eugene Milton Judd a.k.a. Puck went is still very much in his mind - though not for long, as arcane energies begin to pick at his thoughts, selectively uncoupling the neurons that make up his most recent recollections. He remembers being sent to retrieve his teammate Sasquatch from the Thompson River Canyon area of British Columbia where he was ambushed by Department H troops that had followed him. A moment later, Judd remembers being sent to retrieve his teammate Sasquatch from the Thompson River Canyon area of British Columbia. Another moment later and he remembers being sent to retrieve his teammate Sasquatch.
When it is all over, even that is a bit of a blur to you. After Judd is released from the mind-wiping device, General Clarke asks the diminutive Alphan if he is all right, and reminds him that he took a nasty fall from that flight platform. Clarke, still lying, explains to Judd that he was unconscious when they found him but that the treatment seems to have brought him around. Rubbing his head, Judd asks where he is. ‘The last thing I remember…I cant remember!’ Clarke informs Judd that he is back in Department H and suggests that he go and rest in his quarters until he is well.
Leaving the lab, Judd realizes that he doesn’t know where his quarters are from here, or where here is - or even who he was talking to. Judd doesn’t remember crashing, and figures he must have drunk a keg of Molson last night, after all, his head does feel like steamed asparagus. Suddenly, Heather walks up to Judd, and comments that he looks lost. Judd replies that he can’t remember where he was. Heather tells him that he must be tired from his mission with Sasquatch and asks him when he got back.
‘Mission?’ asks Judd, remarking that he feels great, except…suddenly, he remembers, and tells Heather that Walter broke out of his restraints and Clarke sent him to find Sasquatch, and he thinks he did find him - but now he feels forgetful, like the first day they came back to Department H. Heather reveals that she has had the same feeling a lot lately, like in the gym when they both suddenly remembered…’Madison Jeffries,’ they say in unison. Heather declares that she thinks it is time they had words with General Clarke.
In the dining hall, Radius, Murmur and Flex have their trays and go and sit at the table where Sunfire is eating his meal. ‘Hey, Shiro, what’s happening?’ Jared asks. ‘Nothing’ replies the former X-Man, before warning the youngsters to be careful of the food, as it has not agreed with him. Jared just tells Shiro that he is probably sick over that beating he gave him in Combat Centrale earlier. Sunfire doesn’t tell them the real reason he is sick - he is too proud to admit that weakness is eating its way through his body.
Radiation poisoning is such an ugly way to die - but Shiro will suffer it like a true warriors of the clan Yoshida. Arlette asks Sunfire if they may join him, to which Shiro gets up from his seat and tells them that they may have the table, as he is retiring to his room and doesn’t want to be disturbed. Sunfire is not the first of his family to perish this way - his grandfather was in Nagasaki during World War Two when the atomic bomb fell. He turned a blind eye to his pain and died quietly. But as Sunfire walks to his room, unknowingly followed by the mysterious pink thing, he wonders if it is wise to be that unaware.
Sunfire was always so quick to confront his attackers in the past that maybe this is what is needed now he thinks - a slow consideration of what it is that consumes him. For the first time since the doctors of Department H diagnosed Sunfire, he rolls up his uniform and looks in the mirror to confront the creeping black death which he feels slowly eating its way across his body. While Shiro secretly believes it will avail him naught, he silently resolves to go on fighting - because that is what warriors do.
Other warriors storm through the cavernous corridors of Department H as swiftly as thunder. These warriors - Heather Hudson and Eugene Judd - have once again grabbed hold of an elusive memory inside their minds that doesn’t quite click - the disappearance of one of their own - and a disturbing lack of acknowledgement of that disappearance from their superiors. Judd asks Heather if she think it is wise going to find Clarke in his laboratory, to which Heather reminds Judd of what Clarke’s secretary said - that he won’t be out for the rest of the day.
Heather points out that another thing she keeps getting interrupted before she can ask about - what in Hades is in that Beta Flight wing. She remarks that if Clarke has got other heroes in there, why don’t they ever see them training or at dinner, or even in the halls. She explains that they can ask about Jeffries and Beta Flight at the same time - kill two birds with one stone. ‘If Clarke’s a bird, he’s a big, ugly vulture, eh?’ jokes Judd. Approaching the door, Heather exclaims that whatever Clarke is, he better be in a question-answering mood.  The doors suddenly open and Judd asks Heather if she thinks they are expected, before pointing out that they can sneak in before the doors close.
‘Sneaking in is fine with me,’ Heather remarks, before muttering that her National-Level security clearance hasn’t been good enough to get her in there. But as Heather and Judd enter the doors, two Epsilons block their way, informing them that they need to turn aside. The other Epsilon explains that they are having trouble with the doors, before pointing out that this is a top secret lab. ‘I do know, and I’m a member of Alpha Flight, which means -’ Heather begins, only for Clarke to stick his head out the door and tells Heather that it means she still doesn’t have the proper clearance for this room.
Clarke asks Heather - who was once, arguably, one of the most influential and powerful people in Canada, no longer it seems - and Judd to turn around and step away from this door adding that he will speak with them later. ‘You’ll throw us a bone at your convenience? I don’t think so you arrogant little -’ begins Heather, when one of the Epsilons exclaims that he has fixed the door. ‘Close!’ shouts Clarke, who pulls his head back into the lab, just as the door slams in Heather’s face. Judd asks Heather if she saw what he saw, to which Heather says ‘Bodies in tanks? Uh-huh’ and declares that her list of questions grows longer and longer.
Inside the Dining Hall, some questions raised are answered. Jared sits opposite his brother and Arlette as they prepare to eat. ‘Hey, Jared! You look like -’ begins Flex, only for Jared to exclaim that he doesn’t want any cracks out of either of them, or else it is fist city. ‘You dish it, but you cannot take it?’ Arlette remarks as she looks at Radius, wearing a device on his face. The question goes something along the lines of “How do you eat when you’re completely surrounded by a force field?”
As Jared brings an apple towards the device which enables him to eat, he claims that he is just having fun when he hassles people, but that there isn’t anything funny about the stupid food converter he has to wear just to get his carbs. He adds that it makes him feel like the freakiest thing on the whole stupid planet, that it is like he has a big bug-zapper strapped to his face. Jared notices his brother and Murmur watching him and tells them not to stare, only for the frightened Alphans to get out of their seats and exclaim that they are not staring at him. Arlette points behind Radius and exclaims that the energy creature has returned.
Not moving, Jared says to the others ‘You think just because I look dumb I am dumb?’ and that he is not falling for that stupid trick, as it is the oldest one in the book - suddenly, Radius is engulfed by the pink energy creature. To the shock of his teammates, Radius is lifted off the ground, and Adrian exclaims ‘Murmur! He can’t get out! Do something!’ Wide-eyed, Arlette remarks that it doesn’t look as if it can be touched, and suggests that Flex might be able to cut through it with his metal hands. Adrian replies that he isn’t touching that thing as it tried to kill him last night.
Suddenly, the creature begins to carry Radius away. Flex and Arlette race after it, but it is fast. Adrian suggests to his brother that he try to push his way out of it, to which Radius exclaims ‘Duh, you moron, I can’t!’ With his hand transformed into razor sharp metal, Flex lunges at the creature, hoping that he is able to cut it. ‘You can’t even help yourself!’ Jared tells his brother, adding that he doesn’t need help, that he can get himself out of it.
Flex then cuts the pink energy form - but it doesn’t do anything. Arlette decides to try and command it, and holding her hand out to touch it she exclaims ‘Stop!’ but to her horror, the pink thing and Radius just pass straight through her body. ‘Aaaah! This sucks!’ Radius shouts. Flex urges Murmur to follow him, exclaiming that they can’t let it get away with Jared, ‘He’s my brother!’ Judd happens to be walking down the corridor and seeing the commotion, asks Flex what is going on.
Adrian exclaims that it is the monster he saw and that it has got Radius, who is trapped inside it. Arlette asks Puck to help them, as they have tried everything. Judd watches the creature and remarks that he supposes it proves Flex’s story was right, before suggesting to the younger Alphans that they see where the thing is taking Jared, only for everyone to see it enter Jared’s quarters.
