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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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SPLASH!
A strange group of young heroes flies across the horizon…they are the New Mutants! Samuel “Cannonball” Guthrie and Dani “Mirage” Moonstar, co-leaders of the mutant team. Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta, Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair and the alien Warlock round out the depleted roster. One of those former members, now a child, Illyana Rasputin, is in their care, and rides alongside Sunspot and Wolfsbane in a transformed Warlock.
‘Now that we’re not going to Xavier’s School anymore’ Sam begins to say, ‘Now that the school’s been blown to smithereens!’ Dani points out as she rides her winged Asgardian horse, Brightwind. ‘What do we do next?’ Rahne asks. Dani remarks that she is glad she found Brightwind and that he was not hurt in the explosion. ‘He found you!’ Sam points out as he blasts alongside Brightwind. ‘Yes, he’s such a good boy, really smart, aren’t you, fella?’ Dani remarks.
Bobby asks his friends what they are going to do next, to which Rahne suggests they call their parents, and she will call Moira MacTaggert, then they will all go home and be normal kids again. Suddenly, Warlock cries ‘Alarm! Alarm!’ and points out that he does not have parents, nor can he return to his home planet, as he is not like those on the planet, and they will surely destroy him. ‘We aren’t like most of the people on our planet either!’ Dani points out. ‘Our altered genetic structure gives us powers and abilities far beyond those of other -’ Sunspot begins to say, until Sam interrupts, alerting everyone to a shopping mall up ahead.
Sam supposes that if they are going to call home, then they ought to do it now and get it over with. ‘Are you kidding? Just land there and reveal our powers before the world?’ Dani asks her fellow leader. ‘Why not?’ Sam replies, suggesting that if they are going to be ordinary kids, they should start acting like them. ‘Besides, who’s going to stop us?’ he jokes. Rahne tells everyone to look at Illyana, who is still asleep, and asks her friends if they wish they could all sleep like this. ‘I wish I could sleep at all! When was the last time we slept anyway?’ Bobby asks.
They land and Rahne continues to hold Illyana as they step out of Warlock, who returns to his default form. ‘Two days ago? Three? I am exhausted!’ Rahne exclaims. Bobby asks her if she wants him to take Illyana, to which Rahne shifts into her half-wolf half-girl form and tells him that it is okay, as she is strong in this form and can carry Illyana for a long time. Rahne adds that as Illyana cannot speak English, everything is very strange for her, so as she went to sleep in her arms, she would probably feel safer waking up in the same place.
Suddenly, the crowds of civilians become aware of the unusual group walking among them and one of them shouts ‘Look! Mutants!’ ‘Or demons!’ another suggests. An elderly lady points at Illyana and shouts that they have stolen a child, like in New York, as she heard it on the news. ‘That was real!’ someone in the crowd cries out. ‘A hoax…wasn’t it?’ someone asks. ‘Give me that child this instant, you…you monster!’ the old woman shouts at Rahne. ‘Give her to me now!’
Rahne begins to tell the old woman that she is not a monster, when Sunspot does it for her, but showcasing his power, and getting everyone’s attention, he shouts ‘Monsters are we? Don’t touch her, you…you bigots! How dare you call us demons? We saved New York, and that so called “innocent child” from the demons!’ The civilians cannot comprehend what is going on. ‘He’s turned into a shadow! He is a demon! RUN!’ they shout.
Bobby turns to Rahne and apologizes for losing his temper, claiming that he didn’t mean to scare them, at least not that bad. ‘Don’t be daft! You thought I’d lose control and bit her, didn’t you?’ Rahne asks, before admitting that she was considering it. ‘Were you?’ Bobby asks as they approach Dani and Sam who are at a telephone. ‘Then I saved you from a case of food poisoning’ Bobby remarks.