Radius is thrown onto his bed, moments later the others arrive, but the mysterious energy bubble is gone. Flex asks his brother if he is okay, to which Jared snaps ‘I’m fine,’ and that he doesn’t know where it went, it just vanished. Judd asks if it was just a big energy monster that wanted him to go to his room, to which he jokes that it sounds like a cranky parent, and exclaims that this is a crazy situation. ‘This whole place is crazy!’ declares Arlette, before announcing that she needs to get some fresh air.
Occasionally, what is inside…finds a way out. You don’t always know how or why…just that it does. Arlette walks across the Department grounds and sees Guardian. Addressing him as James like she always does, Arlette calls out to him and informs him that he has missed all the excitement inside. She explains to him that Radius was “eaten” by an energy creature who him to his room then disappeared. Mac asks if he is needed inside, to which Arlette replies that it is over, before asking him what he is doing.
Guardian informs Arlette that he has got some things on his mind, and tells her that if Jared is okay then he will look into it later. Arlette puts her hands on Mac’s shoulders, telling him that he looks tense, she offers to relax his shoulders. ‘Uh…I’m married…I shouldn’t be…’ Mac begins, to which Murmur jokes that he did not marry Heather for another few years yet. ‘Besides, James, she is old. You are not. And youth is for the play!’ Mac informs Arlette that this is exactly what he has been feeling, like he should be experiencing life, like he is a young guy, but trapped in the life of some other guy and he cannot get out of it.
Suddenly, Mac looks shocked, like he cannot believe he said that. He adds that he supposes he doesn’t really have any friends here, to which Murmur narrows her eyes and tells Mac that she is his friend. Arlette then kisses Mac on the lips - the very same time that Heather flies towards them. ‘Mac, I - Mac!?’ He exclaims before flying off. Mac pulls away from Arlette, and calls after his supposed wife.
Elsewhere, inside Department H, Judd stands beside his teammate Sasquatch who is chained to a wall. Addressing Sasquatch as Walter, Judd remarks that there is something peculiar going on, and that he wishes Walt could still talk, because Judd has the feeling Sasquatch remembers what happened out there in the woods when he came to get him. Judd adds that he thinks he might too, but that it is buried inside his head and he cannot find it.
Judd remarks that he thinks he might be coming down with Alzheimer’s, adding that he is certainly old enough to, when suddenly, someone in the shadows informs him that the energy creature he fought was made by the Department, and that he should asks Clarke about Patrice Trask at the next Alpha Flight meeting. Confused, Judd calls out, asking who is there, but the voice just replies that they will talk again. ‘We’ll talk right now, bub!’ Judd exclaims, declaring that he is tired of all these mysteries.
Judd tells whoever is hiding in the shadows that he wants answers and that he wont mind beating them out of him. Suddenly, there is announcement over the intercom ordering all Alpha Flight members to report to the briefing room immediately, for a code A-1, national emergency. Judd thinks to himself that he has never heard of an A-1 before, but in that time he was preoccupied, his mysterious visitor has vanished.
Soon, Puck enters the briefing room, ‘You call an A-1, Clarke? What is it, the end of the world?’ Heather, Mac and the rookies are all gathered in the darkened briefing room as Clarke tells Judd to come in and have a seat. On the screen in front of them is a image of Wolverine - and Clarke tells Alpha Flight that it is with grave regret that he has to inform them that the time has come for Department H to reopen…the Weapon X Files!


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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The Weapon X Files
Have you looked over your shoulder lately, Heather Hudson?
She should, because no matter how much she might wish to ignore the world around here, she should never turn her back on an enemy. Or, for that matter, within Department H’s Combat Centrale, the state-of-the-art training facility for her team of Canadian champions, Alpha Flight, a friend. Not that it’s easy to tell your friends in Department H…from your enemies.
‘I will not be a part of this,’ Heather McNeil Hudson a.k.a. Vindicator, Canada’s finest super hero as she stands defiantly, arms folded across her chest. ‘Wanna bet?’ remarks one of the five bio synthetic duplicates of Heathers dear friend and former Alphan Wolverine. Heather swings around as the brown and yellow costumed duplicate of Wolverine lunges at her, asking her if anyone has told her she is beautiful when she is angry. ‘Anyone ever tell you’re sexist?’ Heather replies.
Heather’s teammates are all finding themselves dealing with one version of Wolverine or another also in this “Danger Room”. James MacDonald Hudson a.k.a. Guardian is confronted by Wolverine in the costume he wore back in his Department H days. “Wolverine” says to Guardian ‘If you really want to tangle with someone, why not try your luck against the Wolverine?’ Mac just replies by boasting that he doesn’t need luck to defeat him.
A savage duplicate of Wolverine from when he had his adamantium stripped from his body tells Jared “Radius” Corbo that he made a nice shot, but that he should make no mistake, for when you throw down with Wolverine you’re throwing - ‘I’m throwing up over your stupid lines! Shut up and fight me!’ Jared exclaims, interrupting “Wolverine”. Adrian “Flex” Corbo and Arlette “Murmur” Truffaut find themselves lifted high into the air by their opponent, the version of Wolverine in his classic X-Men uniform. The youngsters wonder how Wolverine is able to jump so high, to which their answer is ‘How? I’m the best there is at what I do’. The fifth version of Wolverine, wearing some civvies, is tussling with Eugene Judd a.k.a. Puck, and says to him ‘I like your style, short stuff’. Judd replies by telling “Wolverine” that it isn’t the size of the package, but the power of the punch.
Watching the scenario from the safety of the control room is Department H’s supervisor, General Jeremy Clarke, and Chief Engineer Su. Friends? Enemies? How can you tell? Clarke remarks to Su that they’re faring far better than he expected. Su agrees, and explains that customizing the Alphans training regiments based on Manbot’s performance recordings is building strong individual skill bases. Su points out that if the semi-organic Weapon X Synthoids were programmed for collective attack strategies, then he doesn’t believe they would be observing such high levels of effectiveness.
Clarke exclaims that he is most impressed with Radius, as he shows no fear whatsoever, and remarks that Jared may be in line for a promotion, or at least an augmentation. Su points out that Guardian appears preoccupied, as if he is battling some kind of internal psychic discord. Clarke doesn’t react to Su’s comment, instead he changes the subject by declaring that he is more concerned with Heather, as she is downright uncooperative. He points out that she is posing serious problems and that they may have to supplement her conditioning program, adding that she can have no future here if she doesn’t get in line soon.
Clarke makes his way out of the control room as he tells Su to bring things to a close, as he needs to go down and start prepping them for the mission - ‘Gradual revelations have to be sprinkled out gradually’. Su speaks into the intercom, informing Alpha Flight that the training session is about to be terminated, so they must advance to “Kill or be “Killed” scenarios.
‘All right! I can finally do some permanent damage!’ shouts Radius as he smashes the savage “Wolverine” to the ground. Radius reveals that he has a new trick that he has been waiting to try out, adding that it is called the “Nutcracker Special”, Radius begins to push his force field outwards, explaining that his force field is the cracker, and “Wolverine” is the nut! The move appears to be very deadly, and as Radius’ force field collides with the Wolverine synthoid, wires and bolts begin to pop out of “Wolverine’s” body.
Judd tells his “Wolverine” that they have just been play fighting so far, but as he flips the synthoid over he exclaims that now he really wants to know what he is made of. As the synthoid is flung towards Murmur’s opponent, Judd adds that he is guessing it is nuts and bolts and Duracell. Murmur’s X-Men “Wolverine” is ready to bring his claws down upon the sultry rookie Alphan, telling her that it won’t hurt - for long. But Arlette is not phased and wishes her opponent farewell, as Judd‘s move worked, sending his synthoid crashing into Arlette‘s.
Guardian informs his Department H era Wolverine that his error was in coming here, but that it is an error he can correct - easily, and Mac unleashes a powerful surge of electromagnetic energy on the Wolverine synthoid. Heather is concerned at her husbands actions, for he is acting like he doesn’t even know Logan, like he doesn’t remember they were the oldest of friends, even if it isn’t the real Wolverine.
Suddenly, the final “Wolverine” asks Heather if she is distracted, or if she is just wanting Mac to watch her die before his eyes for a change. ‘How dare you?’ exclaims Heather, furiously turning to “Wolverine” and using her geothermal abilities to literally steam off the lower half of his body. Heather asks Clarke if he is listening to her, and declares that she will not have the most painful memories of her life used as training fodder. ‘That is sick! Sick!’
Standing on the edge of Combat Centrale, with Su at his side, General Clarke replies ‘Perhaps…but I’ve never seen you so committed to a training scenario!’ ‘You should be committed!’ Heather snaps back before asking Clarke if Alpha Flight is about ends justifying any means now. She asks if she is supposed to melt the flesh of all her enemies in the field now, or just the ones that have been her friends for years. Heather adds that, furthermore, this isn’t training, but a waste of tax dollars. She points out that it is not effective because it is not Wolverine, therefore it teaches nothing about defeating Logan.
Chief Engineer Su pipes up and informs everyone that, actually, the Synthoids are highly representative and that great lengths were taken to ensure that their individual combat personalities would match all available data on Weapon X. He is about to say something else, when Heather narrows her eyes and tells Su that, for a bright man, he isn’t very smart. Heather declares that what makes Wolverine dangerous is his mind, not his powers or his fighting skills, and that there is no way to recreate that in this environment.
Before Heather can continue, Arlette loudly asks Mac if he is hurt. Heather turns to her estranged husband and watches Arlette put her hand on Mac’s neck as she points out that he is bleeding. ‘Oooh! Poor thing!’ Murmur exclaims. Mac replies that it is nothing, just a little cut, as he got too close to the first claw. Heather begins to storm out of Combat Centrale, telling Clarke that she has had enough of this - all of this. She reminds Clarke that she has said it before and will say it again - ‘I want nothing to do with your little mission. You want to capture “Weapon X” you go on right ahead. But you’ll do it without me’.
Walking swiftly through the Department H corridors, Heather feels good about her defiance, almost like she is gaining control of her life once more. Almost. Heather is in disbelief, she cannot believe that the little hussy Murmur would rub herself up against Mac seconds after they started patching up their strained relationship. Not to mention that Mac just stands there taking it in front of her, blank faced. Heather wonders what that big rooftop proclamation of love was all about if Mac is just going to follow it up by playing the field with one of his own teammates.
Heather doesn’t notice the strange humming noise beside her, nor the pink glow behind her as she puts a hand to her head and thinks that she has got to get a hold of herself, for she feels like she is losing her mind at a time when she needs very much to keep her wits about her. Has Heather looked over her shoulder lately? The question was asked, but she never answered. And suddenly, she finds herself engulfed by the strange pink energy creature. Heather remembers seeing this on the rooftop when she was with Mac, and struggles to break free, but it begins to carry her along the hallway. Just because you ignore something does not mean it is going to go away….
General Clarke knows that to be true, that’s why he doesn’t ignore his problems, he integrates them directly into his cover stories. Clarke stands before the remaining five Alphans and tells them that Vindicator is partially right, that they all do need to know more about Weapon X - much more. Clarke tells the rookies that because of Guardian’s experiences, Mac is just the person to lead that background discovery. Clarke announces that they will determine proper security coverage and prepare some visuals, then they can all reconvene in the media room following their weekly medical work ups.
Clarke notices Judd leaving the training room and asks him where he is going. Judd explains that he is going to check up on Heather, make sure she is okay. ‘Seems like someone should’. Angrily, Clarke tells Judd that it will have to wait as they are in an official meeting. Clarke informs Judd that he can check on Heather during Mac’s briefing, for there is nothing about the Weapon X situation that he doesn’t know already, as he was there for most of it. Judd doesn’t face Clarke as he remarks that he has never been the sort to be told what to do. ‘I’ll be back…maybe,’ he says as he enters the hall. Puck’s heart may be in the right place, but his teammate isn’t. ‘Heather…?’ Judd calls down the hall. But Heather is gone, and Judd is left with empty halls and questions.
Empty halls and questions are a combination in no short supply within Department H this day. In the Helios Project lab, Shiro “Sunfire “Yashida” cries out and unleashes am massive amount of power, destroying a lot of the lab. For Sunfire, the empty hall outside the lab in which his powers are being studied is his only hope for salvation. Because his diagnosis of radiation poisoning induced by his mutant abilities, has left him with a shocking and unexpected symptom. ‘Shiro…?’ asks Doctor Horatio Huxley, before suggesting to the former X-Man that he come back inside, as there is no point in running away from this.
‘This, Doctor Huxley?’ Shiro asks, revealing over half of his body now consumed by the radiation poison. ‘What…is this? What is happening to me?’ he asks angrily. Sunfire is most certainly not feeling well. So perhaps he should get out of the Helios Project all together and join the Alpha Flight rookies in the standard Department H med-labs.
Entering the med-lab, Radius mutters that he is sick of this, and wants to know why they have to get tested every week. ‘Hi, all. Who’s first today?’ asks the nurse. ‘Me, Miss Langford!’ exclaims Flex, to which his brother is surprised, pointing out that Flex is always the one crying about the needles every week, yet now he is volunteering. Adrian explains that he has something he has got to do, so which is why he has to be first.
As the nurse injects Flex, Murmur asks her young teammate what he has to do. Adrian replies that he cannot tell her, to which Murmur points out that he can, as she is his friend. Adrian apologizes, and offers that he may tell her later. Finished, Adrian prepares to leave and Arlette tells him not to forget, or else she will have to make him tell her. ‘I wont, bye!’ Flex exclaims, rather excitable. Guardian enters the lab as Flex is leaving, and asks him why he is in such a hurry. Adrian replies ‘Oh, hey, Guardian! Nothing! See ya!’ and rushes off.
Arlette addresses Guardian as “James” like she always does and asks him if he has come for his weekly test as well. Mac isn’t really paying attention and just replies that he came to get a bacterial scrub for the cut he took in Combat Centrale. Arlette asks Guardian if it hurts and if there is anything she can do to make it feel better. Mac replies that the scrub should take care of it. While Murmur makes the moves on Mac, Radius thinks to himself as he is getting some tests done ‘No way. I give her a little push away and she goes right after him? We’ll see about that!’
As to why Flex was in such a hurry, arriving back in his quarters he turns his computer on and it informs him that he has got mail - and it’s from the Adoption Uplink Network!
Meanwhile, on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New Brunswick, a former member of Alpha Flight is searching for well-hidden truths as well. ‘So you’re finally awake, huh?’ asks the captain of the small ship. ‘Am I?’ replies the super hero. The Captain remarks that he recognized the hero from his outfit as he saw it on the news. ‘You’re that Alpha Flight guy’. Still gazing over the ship at the setting sun, the hero replies that he is no longer part of Alpha Flight as it is disbanded, ‘But yes. I am Northstar’.
‘Yeah, yeah, the gay one, right?’ asks the captain. ‘I am gay,’ replies Northstar, before pointing out that he is not “the gay one”, and informing the captain that he is the one with light powers. Jean-Paul Beaubier adds ‘I am the one that has saved your life more times than you can ever know’. Annoyed, Jean-Paul remarks that heroes are defined by what they do, not by their sexual orientation. The captain tells Northstar not to get all bent out of shape, and informs him that he has a son that turned gay. ‘I still like him same as I ever did. Mostly’.
‘You son did not “turn” gay. It is not a choice!’ exclaims Jean-Paul, pointing out that if it were, no one would chose to be something that would immediately make them hated and feared by the ignorant majority of this callous and intolerant world. The captain tells Northstar that there is no need to get all over his case, and points out that it was he who saved Northstar this time, kind of. The captain remarks that if his boat hadn’t been out in that spot last night, then Northstar would have fallen from the sky into the sea and probably drowned.
The captain informs Jean-Paul that he and his crew watched him fall for a long while, and asks him what he was doing so high up anyway. ‘Some outer-space super-villain or something?’ ‘No. I was trying to escape Earth’s gravity’ Northstar replies. The captain seems surprised by this and asks Northstar if his powers would let him breath in outer space. Frowning, Northstar replies that they would not.