‘Either of you got a quarter?’ Sam asks, pointing out that they cannot call if they don’t have ‘A quarter, Sam?’ Danielle asks, holding a quarter between her fingers. ‘Your wish is my command!’ Dani jokes, demonstrating her power, which Sam exclaims is very useful. Dani tells Sam that he should call his mother first, pointing out that if he tells his “Ma” about the demons attacking, Magneto turning bad and the school being destroyed, then she will worry sick, and tells Dani that she should talk to her mom first.
Mirage replies that she can’t, as she doesn’t want to tell them that it is over. ‘I don’t want our time together to end!’ Suddenly, Bobby gets his friends’ attention and alerting them to the police that surround them, remark that the decision has been taken out of their hands! ‘Oh good grief!’ Sam mutters, before he begins to explain the situation to the police, before wondering what the use is, and deciding that he is too tired to deal with this flack. ‘There they are, officer! They have the child!’ the old woman from earlier exclaims.
Mirage leaps onto Brightwind who was standing nearby, and Cannonball blasts into the air while Warlock transforms himself into a craft again to carry Bobby, Wolfsbane and Illyana. ‘Let’s get out of here!’ Sam exclaims. ‘Ironic, isn’t it? We save the world and we can’t even make a simple phone call!’ Dani mutters.
The young heroes manage to evade the authorities, and once up in the safety of open air, Dani points out that it was pretty brave of the police to stand up to them, considering that lady thought they were all demons. Blasting along, Cannonball remarks that they probably handled it as poorly as the police, but they are just too tired to think straight. ‘So…what now?’ he then asks his friends. Warlock announces that he will lead them to X-Factor’s SHIP, as he knows the way and has been there before. Sunspot remarks that is a good idea, and reminds his friends that the X-Terminators accepted them when they met during the Inferno. ‘And on that huge Ship, somewhere I’m certain we can get some rest!’
At that moment, the X-Terminators are thinking about their friends the New Mutants, wondering what they are up to. ‘Whatever it is, it can’t be as fun as this!’ Tabby “Boom-Boom” Smith exclaims as she and her teammates are scuba-diving in the ocean under Ship which is at a stand still in the air high above them. Boom-Boom then asks what time X-Factor is supposed to get back from taking Jean’s family home, to which Sally “Skids” Blevins tells Boom-Boom not to sweat it, as X-Factor should be gone for hours.
‘Who’s sweating it? Ship said we should do something educational since we got kicked out of Summer school…and we all agreed that under-sea exploration is educational!’ Tabby jokes as she swims on ahead. Julio Richter, a.k.a. “Rictor” laughs that he can’t believe Ship fell for it, and even made them suits to explore in. ‘Are we lucky or what?’ ‘Educational is sitting in a classroom, wishing you were somewhere else, right, Rictor?’ Tabby exclaims. ‘Yeah, collecting and identifying shells and seaweed and - what the heck?’ Rictor yells as he finds something else.
Rusty Collins, the team’s leader tells Rictor to be careful, reminding everyone that X-Factor does not know they are doing this, and did tell them not to get into trouble. ‘This is educational, remember? How can we get into trouble?’ Rictor asks as the octopus that he discovered squirts some ink at him. ‘Lesson one on Ship’s undersea education agenda! Octopuses shoot ink when disturbed!’ Sally laughs. Rictor doesn’t find it particularly amusing, and when he turns around, he calls back that he hates to burst his teammate’s bubbles - so to speak - but octopuses are not all that they have disturbed!’
The young mutant heroes turn and see sharks! Rusty calls to his girlfriend and asks her to throw a shield up around them, to which Sally replies that she is way ahead of them, and the watch as the sharks crash into Sally’s force field. ‘What now?’ Sally asks. Boom-Boom starts throwing her plasma time-bombs around, only to discover that they hardly move in the water. Sally asks her teammate if she has ever heard of “water resistance”, to which Tabby tells her to quit talking physics and do something, as the time bomb will explode near them.
Another shark crashes into the force field as Rusty remarks that it is probably a good thing the time bomb was moving slowly, for if those sharks were blown up then their blood would have only drawn more blood! The time bomb explodes several feet away from the X-Terminators and Rictor points out that the vibrations from the explosion has got the sharks really rattled. ‘If they don’t like those vibes…they’ll like these even less!’ he exclaims as he uses his powers to send more shockwaves through the water.