Back at Department H, Guardian stands before the rookies in the media room and asks them if he can have their attention, as it is time they got on with the story at hand. The monitor behind Mac turns on, and Wolverine’s image appears. Guardian informs everyone that it is Weapon “Chi”, and adds that eventually his name was streamlined to “X”. He explains that the Chi Protocols were initiated by the Ministry of Defense as a counter to America’s “Super Soldier Serum” program, to generate champions for Canada.
Mac reveals that one of those champions turned bad and spelled the end of the entire program, before informing the rookie Alphans that this briefing will detail the hidden secrets of Canada’s biggest ever defense disaster. ‘I guess you could call this “The Weapon X Files” Mac adds. Radius beings to laugh, ‘That was funny! I’m dying over here!’ he exclaims. Mac tells Jared that this isn’t some goof-off session but an important training opportunity that he had better take seriously.
Radius tells Guardian that it was he who cracked the stupid joke to begin with, and suggests that if he wants a certain tone, then he should set it as he is in charge here. ‘Mac asks Radius if he could be a little less immature, to which Flex, sitting towards the back of the room, raises his hand. ‘Yes, Flex?’ Mac asks. ‘I think you’re both acting like babies,’ Flex remarks. ‘Thank you, Flex,’ Guardian replies.
Mac informs Radius, Arlette and Flex that what they are about to see and hear is highly classified and under order of Department H may not be discussed with anyone - including the objective himself, currently code-named “Wolverine”. Mac directs the rookies’ attention back to the monitor, where they will be shown some composite video of Weapon X.
(Shown with fake “flashback” images)
Mac reveals that ten years ago, a man known only as Logan broke free from McNally Penitentiary where he was serving time for assault and robbery. It was there, that, wielding a knife he had fashioned from his own finger bones, Logan murdered two prison guards in making his escape. At the age of twenty-six, Logan had already worked secret service missions as a soldier of fortune and a marksman, and during that time he lost his sanity, becoming a cold-blooded killing machine.
Guardian reveals that Logan followed up his prison break with a second major crime spree near Halifax, Novia Scotia, where he stole the helicopter of an island delivery service to make good his escape. But unfortunately for Logan, the helicopter only had enough fuel to make it into dense forests slightly to the west, where it crashed a short time later.
(Present / Reality)
Mac adds that how Logan survived is still unknown, to which Radius asks if Weapon X kept home movies of all of this. Guardian explains that the films are computer generated recreations of the events based on his memories and other eye witness accounts. ‘Made by who? George Lucas?’ Jared asks. ‘The Department produced these,’ Mac replies, before asking if they can continue.
‘Should we continue?’ a doctor asks General Clarke in a lab elsewhere in Department H. Heather has been here before, but she just doesn’t remember it. The doctor points out that Heather is still unconscious, so there is a chance that - Clarke interrupts him, exclaiming that she will be fine, in fact, the sooner they are done, the better she will be. Heather doesn’t remember being here before, because General Clarke won’t let her remember.
Standing beside the memory regressor, with Heather inside it, the doctor asks Clarke how much he wants to be taken off. Clarke explains that he wants Vindicator susceptible more than specifically wiped. ‘Just mess with her a little. Addle her up’. ‘Can do’ replies the doctor, as the tank is suddenly brought to life with energies flowing through it. Heather is woken and she screams.
When it is over, Clarke helps Heather out and asks her if she is all right. ‘No, I…don’t know…I…what happened?’ she asks, rubbing her head. Clarke explains to Heather that she was on her way to the team briefing when she had a mild seizure of some sort. As they enter the hallway, Clarke comments that Heather suffered from childhood epilepsy. ‘Yes, but…that’s not…I’m not a child…where…am I?’ Heather asks.
Clarke suggests to Heather that they get her back to her quarters and that she can disregard the briefing and rest. Heather exclaims that she wants to make the briefing, before asking what the briefing is for. ‘It concerns Weapon X. Would you like me to tell you what you’ve missed so far…?’ Clarke offers.
Back in the media room, Mac informs the rookies that records for Logan’s next actions are sketchy, but from what Department H has surmised, there were bones found near the crash site - gnawed to almost nothing. He adds that Department H investigators speculate that Logan may have killed and eaten a lost hunter in the area to survive, and that from whatever he ate, he contracted a near fatal illness from the meat that - suddenly, General Clarke and a still drowsy Heather enter the room.
Clarke apologizes for interrupting, as Mac seems shocked at Heather’s state. Heather tells her estranged husband that Clarke has caught her up, so she knows what’s going on. ‘I think’. ‘Do not let her interrupt you, James, continue’ Murmur exclaims.
(Shown with fake “flashback” images)
Mac declares that something had to save a man who, by all rights, should have been dead. Mac reveals that exit interviews conducted by the Department during its last shutdown phase revealed that Logan was actually found in the forest by future Alpha Flight member Michael Twoyoungmen, who would go on to become Shaman. Guardian explains that Twoyoungmen’s mystic powers drew him to Logan’s dark psyche and for reasons known only to him, Michael chose to nurse Logan back to health and provide him with a totem that to this day gives Weapon X the ability to heal himself.
Guardian continues, revealing that, unfortunately, in light of Weapon X’s recent actions, Shaman must now be considered an official accomplice and brought in as well. Mac announces that for a time, Logan lived in the wilds, elusive as the Wendigo, and it was during this undocumented period that he and Heather came across Logan during their honeymoon. Mac exclaims that to save his wife’s life, he shot Logan in the chest at point-blank range. ‘He was a dead man,’ Mac adds.
(Present / Reality)
‘Righteous! I’d never pick you to have the guts for that!’ Radius exclaims. Radius exclaims that he gets it, that Department H must have known Wolverine was up there and wanted Mac to go and find him, so he and Heather went undercover. Mac exclaims that Department H had nothing to do with their trip as they were sent on their honeymoon. ‘I mean, we went on our honeymoon’.  Heather begins to say something, but she is still out of it, and thinks to herself that it seems what Mac is saying is real, but she cannot stop thinking that it was different somehow.
(In Heather’s Memory)
It lurks right behind her present thoughts - a vision of her honeymoon taking place in a slightly different province. If she could remember, Heather might recall is as a mid-winter hunting trip further West, in Wood Buffalo National Park. A suppressed voice inside her wants to yell out that it was Mac who was attacked by Logan, and that it was she who shot the feral attacker to save her husband, not the other way around? There is a secret part of her mind fighting to retain the memory that she alone reluctantly remained and nursed Logan back to health, while Mac went off to contact Department H. Or is it just her mind playing tricks on her?
(Present / Reality)
‘Heather? Did you want to say something?’ asks Mac. Dazed, Heather replies that she doesn’t think so, and tells Mac to go on.
Meanwhile, in the Department H residential entertainment complex, Judd is on the telephone to Mrs. Marley, his old neighbor. He jokes that he hasn’t died, but that he has just been busy. He informs Mrs. Marley that the funny thing is he had forgotten all together that he even had an apartment, for some reason he forgot about everything in the excitement of rejoining Alpha Flight. Judd tells Mrs. Marley that he was hoping she could keep his apartment for him and collect his mail if he sent her the next three months worth of rent.
Mrs. Marley agrees and asks Judd a question, to which he replies ‘Oh, fine, fine…some world class villains, a big wind monster, glowing energy bags that suck people up, except for losing one of our men on out first mission, I can’t complain’. It’s then that a very surprised Judd remembers losing Madison Jeffries. Judd tells Mrs. Marley that he will call her back, as he has got to go!
The diminutive Alphan rushes from the entertainment room and thinks to himself that this isn’t the first time he remembered Madison getting abducted by the Zodiac - but the question remains then - if this isn’t the first time he has remembered, then why has nothing been done about it? Judd mutters to himself that he doesn’t know why, but that he is going to get answers right now and nothing is going to stand in his way - until he bumps into Lilli that is. ‘Oh my gosh! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean -’ begins Lilli, before promising to go back to her room. Judd gets the teenage girl to calm down, and tells her that he wasn’t looking where he was going, that neither of them were.
Judd asks the mystery girl what a nice young girl like herself is going in a high-security area like this. Lilli introduces herself and informs Judd that Coordinator Proctor said she was supposed to join Alpha Flight, but that so far she hasn’t met any of them, all she does is train and get a bunch of weird tests - and all of it by herself. Lilli reveals that she snuck out of her room to try and find a phone so she could call her friend back at Hull House.
Judd introduces himself to Lilli before informing her that there is a phone in the room at the end of the hall, and gives her permission to go ahead and use it, before exclaiming that he is going to go and get some answers for the both of them. ‘Okay, thanks, um, Puck,’ Lilli exclaims. ‘Don’t mention it’ Judd replies as he rushes off.
‘Don’t mention any of what I’m about to tell you to anyone’ declares Guardian, informing his teammates that this is the most highly classified information of the entire briefing. With that, he continues with the Weapon X files.
(Shown with fake “flashback” images)
Facing possible extradition which he knew would lead to his permanent incarceration, Logan was given the alternative option of trading his identity and his checkered past with it, for extensive physical and behavioral modifications as part of his Chi Protocols. Though potentially life-threatening, Logan also volunteered to have his skeletal structure bonded with adamantium, the world’s rarest, strongest and most expensive metal, Mac adds, before explaining that the documents Logan signed at the time of this process stated that if ever left the program, the adamantium would remain the property of Canada.
(Present / Reality)
Flex asks Guardian why, if Logan was a criminal and a killer, he was made so powerful, as it is dumb, before asking if he was indeed crazy, how could he legally sign anything? Mac replies that he has already explained Logan underwent hours of exhaustive counselling and therapy to both rehabilitate his dark side and temper his violent tendencies. Mac begins to conclude by remarking that the Protocols and treatments were both resounding successes, and Canada finally had her new champion - Weapon X was born. In his finishing statement, Mac reveals that, unfortunately, the service of Weapon X didn’t last long, for after a few sanctioned missions he fled Canada and has lived as an illegal alien in the United States acting as member of the X-Men ever since.
Guardian informs everyone that not wanting to cause an international incident, Department H decided to let Weapon X remain AWOL, constantly negotiating with him for his return. However, because of recent events, the Department has been forced to reconsider its position. Thoughtful, Heather exclaims that there is something wrong about this. ‘Like, isn’t his codename “Badger” or “Wolverine”? Didn’t he leave because we -’
Heather cannot continue as General Clarke re-enters the room, declaring that whatever he is calling himself these days, the Department will only refer to his as Weapon X until he has made restitution for the property he stole - the adamantium - and answered for his recent crimes. Clarke is followed by Lieutenant Oculus, and he introduces him to the Alphans as the Department’s surveillance specialist. Heather tells General Clarke that they are missing something here, ‘Me memories are…’ she begins, until she is interrupted once more by Clarke.
As Lieutenant Oculus puts a video tape into the console, Clarke tells Heather that Guardian has been having similar faulty memories centering around something called “First Flight” , and suggests that perhaps it is her suit, for like Guardian’s, it might be generating a field causing nodal points with certain brain waves. Alternatively, Clarke offers up that Heather may still be feeling the after-affects of the epileptic seizure she suffered.
Guardian is concerned and goes over to Heather, helping her out of her chair, he asks her if she is okay. Heather exclaims that there is nothing wrong with her, to which Arlette mutters ‘Some testing couldn’t hurt’. ‘Whatever’ exclaims Heather before telling Clarke that this all sounds like a lead-up to him sending them out to bring Logan back in. She asks why they should capture one of their former members - because he left? She remarks that it was Logan’s right - that it is the right of any of them.
Clarke declares that the “why” reason is brutally simple, that Weapon X, aside from being in possession of stolen property, has regressed from his modified behavior back to his earlier ways of crime and unspeakable acts. Clarke informs the Alphans that the video tape Lieutenant Oculus has just loaded contains irrefutable evidence of one transgression which is nothing short of heinous.
Suddenly, Judd enters the media room, in a raised voice he tells Clarke that he wants a word with him now, and that he isn’t going to be delayed or… Judd’s voice trails off as he stares up at the image on the monitor. ‘Oh, no!’ utters Heather. ‘Rank!’ exclaims Radius. Clarke tells the Alphans that as they can see, the image is disturbing in ways he cannot eve begin to voice. Clarke pauses the monitor and the screen becomes frozen - with Weapon X gutting Madison Jeffries.
Clarke informs Alpha Flight that in Department H’s massive effort to locate Madison Jeffries after his capture at the hands of the Zodiac, they came across this video taped image of Weapon X murdering the former Alphan in cold blood. He tells the heroes that their mission is clear, that they must capture Weapon X and return him to Canada to stand trial for his actions and rescind his stolen adamantium. Clarke informs Alpha Flight that they are to leave immediately and wishes them luck.
Have you looked over your shoulder lately? You should. Every so often, you should. Watching Alpha Flight leave in the Alpha-Jet, Clarke tells Lieutenant Oculus that it was a truly remarkable simulation he and his monitor staff crafted for the final tape. He adds that it was completely convincing and didn’t even look like computer graphics. Oculus reveals that it wasn’t computer graphics, although they tried it, but the final result felt too much like “Jurassic Park” - nice, but definitely not real.
Oculus explains that, instead, they took footage of Logan in training from a year ago and edited in the figure of Jeffries. ‘It took some doing, but I think the results spoke for themselves’. Clarke tells Oculus that he is brilliant, before suggesting they go and tell the Director that their greatest failure may yet become their most stunning success. Why should you look over your shoulder? Because you’ll never know what’s lurking behind you if you don’t.
Meanwhile, in the Department H incinerator room, Two men are loading the Wolverine Synthoids into the furnace. One of the men remarks that they are heavy, and asks how many more there are. The second man replies that this is the last. ‘Talk about a waste’ the first exclaims, before wondering how much these “robot things” must have cost them as tax payers. As the last Wolverine Synthoid goes up in flames, the second man replies that he doesn’t know, but that you can bet the price is high - good and high.


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

[Assistant]
North & South
How much farther can this really go?
That’s the question hanging over General Clarke’s head at the moment as he stands in the Communications Center of Department H after having sent his elite national super heroes, Alpha Flight, on a fool’s errand - to capture and return the super hero formerly known as Weapon X, now Wolverine of the X-Men, to the Canadian agency that created him. And Clarke wonders to himself “When will the other shoe drop?” because he knows it must.
A blonde woman approaches Clarke and asks him if he would like his messages now, but Clarke tells her to hold them, before calling out to a man named Warwick and telling him to patch through to Manbot’s main ocular cameras. Warwick informs Clarke that what Manbot is seeing is on screen now.
‘Anything more Vindicator?’ is what Clarke first hears from Canada’s premiere super heroes as they fly towards their target in a state-of-the-art aircraft. Vindicator a.k.a. Heather McNeil Hudson replies to her estranged husband’s question by informing him that her monitor still only has the residual trace, so she figures they should stay on the same course. ‘And what would that be, eh?’ asks Eugene “Puck” Judd. ‘A big fat collision course with the U.S. government for violating their airspace!’ he exclaims.
Rookie Alphan, handsome Jared “Radius” Corbo, remarks that the big question is how they are even going to find Weapon X, as it’s like a needle in a haystack. Heather tells Judd that there is no need to worry about U.S. reconnaissance, as the Alpha Jet brought them in well below radar detection. Judd mutters that all they have to do now is make sure no one sees of hears their teeny little jet craft. Heather’s estranged husband, James MacDonald Hudson a.k.a. Guardian pilots the jet and tells Judd that they will manage, and in reply to Radius’ question, he explains that the radar Heather is monitoring was created by Department H to scan specifically for the presence of adamantium, the metal that laces Wolverine’s skeleton.
Mac tries to make a joke by exclaiming that it is going to be more like finding a needle in a pin cushion. Heather turns to Mac and informs him that they have a hard-target twenty eight degrees South-Southwest, adding that it has to be Wolverine. Heather announces that Wolverine is moving at a high velocity, meaning he is in some kind of vehicle, however he is not on a main thoroughfare. Guardian declares that it is good, as it means they should be able to keep this covert. He tells everyone to strap in, as he is laying in an intercept course.