The sharks flee, and Rictor exclaims that he didn’t do too badly, boasting to Boom-Boom that he managed to send the sharks on their way without spilling any blood. ‘Hmph!’ mutters Boom-Boom, about to say something else when Rusty interrupts, motioning to something on the sea floor nearby. Everyone swims over, and Rusty begins tugging at the barnacle-encrusted object, exclaiming that whatever it is, it is no ordinary shell.
Suggesting that it is time to go back to Ship for lunch, Rusty leads the way up to the surface, and taking the object with him, decides that they can compare it to the patterns in Ship’s files and see if they can find out what it is. A small dock is waiting for the X-Terminators, and as it transports them back up to Ship, Boom-Boom exclaims that the object is gross, covered with slime and scratchy stuff. Sally informs her that it is just muck and barnacles, and wonders how long it has been down there for.
Back aboard Ship, the X-Terminators take off their scuba gear and Rusty exclaims that it looks like it has been down there for years. Rictor suggests that it may not be a shell after all, but some kind of artifact, the remnant of some lost civilization - like Atlantis! Boom-Boom tells Rictor to get real, as there isn’t really such a thing as Atlantis - ‘Is there?’ she asks.
Shortly, back in their regular clothing, the teens are having lunch and sitting around as the examine their findings. Rusty informs his friends that it does not match up with any shells in Ship’s files, and wonders if it is really a horn. ‘A horn! Ha!’ laughs Boom-Boom, before telling Ship that he made them some good burgers, and asks for the ketchup, while exclaiming that she cannot believe an intelligent, mature individual like Rusty would actually mistake an ordinary shell for a horn.
Ship suddenly declares that, despite Boom-Boom’s objections, he thinks Rusty is on the right track, and begins to display some images of the horn on a computer screen as he informs the X-Terminators that an analysis of the scallops and the curve of the bell both suggest Rusty’s hypothesis is possible. ‘See, Boom-Boom! It is a horn!’ Rictor remarks, before exclaiming that he wonders what it would look like all cleaned up, and uses his powers to shake all the barnacles off. Boom-Boom exclaims ‘Is that cool or what?’ to which Sally remarks that even she has to admit it looks better.
Rictor points out that there is only one way to tell if it is a horn, and blows into, to no avail. ‘You see? Nothing! So much for Atlantean artifacts!’ Boom-Boom exclaims smugly. Sally takes a turn at blowing into the horn, to no avail. ‘Wait, I’m stronger!’ exclaims Rusty, but he tries too and there is no sound. Tabby mutters that she may as well give it a try too, muttering that, after all, without her explosion they never would have found this…’This educational…thing!’ Tabby blows hard into the horn, and a small shell is thrust from it and smacks Rictor in the face, as a loud noise sounds.
‘Hey…wow! It is a horn!’ Boom-Boom exclaims. ‘No kidding!’ Julio mutters, to which Rusty asks where it came from, when suddenly there is a loud rumble, and the X-Terminators are knocked off their feet…as deep below in the ocean, an enormous octopus rises from the sea bed - and with its huge tentacles, it grabs Ship and begins to pull him towards the water.
The X-Terminators don’t know what is going on, until Ship informs them that he is under attack and being dragged under. Ship tells the X-Terminators to save themselves, but as they put their scuba gear on, Rusty assures Ship that they will save him. ‘Uh…you don’t think my horn had anything to do with this?’ Boom-Boom asks, to which Sally tells her that it is too late to worry about that, and suggests she also put her helmet on and get outside, while they still have a chance!
Out on the deck, ‘That’s what’s attacking us?’ Rictor mumbles as the four friends see the huge tentacles. Ship tells the X-Terminators to watch out, as he is being tipped over - and as he is pulled into the ocean, the X-Terminators are thrust into the water. Rusty shouts that it is worse than he imagined, while Boom-Boom announces that at least she has saved the horn. ‘That is a relief’ Rictor mutters sarcastically, before pointing out that without the horn - not to mention Tabby’s underwater blast - none of this would have happened.
Just as Rictor is about to land in the water, the creature grabs his foot. Boom-Boom tosses a time bomb up to free him, and Julio falls into the ocean. Sally exclaims that it is huge and asks how they will ever stop it, when help arrives in the form of the New Mutants, who see Ship under attack, though they aren’t sure what from. Bobby sees the X-Terminators in the water and alerts his teammates. Warlock calls out to the X-Terminators, telling them to hold on, as he and the New Mutants have come to the rescue.
Warlock lowers his craft-like body towards the water and lifts Rictor up while Bobby grabs a hold of Boom-Boom and her horn. Cannonball calls out to Skids and blasts down to scoop her up, while Dani lifts Rusty on to Brightwind. Rusty thanks Dani before telling her that they thought the New Mutants had left, and asks her what they are doing back so soon. Mirage informs him that their school was destroyed, ‘It’s a long story!’ she tells him, before explaining that they came here to get some rest. ‘No such luck, huh?’ Rusty remarks, before asking Mirage if she can get him overhead. Dani manoeuvres Brightwind above the sea creature and Rusty remarks that he might be able to burn the monster into letting go of Ship, but as Dani points out, the flames have the opposite effect, and the creature begins to pull Ship under faster, until Ship is completely submerged.
‘Your Ship…is gone!’ Sam exclaims as he blasts towards Warlock and places Sally on him. Boom-Boom declares that if a blast of the horn called that creature up, maybe another blast will drive it away! But as Tabby brings the horn to her lips, it is swiped away - ‘Are you mad?’ shouts Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner, flying up beside the two teams of young mutant heroes. Namor exclaims that the monster beneath them alone can decimate a city, and asks if they would call up another - for that is the horns function. ‘Where did you steal it, you foolish human child?’ Namor then asks Boom-Boom. Namor asks Boom-Boom what right she has to defile this sacred relic, to meddle in the darkest secrets of an ancient realm. ‘Did you not know that Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, would hear the blast from this stolen horn?’
Cannonball comes to Boom-Boom’s defense, exclaiming ‘You may be the famous Sub-Mariner, but they didn’t steal anything!’ Cannonball informs Namor that the X-Terminators found it, and remarks that if it is so dangerous, then Namor shouldn’t have left it lying around in the first place. Mirage and Rusty fly over on Brightwind and Rusty tells Cannonball to chill out. He turns to Namor and confirms that they did find it, and suspected it to be an artifact of some kind.
Rusty admits that they should have checked it our more thoroughly before they blew it, but points out that what’s done is done, and right now they have to get rid of that monster - ‘And save our Ship! Not to mention whatever city it might decide to destroy’. Namor remarks that Rusty has the attitude of a statesman, and reveals that, in truth, the horn is dangerous, and was lost to him, knocked from his hands during an epic battle which seems like a lifetime ago. Namor realizes that the teens have powers they can use as weapons, and declares that, unlike some surface dwellers, they take responsibility for their actions and are willing to rectify their mistakes.
Namor informs the heroes that he will share their responsibility and help as he can, though points out that it would be useful if they all had underwater breathing equipment. ‘Hold that thought!’ Dani exclaims, and thanks to her powers, the teens all have diving suits on. Sunspot congratulates Mirage for a good use of her power, before Cannonball, Mirage, Rusty, Skids, Rictor and Boom-Boom dive into the water behind Namor. Sunspot, Wolfsbane and the still-sleeping Illyana remain on Warlock, whom Rictor suggests turns into a submarine.
‘These diving suits are so fresh - even better than the ones Ship made for us!’ Boom-Boom exclaims. Cannonball explains that is because the diving suits are based on an image in the Sub-Mariner’s mind, as it is how Dani’s power works. Namor declares that it is an impressive feat, before declaring that they have a monster to destroy. ‘There it is!’ Dani exclaims. Namor declares that the creature is enormous, even larger than the one he encountered before. Mirage asks what they can do against something like this, to which Namor informs everyone that the Fantastic Four used a bomb to destroy a similar monster.