As the Alpha Jet descends towards its target, Guardian tells his team to get themselves mentally ready for anything, because their real concern is Weapon X himself. Mac points out that Logan may be an old friend, and a former teammate, his transformation into a hardened criminal means all bets are off. Mac reminds his teammates that Logan murdered Madison Jeffries in cold blood, and suggests that he won’t hesitate to do the same to any of them. Peering out of the windscreen, Mac announces that he has established a visual link and informs everyone that Weapon X is on a motorcycle, before taking the Alpha Jet down for a closer look.
Sensing the approaching jet, Wolverine turns his head and sees the Alpha Jet descend nearby. Mac declares that it is Wolverine all right, and informs everyone that there is someone else on the bike with him, wrapped in a sack and chains, it is perhaps a prisoner, or maybe a body he is trying to dispose of. Guardian begins to set the jet down, and orders everyone to be ready for immediate extrusion.
As he watches the events transpire through Manbot’s cameras, one cannot quite tell if General Clarke is excited or scared. Is there even a difference between the two sensations? The blonde woman from earlier approaches Clarke once more and is about to inform him of a security matter, but Clarke, without moving his head from the monitor, tells her that he doesn’t want any further disturbances. The woman interrupts him, explaining that it is an urgent security matter involving his new harvest, Lilli. ‘Oh for the love of…’ Clarke mutters as he begins to leave the communications room, telling the staff that he wants meticulous documentation of all Alpha / Weapon X events that occur in his absence.
That seemed like quite an easy feet to get Clarke away from all of the drama that he has so carefully orchestrated…the mere mention of something called a harvest. Clarke enters another area of Department H where he sees Lilli screaming ‘Let me go! Let me go! I wanna go home!’ and phasing herself through two Epsilons who are trying to restrain her. The Epsilons seem confused that Lilli can pass through them, but Clarke orders them to release her. Lilli must be a very valuable to Clarke to warrant such personal attention.
Clarke opens the door to the room where Lilli was and tells her to calm herself, before asking why she wants to leave. Lilli declares that she doesn’t like it here and that she would rather go back the orphanage than stay here. Clarke leads Lilli away, telling her that it is her choice to make and claiming he is sorry that her stay here hasn’t been to her liking. After informing her that he will arrange for her transfer back to Hull House, he explains that they need to remove her security identification mark and - Lilli interrupts, upon seeing the doctor before her with a large needle, she asks what the needle is for, exclaiming that she doesn’t want anymore shots. The doctor tells her that there is nothing to worry about and explains that it is something to dampen the pain of removing the mark. Lilli holds herself close as she prepares for the injection, and Clarke tells her to relax and soon she shouldn’t feel anything at all.
South: Guardian leads the way out of the Alpha Jet, beginning to give out his orders, until Judd cuts in, suggesting to everyone that they spread and out so Wolverine can see what he is up against. ‘I’m in charge of this mission, Puck, I’ll call the shots if you don’t mind’ Guardian exclaims, before announcing that he wants an impenetrable wall, that Alpha Flight need to make it clear Weapon X isn’t going another foot forward without going through them. Guardian adds that any attack is on his orders only, and that despite what they have learned about Weapon X, he is still a Canadian citizen and deserves a chance to come along peacefully before being confronted by force.
‘Like there’s any chance of that!’ exclaims Radius, reminding everyone that they fought the synthetic Weapon X’s in Combat Central. ‘He’s an animal!’ ‘We fought robots, this is a man’ Judd points out. A frightened young Adrian “Flex” Corbo suddenly exclaims ‘Omigosh! Here he comes!’ and points in the direction of Wolverine. Sasquatch growls, but is kept in check but the manipulative powers of the sultry Arlette “Murmur” Truffaut, who orders him to “stay”.
Wolverine’s motorcycle comes to a screeching halt as Alpha Flight - Guardian, Vindicator, Puck, Radius, Manbot, Murmur, Flex and the real Sasquatch stand before him. ‘Hello…Weapon X!’ Guardian exclaims.  Suddenly, whoever is tied up in the sack asks what is going on. He remarks that he cannot see who is there, but he can smell their power. ‘They’re Alpha Flight. And something smells all right’ Wolverine replies.
Guardian informs Wolverine that under edict of the Canadian Ministry of Defence, he is hereby ordered to remand himself into their custody for immediate extradition. Mac suggests that they don’t make this any harder than they have to. Wolverine gets off his motorcycle and lights a cigarette as he approaches the heroes of the North. Nervously, Flex asks his brother why Wolverine isn’t saying anything. Radius tells his younger brother to shut up and explains that Weapon X is trying to psych them out. Adrian tells Jared that just because he is his brother, it doesn’t mean he can tell him to shut up. ‘Shut up!’ Jared exclaims.
Radius mutters that Wolverine better not be coming up here to make a quick surrender, because he wants a chance to mess him up first. ‘Shhh! He might come over here if he hears you saying that!’ Flex whispers. ‘Yeah? And?’ replies Jared.
North: Is this what Clarke’s country has come to? Holding teenage girls hostage? Or is it merely a convenience so he can turn his attention back to his international kidnapping plot? Lilli looks annoyed as she stands with the blonde woman behind Clarke, back in the communications room. Clarke asks for a status report, to which someone informs him that Weapon X is smelling Guardian. ‘What?’ ‘I said -’ ‘I heard what you said!’ Clarke snaps. Clarke narrows his eyes as he watches the screen - the simple fact that Wolverine is smelling Guardian makes him very nervous. But why? What could Guardian possibly have to hide from his old friend?
Clarke watches as Heather asks Logan to just come with them. She tells him that she doesn’t know how it happened, to which Wolverine interrupts, asking what this “it” is. Heather informs him that Department H has showed them footage of him murdering Madison Jeffries. Some of Heather’s words were cut out, causing Clarke to ask what is wrong with the audio feed, when suddenly, the screen goes blank. ‘Picture! Where is the picture!’ Clarke screams. Someone informs Clarke that Manbot is on the edge of a cell area for the satellite uplink transmitting his camera feed, and that he must have moved out.
The elderly man is about to offer a suggestion as to what could be done when Clarke furiously tells him that he doesn’t care if he has to fly down there and push Manbot back in the range himself. ‘I want that image restored! NOW!’ he shouts. Suddenly the screen is lit up again, some of what has transpired Clarke will never know, but he can easily make a guess, as Radius declares ‘I’ll give you a reason!’ Wolverine unsheathes one of his deadly claws and puts it up to Jared’s face. ‘Oh, yeah? You wanna fight me?’ Logan asks.
Clarke mutters that this should be interesting, before ordering someone called Walton to get ready to run some load stress interpolations on Radius’ force field pressure. ‘I think we’re about to finally see how impenetrable it really is’. But does General Clarke really believe that? Even Radius knows he is being toyed with…and he is just a novice. ‘Hey gorgeous,’ Logan exclaims as he turns to Arlette. ‘Moi?’ asks Arlette. ‘Vouz. Nice to see Alpha’s still recruiting lookers. And I always notice a pretty face,’ Logan tells her.
Murmur thanks Logan for the compliment, to which he replies ‘Don’t mention it’. Getting back onto his motorcycle, Wolverine thanks the heroes for letting him know Alpha Flight is back in business in such a personal way. One of the Department H workers points out to Clarke that Weapon X is attempting to leave and asks him if he wants to initiate the Manbot counter-plan. But Clarke tells him ‘No…no. Let’s see how it plays out in their hands first,‘ and smiles wickedly.
South: As Wolverine rides away on his motorcycle, he warns Alpha Flight not to come knocking on his door again withy threats unless they are willing to follow them through. Radius turns to Guardian and asks him if that is it. ‘You’re just gonna let him mouth off and then drive off? What kind of leadership is that?’ he exclaims, before reminding Mac that they have orders to follow here. Mac looks at Radius square in the face and tells reminds him that Weapon X was a member of the Department, a member of this team and a friend, therefore he deserved a chance to come with honor.