Boom-Boom suggests they make one of her time bombs work, a real big one on a long delay, and tosses it towards the monster. In the Warlock-submarine, Sunspot remarks that he can’t believe Illyana is still asleep, to which Rahne reminds him that Illyana is exhausted. ‘We all are!’ Back outside, Namor begins punching the monster, while Rusty shoots flame at it. Namor tells everyone to use what power they possess against the creature to keep it from diving any deeper so that this “time bomb” will have time to reach it and destroy it. Rictor sends shockwaves towards the creature while remarking that blowing off a tentacle - or even two or three - will not do any good.
Suddenly, BOOM! - Boom-Boom’s time bomb reaches the sea creature, The heroes are shocked to see that the bomb barely grazed the creature. Rictor remarks that they need a more localized attack, they need to destroy its brain. The New Mutants are unsure about what to make of Rictor’s comment, as he has never seemed particularly intelligent before, but he informs them that he was with his Dad in South American and learned a lot of things there, including stuff about dynamite.
Mirage points out that she could wish that TNT up no problem, to which Cannonball reminds her that she can only wish one thing up at a time, so their Atlantean diving suits would disappear. Mirage replies that it is no problem, as there are still the suits that Ship made, plus they have Warlock, so it should be enough. The creature roars loudly, and Cannonball exclaims that it sure didn’t like that time bomb. ‘Nope, not at all!’ agrees Rusty, before the group swims back over to Warlock, informing him that they are coming inside, as they have an idea.
Once inside, Mirage informs Namor that it will take team work, and be dangerous, but that it might do the job. She turns to Rictor and asks him about how much dynamite he would need, to which he replies ‘About…this much?’ he remarks surprised, as the amount he was about to say appears in his hands courtesy of Dani. Namor exclaims that this is excellent, and now all they need is to get that creature angry enough to open its mouth. ‘No problem!’ exclaims Boom-Boom as she creates another time-bomb.
Warlock shifts his submarine form so that a torpedo tube is added for accurate aim, and Sunspot uses his enhanced strength to give the time bomb a little added speed. In a moment, the time bomb is in the water, before it bursts into the creature. Someone points out that the creature is mad and thrashing about, but that it hasn’t seen them yet. Rictor shoves some shockwaves down the torpedo tube, ‘Come on, you sucker! We’re here! We’re the ones that are bothering you!’ he shouts.
The creature grabs the Warlock-submarine in one of its tentacles, and someone shouts ‘Open wide!’ Suddenly, Illyana screams. ‘You would wake up now!’ Rahne mutters. Namor tells the child to remain calm, as this is only the ocean. ‘And a giant monster who’s crushing poor Warlock!’ Tabby adds, before some water begins to pour in. Warlock apologizes to his friends, explaining that he is having some trouble maintaining integrity of the hull. Boom-Boom has her scuba helmet from Ship on, and begins muttering something, which Rictor cannot hear, as Sam has his helmet. Remarking that the monster has clearly opened its mouth, Rictor is thankful they have accomplished phase one.
The teens watch as Cannonball, Rusty and Skids swim through the torpedo shoot along with the dynamite, and into the monster’s mouth. Inside though, the leaks are getting worse. Rahne tells Illyana, not that she can understand, that she has to put her down now, as Sunspot and the Sub-Mariner need her strength also. ‘I only hope that we can keep from being crushed until the dynamite does it’s job!’ Rahne exclaims.
In the mouth of the monster, Sally asks Rusty and Sam if they think they are far enough back. Sam points out that if they go any further, the creature might swallow them, before asking Rusty to hurry and ignite the cord. Rusty asks his girlfriend if she is ready, before lighting the cord and exclaims that it is time to get this show on the road! Sam, Rusty and Sally hold onto each other and Sally throws a force field around them. ‘Let’s hope it holds!’ someone exclaims as they are blasted through the water when the dynamite explodes in the creature.
Minutes later, Warlock has shifted his form into that of a life raft, and Mirage, Sunspot, Rictor and Boom-Boom are safe aboard. Sunspot points to the water as the Sub-Mariner rises with Wolfsbane, Illyana and the horn. Dani asks where Sam, Rusty and Sally are, so Warlock extends his neck and head into a periscope and drops into the water so he can have a look, re-appearing shortly, but announcing that he has searched and cannot locate them. As if on cue, Sam, Rusty and Sally all bob up to the surface. Sam gets his friends attention, while Sally asks where Ship is.
Suddenly, the massive Ship rises from the ocean, declaring that he is grateful to all of them for saving him, before announcing that X-Factor is returning. ‘Talk about perfect timing!’ Rictor remarks. Brightwind flies nearby as X-Factor, in a small aircraft hover in the air above the teenagers and co. Jean Grey exclaims that Ship is a mess, while Iceman remarks ‘Is that…a flying horse?’ Sternly, Cyclops asks if someone would mind telling them what is going on.
Moments later, after introductions and explanations are made, X-Factor, the X-Terminators, the New Mutants, Brightwind, Illyana and the Sub-Mariner are all aboard Ship. Ship tells X-Factor not to scold the X-Terminators, for they are not to blame for his misfortune, admitting it was he who insisted they do something educational. Sub-Mariner tells his old friends that he agrees with Ship, as the teenagers learnt much from their experience. Taking to the air, with the horn, Namor remarks that he has also learnt a lot, and promises to take more care with the ancient artifacts of his people.
Boom-Boom exclaims that this might not be the best introduction to the New Mutants, while Skids informs X-Factor that the New Mutant’s school was destroyed. Rusty admits that he was wondering if the New Mutants could stay here, to which Rictor adds ‘Just for a while, till they can figure out what to do next’. Iceman replies that of course the New Mutants can stay, ‘We know what happened to your school - and remember, it was once our school too!’
Cyclops shakes Rusty’s hand and Boom-Boom hugs Jean, while Cyclops points out that now the life and death matters have been settled, he reveals that X-Factor was actually hoping to find the New Mutants and invite them to join them here on Ship, permanently. Cannonball thanks Cyclops, and exclaims that the New Mutants and X-Terminators make a good team. Wolfsbane remarks that this is wonderful, but that their existence as mutants seems so fraught with danger. She points out that they all have powers and can protect themselves, but Illyana doesn’t. ‘What will become of Illyana?’….


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Strange!
There is a dimension where frozen spirits wander beyond rescue, through icy nothingness. The Vikings called it Hel, and knew it as the final destination for men whose lives, and especially their deaths, were…merely ordinary. For warriors who died valiantly in battle, a glorious fate awaited. Valkyries on winged horses carried their souls to join the splendid army of eternal Asgard. For time beyond measure, Hel, and Asgard peacefully co-exited. That time now, is ended. The Asgardian Thunder God, Thor, has destroyed on of Hel’s most valued artifacts, and with it, has lessened considerably the power of the Death Goddess, Hela - and Hela is not one to let an insult go unavenged! And for this revenge…she has her sights set on Danielle “Dani” Moonstar a.k.a. Mirage of the New Mutants!
Currently, Mirage, and her now expanded team, the New Mutants which she co-leads with Samuel “Cannonball” Guthrie, are arriving at the Ust-Ordynski Collective, in Siberia. Cannonballs blasts alongside Mirage, who rides on her winged Asgardian horse, Brightwind. Their alien teammate, Warlock has transformed himself into a aircraft large enough to fit everyone else in. Rusty Collins, leader of the group formerly known as the X-Terminators remarks ‘First Limbo - and actual other dimension, and now Russia! You New Mutants sure do travel!’