‘Yeah? Well he didn’t come at all’ Jared points out, before remarking that Weapon X is getting away. ‘So give the order or I’ll give it!’ Mac asks Jared if he is questioning his authority, and reminds him that he makes the calls in the field. Puck suddenly interrupts and tells them to cut it out, as they sound like bickering teenagers. Judd realizes that they technically are, before pointing out that they are supposed to be teammates. However Radius isn’t interested in listening, and uses his force field to push the diminutive Alphan away.
‘Don’t you push me, you punk!’ Judd exclaims, before marching back in between the men and holding them apart. ‘Wha’d you call me?’ Jared exclaims. Annoyed, Heather tells them to stop this nonsense and suggests to Mac that if he is the team leader then he start acting the part, or else this highly sensitive operation is going to blow up in all their faces. In a burst of electromagnetic energy, Mac takes to the air, declaring that he will fly ahead and cut Weapon X off and that he wants the rest of them to follow in the Alpha Jet, to follow up and follow through with any force necessary. ‘Now that’s what I like to hear!’ Jared exclaims.
North: Do you think this is true blackness? Or is it merely a creeping shadow that will eventually come to pass? In his native Japanese, Shiro Yashida a.k.a. Sunfire informs someone over the phone that he is coming home. He tells whoever he is speaking to that he understands he may be returned to prison, but something has happened to him here and he wishes to return. Black is the color of death and mourning for many Christian religions - though most practitioners of such faiths have forgotten that black is also the color symbolic of future resurrection after death.
Suddenly, someone bangs hard on the door to Shiro’s quarters, demanding to come in as he needs to speak to him. Sunfire realizes that it is Doctor Huxley, and putting the phone to one side, Shiro yells back to Huxley that he has already told him enough, there is nothing more to say. Chinese Taoism and Confucianism observe the yin-yang circle - half-black (negative, passive power), half-white (positive, active power) - eternally balancing the two conflicting forces of the universe.
Sunfire turns back to the telephone and informs whoever he is speaking to that he did seek help here in Canada, but that a cruel fate has visited him instead, therefore he feels he should return to his home now. However, while the yin-yang balances its halves, Shiro feels his dark half consuming his light. ‘Because I am dying of radiation poisoning,’ he informs the person he is speaking to. A pity Sunfire isn’t Christian or Chinese, he might have found some comfort in faith to pull him from this darkness.
South: As Guardian flies towards Wolverine, one must wonder if his darkening mood will drive him away as well. The handsome hero thinks to himself that his actions before were so stupid, because he talks about respect then acts like he doesn’t deserve even a drop of it. Mac wonders how that blow-up will reflect on his record of performance if Puck files a report. Mac realizes that he and Radius are the same age - so you would think that they would be buddies, hand out together and talk about - talk about what? Girls?
Mac stopped short in his thought because he suddenly remembered that he is technically married to Heather - that some part of him still loves her - or was it simply because something else caught his attention - like Weapon X, directly below him. Mac tells himself to clear his head, that he mustn’t blow this chance. Unleashing an electromagnetic blast, Mac fires at Wolverine, who swerves on his motorcycle, and glancing back, asks Mac what he thinks he is doing. ‘Following through!’ Guardian replies, before Wolverine is knocked from his motorcycle.
As Wolverine and his wrapped-up passenger are flung to the ground, Mac tells his former teammate that he hopes he understands that fleeing from Alpha Flight doesn’t help strengthen his case. Mac walks over to Wolverine, and addressing him as Weapon X still, points out that this will be a lot easier if he cooperates. Wolverine tells Guardian that his friends call him Logan, that he should know that, before suggesting, as he unsheathes his claws, that he call him Wolverine.
As Wolverine lunges towards Guardian, Mac’s muscles tense for everything he has been conditioned to expect from this wild man before him. But what will he do about a sudden feeling that he doesn’t expect? How do you cope with the sensation of a memory you don’t remember having until this very instant? Mac’s memory is of himself - only older - the first time he saw Logan springing for him in the woods. But something is wrong with the memory. But in saying that, something is also more right with it then the litany of information Department H coached him to remember after his age was regressed to 19 years.
This memory gives Mac pause to hesitate - but it is a pause he cannot afford, as Wolverine smashes into him. Logan asks Mac if he is daydreaming and points out that it is a good way to get killed. ‘Course, that’d only be true if I was a cold-blooded killer, which you know I’m not!’ he adds.
Aboard the Alpha Jet, Heather is also feeling something in her mind at the moment. A devilish little flicker of memory telling her that she is also in the wrong here. But is she listening to her instincts? Judd announces that he has a visual on Mac, to which Heather orders him to set the Alpha Jet down nearby. Noticing Heather seems rather strange, Judd asks her if she is okay. ‘I’ll…let you know,’ Heather replies.
Someone announces that there is an unidentified hopping potato sack off the aft near that abandoned gas station. As everyone rushes out of the Alpha Jet, Heather takes to the air and orders everyone to get to Weapon X before he hurts Mac, though she tells Murmur to take Sasquatch and see what is in the bag. ‘Always it is me who is sent away! Always!’ complains Arlette as she leads Sasquatch in the direction of the sack, with Heather telling her not to pout as that is where she is needed right now.
Murmur and Sasquatch get in front of the sack, and using her manipulative powers on Sasquatch, Murmur tells him to stay. The sack bounces right into Sasquatch. ‘You were going somewhere monsieur?’ asks Arlette. ‘Uh-oh’ mumbles the sack, as Sasquatch growls and Murmur orders him to hit the sack. He does as he is commanded, and the sack and its contents are smashes across to the other side of the gas station.
As Heather descends near Mac, Puck tells Manbot, Radius and Flex that no matter what Guardian ordered, they are not to use lethal force. Manbot whirs and clicks as he informs Wolverine that he is ordered to surrender. Wolverine overheard Judd’s comment and remarks ‘No lethal force? Gee, that’s mighty swell of ya’ before lashing out at Manbot, and slashing into his systems as he exclaims that it is too bad for Alpha Flight that he doesn’t play by the same rules. ‘General protection fault’ announces Manbot.
Radius jumps over towards Wolverine and addressing him as Weapon X tells him that he is now officially way out of line. ‘So lets see how good you are against a guy you can’t even touch!’ ‘Bring it on!’ Wolverine replies as Judd calls to Radius, telling him to stick to the plan. As Radius and Wolverine begin to pummel each other, Heather asks Guardian if he is all right. Mac replies that he doesn’t know, and remarks that there is something in his head, before motioning to the sky as he sees something streaking towards them.
Not something, but someone - Rogue of the X-Men! ‘Wolvy! What’s going on?’ the Southern belle asks. ‘X-Men?!’ exclaims Heather surprised. As he is being pulled in several directions by Judd and Radius, while Flex hides under Manbot, Wolverine tells Rogue that there has been attitude adjustments to their “quiet” neighbors to the North. Rogue turns around mid-flight and informs Wolverine that she will go get the troops.
Wolverine replies that she needn’t bother, for as he kicks Radius to the ground he exclaims that it doesn’t look like he will need any help. Puck jumps onto Wolverine’s shoulders and clocks him on the head. But to no avail, for Wolverine is able to toss Judd into the air, then punch him hard to the ground. They are Alpha Flight, and what they lack in training they hope to make up for in experience. But what good is experience - if you can’t even be certain of your own thoughts?
Adrian goes over to Jared and asks him if he is okay. Adrian points out that he shouldn’t have just tries to capture Wolverine alone like that, to which Radius tells his brother that he is right. ‘I…I am?’ Flex asks, surprised. Jared begins pushing his brother along the ground exclaiming that he should have had back-up. ‘That back up should have been you, you big coward!’ Flex is slightly confused, until Radius throws him right towards Wolverine. Flex screams. He is scared. And with very good reason.