Cannonball supposes Rusty is right, the New Mutants do get around a lot, but remarks that it is not “us” New Mutants now, since the X-Terminators joined them. Warlock exclaims that he tingles with an excitement at glorious surprise. Sally “Skids” Blevins agrees, and asks if Illyana’s parents know that Illyana is coming. Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta asks how they could know, ‘We don’t speak Russian and they don’t speak English!’ Julio “Rictor” Richter remarks that he wonders what Illyana will tell her parents about what happened.
The young mutant heroes land and Warlock returns to his default form, while Sally remarks that Illyana’s story about falling into Limbo will sound like a fairy tale to her parents, or “Alice in Wonderland”. Cannonball notices that Mirage is sweating and points out that although it is summer, it sure isn’t that hot, and asks her if she is okay. Dani replies that it is nothing, while thinking to herself that she was fine for a minute, except for the headache which she has almost gotten used to now. Dani admits to herself that she is so afraid, what with the death-visions, the curse of the Valkyrie flickering among the clouds like tongues of flame.
Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair hugs the infant Illyana and shows her the Aurora Borealis, blazing in the sky to welcome her home. Mirage thinks that death is coming for her, and should warn the others, prepare them for her death, but decides that as Illyana is going home, she cannot spoil this time for her, as Illyana has earned this happiness. Sunspot motions to a light that has come on in the house, and Wolfsbane exclaims that the door is opening.
In her native Russian, Illyana cries ‘Mama!’ a she sees Alexandra Rasputin in the doorway. ‘Illyana! It cannot be!’ the aging woman exclaims. Illyana rushes to her mother and they embrace, as the New Mutants stand and watch. Wolfsbane declares that she will miss Illyana, that she hates to let her go. Sunspot replies that he knows, but points out that it is the right thing to do, for until she grows up and comes into her mutant powers, she belongs with her parents.
Suddenly, the tranquillity of the moment is broken by Mirage who screams ‘NO! Death! Coming for me! Far worse than death…far worse…’ and with that, she collapses. Tabitha “Boom-Boom” Smith announces that Brightwind has fallen over too, as everyone gathers around Mirage. Rahne exclaims that they were paying attention to Illyana, they never looked at Dani…her voice trails off as she worries about her best friend, while Warlock remarks that he has never seen Mirage look so afraid. Rictor suggests they tell X-Factor, before remarking that they are away on a mission in England. Rusty declares that X-Factor might be back by now, and exclaims that they have to get Dani back to Ship. Meanwhile, Sunspot is helping Warlock grab hold of Brightwind.
Many hours and time zones later, the Warlock-helicopter carrying his friends and Brightwind arrives back in Manhattan. Rahne reminds everyone that they promised to take Dani to a doctor if her headache wasn’t better, to which Cannonball remarks that this counts as worse, and wishes they hadn’t waited, before pointing out that Dani is stubborn. Rahne agrees, as Dani did insist that getting Illyana home was more important. ‘She’s always putting others before herself!’ Rahne exclaims.
Sally remarks that Dani talked about seeing death before, and points out that she and the other new recruits don’t understand, ‘Is it part of her power?’ Cannonball replies ‘Kind of’ and begins to explain that when they were in Asgard - ‘Wow - that’s the dimension that Thor comes from!’ Rictor exclaims, interrupting. A weary Rahne informs her new friends that Dani saved Brightwind’s life, and Brightwind chose Dani to be one of the Valkyries. Wide-eyed, Sally asks if they mean like in mythology, the Valkyries who carry off the souls of dead warriors?
Cannonball replies that because Dani was human and still alive, she found she had the ability to see death coming and to even fight it off through the spirit spear that she could “wish up” through her power to create illusions. Sunspot explains that Mirage’s powers were changed sometime after, so that her illusions became real, though she can still see death coming, but how that affects her ability to fight it off, they do not know. ‘Geez! And I thought figuring out Illyana’s power was hard!’ Rictor exclaims.