‘Flex? What’s a “flex,”’ Wolverine asks as he unsheathes his claws. As far as Adrian knows, it is no ordinary man that his brother has thrown him towards - but an animalistic killing machine who could gut him if he chose. But for some reason, even as Flex’s body lands just at the tip of Wolverine’s deadly claws, he doesn’t. ‘Ow! Major painage!’ jokes Radius. Heather tells Jared to get a hold of himself and get in the fight to pull his brother out of there, while Mac asks Flex what he thinks he is doing.
Wolverine begins to run away past the gas station, with Heather and Mac flying behind him firing bolts of geothermal and electromagnetic energies, respectively, at him. Mac exclaims that Wolverine was always an honorable man, and asks him why he is running away from his actions now. As he sloshes through the snow, Wolverine replies that it maybe because it is Alpha Flight who are way off their mark in their accusations. He points out that although he maybe running, he never runs away. ‘I’m just trying to get some leverage so you can clear your screwed up heads’.
Murmur watches the chase and orders Sasquatch once more to stay, but Sasquatch seems quite content with poking the frightened sack and hearing it go ‘Ow!’
Wolverine comes to a halt next to a petrol pump and unsheathing his claws, he warns Heather and Guardian that if they use their powers now and they will blow them all to kingdom come if there is any gas left in the tanks. Heather is shocked when she gets a closer look at Wolverine’s claws and exclaims that they aren’t adamantium. Puzzled, Heather points out that the adamantium is supposedly how they traced him, and Department H said…Heather’s voice trails off. Department H said lots of things to her - whatever she needed to hear to agree to knock Weapon X down a peg or two and drag him back home - even if that something was that Wolverine had killed her former fiancée.
But now, everything is starting to seem like little more than manipulation. Everyone’s attention is turned towards Sasquatch as he rushes towards Wolverine and smashes him across the petrol station. Murmur rubs a finger across Sasquatch’s mouth as she stands beside him and asks her teammates why Sasquatch always gets the credit when it is clearly the touch of Murmur which makes him so powerful? Arlette is about to say something else when Wolverine rushes towards Sasquatch and lunges him, ‘What? No!’ exclaims Murmur, to which Wolverine apologizes and tells her that battles go how they will, not how one wants them to.
‘Hey! Incoming spandex!’ shouts Radius as Wolverine’s X-Men teammates approach them. Storm! Cannonball! Rogue! Maggott! Unexpected players called in to help their friends…or exactly what Department H expected? What does Guardian think? Fate? Or manipulation? Mac grits his teeth at the X-Men’s arrival and tells Alpha Flight to remember their objective.
Taking to the air to confront Storm, Heather wonders why the X-Men would come to Logan’s aid if he is the killer they’ve been told. Heather tells Storm to stand her ground, as this doesn’t concern her. ‘Or did I just answer my own question?’ Heather wonders, when suddenly a powerful lightening bolt courses through her body, courtesy of Storm who declares that what concerns one X-Man concerns them all. Storm adds that a wilful, blindside attack by the X-Men’s allies concerns them greatly.
Storm exclaims that the lightening blast will leave Heather in a paralyzed shell from which she can ponder that fact. Heather does indeed have a lot to think about. She will have plenty of time to do it as she plummets to the snow and lands near Murmur. Even if Murmur wanted to help she couldn’t, because Maggott sends his “pets” Eany and Meany after her, telling them to get her, but not to snack on her. Murmur is a very strong woman - or so she always lets on. But the matter-eating maggotts under her adversary’s control stops her cold in her tracks. To Arlette’s surprise, the creatures inexplicably pass her by, though she is nevertheless paralyzed with fear. ‘Non! Au secours!’ she exclaims in her native tongue.
‘Can I have this dance, Sugar?’ asks Rogue as she swoops down to where Radius and Wolverine are still having a testosterone filled punch-up. ‘”Sugar?”’ asks Radius. Jared is used to girls being sweet on him, but he is also painfully aware that no matter how sweet they are, his inability to touch might mean that he will get dumped in the end. Which is exactly what happens as Rogue lifts him into the air, telling him not to get excited, as it is just a saying with her - then she hurls him back into the snow.
As a result, Radius cuts off relationships before they can ever really start. Pity for him though, Rogue might have been the ideal woman for him as her mutant power to absorb other’s life forces through skin-on-skin contact and Jared’s own impenetrable force field could have been the perfect match. But as Rogue smacks him back down to the ground with a hard punch, he will apparently never get to know.
Flex rubs his head and wonders why he is here. Though he could never know it, it is for the element of surprise. And a surprise indeed Adrian gets when Cannonball blasts his way towards him exclaiming that the last he heard, Alpha Flight were good guys. Flex braces himself for impact and exclaims ‘We are! Don’t hit me! I didn’t want to do this, I - don’t!’ For all the experience of Alpha Flight combined, Flex alone, through accident more than skill, is the first to rediscover that there are always more answers to a question than just the one laid out for you. ‘You serious?’ Cannonball asks Flex as he lands beside him.
Wolverine mocks Mac as he calls him “Guardian” telling him that he knew he wouldn’t have needed back up to take him down. As Heather recovers from her paralysis and flies towards Storm, the esteemed X-Man remarks that Vindicator acts as though she has been brainwashed. ‘Stop! Put me down!’ cries whoever is in the sack as Sasquatch bases the sack into Maggott. Arlette puts her fingers on Maggott’s head and uses her powers to order him to sleep, only to start screaming as she sees some sort of vision of herself trapped in a room full of bugs and other unsavory creatures.
No matter what pressure one may feel crushing down around them - blinding orders from his superiors, escalating tensions between old friends, mindless chaos calling out his name, the random hand of fate or even the darkest of personal secrets unexpectedly called back by something as simple as a delicate touch - there are always other paths waiting to be discovered - or vice versa. Funny how those other paths are often opposites - black in place of white, a “yes” in place of a “no”, a conversation…in place of a confrontation.
‘Subject sighted’ announces Manbot, as his teammates continue to battle the X-Men. ‘There’s a world of hurt between sighted and stopped giant robot!’ Wolverine shouts to Manbot. ‘Hey everybody! HEY!’ shouts Cannonball, exclaiming that he thinks there has been a big screw up here. Turning to Flex he says ‘This guy, uh - what was your name again?’ ‘Adrian. Wait! Flex, my codename’s Flex’. Cannonball turns back to the battle and exclaims that Flex told him Wolverine is wanted for murdering a guy a couple of days ago, but that the X-Men were in Boston’s jail then, so it couldn’t have been him.
That means General Clarke willfully lied to Alpha Flight. Guardian is surprised when he hears this. ‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell them!’ exclaims Wolverine with his hands around Guardian’s head. Heather is embarrassed, and dropping to the ground between Radius and Rogue she declares that Flex is right, that something is wrong here - and that something is Alpha Flight. Heather reminds her teammates that General Clarke said they were tracking Wolverine by his adamantium, and reveals to them that he no longer has it. ‘So what are we doing here?’
Is there actually any difference between the two sensations of surprise and embarrassment? Heather approaches Wolverine and declares that she is starting to remember things about her own history with Logan, and that it doesn’t fit with anything they were told by Department H. ‘We’re being used - and by our own bosses’. Heather suggests to her teammates that it is time they returned home and had some serious words with the Department.
North: General Clarke watches and listens via Manbot’s recordings as Wolverine tells Heather that the second she gets back up North and finds something there that she cannot handle alone, to let him know and he will come and help. That al depends on how you look at it…and vice versa. ‘Thanks…I don’t know what to say’ Heather replies. As the screen begins to go blurry, Wolverine can be made out saying ‘Don’t say nothing, just -’ someone approaches Clarke and informs him that there is cell interference again, and asks him if he wants Manbot repositioned.
How much further can this go, General Clarke? Alpha Flight has uncovered his deception, but surely a man as smart as he must have realized that they would eventually. How much further can this go? ‘General?’ asks the man when he gets no response. How much farther. ‘General?’ he asks again. How much - ‘Stop asking me questions!’ Clarke shouts. ‘Yes, sir’ the man replies. General Clarke gets out of his chair and declares that he is going to his office and doesn’t want to be disturbed. As Alpha Flight can be seen getting into the Alpha Jet on the view screen, Clarke adds that he does want to be notified when Alpha Flight get in…’I’ll want to have a word with them’.