Approaching Ship, the giant vessel calls out to Warlock and asks what has happened with Brightwind. Warlock informs Ship that Brightwind burns with a fever, as does Mirage, and asks if X-Factor is home yet. Ship replies that they are not. Once everyone is inside, Mirage and Brightwind are both laid out on examination tables, and the New Mutants stand nearby and watch their ill friend. Cannonball suggests that they should call her parents, to which Sunspot remarks that Dani tried to call them earlier to tell them that the school was destroyed and that Magneto had was gone, but their answering machine said they had gone off in North range.
Ship suggests that he leave a message for Mirage’s parents, but Cannonball tells him not, as there is no point in worrying Dani’s parents until they know what is wrong with her. Solemnly, Rahne exclaims that they have to get Dani and Brightwind to a doctor before it is too late. Ship begins to examine Mirage, telling the New Mutants that there is no need for a doctor, at least at this stage, after all, he is fitted with full diagnostic scanners. Scanning Mirage’s eyes, Ship announces with certainty, that Dani’s illness is not of natural origin, but her aura is affected, suggesting the illness is mystical in nature, and as unnatural to Earth as Brightwind.
‘Well that’s just fine and dandy, isn’t it?’ Boom-Boom mutters, asking what they are supposed to do now. Ship informs the New Mutants that he has taken the liberty of scanning the data that he acquired when the evil mutant Apocalypse was his master, and suggests that they contact Doctor Strange, who is known as the Sorcerer Supreme. ‘Sorcery?’ exclaims Rahne with some fear.
Shortly, in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. Evening rush hour is long over now, and through the deepening darkness overhead, a silent shadow glides, Warlock, again transformed into some sort of copter, remarks that he has chosen a disguise which is clever and unobtrusive. ‘Has self not?’ he asks. ‘Until somebody notices that this giant chopper’s not making a sound!’ Sam exclaims, to which Warlock offers to make a whup-whup-whup sound. Cannonball tells Warlock not to, before remarking that Ship says Doctor Strange lives in the house with the fancy window, and asks Warlock to set them down across the street.
Everyone exits their transportation, and Rusty asks what they are going to do now, as they can’t all barge in there. ‘Why not?’ Boom-Boom asks. Skids points out that if Dr. Strange is really a Sorcerer, then he is bound to be plenty powerful, to which Cannonball agrees, and decides that they best approach him humbly and with respect, after all, they are asking him to do them a favor. ‘Humbly? This is the Twentieth Century for pete’s sake!’ Boom-Boom remarks. Sunspot declares that one thing is for certain - Boom-Boom won’t be on the petitioning committee.
Rictor suggests that Sam, Rusty and Sally go, as they are the oldest and look the most respectable. ‘What do you mean , Rictor, they look the most respectable?’ Boom-Boom snaps. ‘Just what you think I mean!’ Rictor replies smugly, before telling Boom-Boom to shut up and keep back in the shadows, as he wants to hear what happens, this is a great place, he adds. Wolfsbane holds onto Mirage, while Sunspot tends to Brightwind.
Cannonball knocks on the door to Doctor Strange’s sanctum sanctorum, and Rusty and Sally stand at his side as a bald-headed man opens the door, ‘Yes?’ he asks. Cannonball excuses himself, before asking ‘Are you Doctor Strange?’ The man replies that he is flattered, but in fact his name is Wong. Wong informs them that Doctor Strange is actually dead, and begins to close the door. Cannonball protests, asking Wong not to close the door, ‘He can’t -’ he begins to say, when suddenly Boom-Boom shouts ‘You bet he can’t! That bald dude’s lying!’
Boom-Boom readies one of her time bombs, shouting that Ship would never have sent them here if that were true. ‘He’s in there somewhere…and I’ll flush him out!’ she tosses the time bomb, to Rictor’s protest, and Sally asks her if she is crazy. The time bomb lands inside, and a shadowed hand gestures and the time bomb simply ceases to exist. Cannonball tells Wong that he is really sorry about that, explaining that they are all pretty wrought up.
Rictor asks Boom-Boom what is with her, pointing out that she acts like a time bomb is the answer to everything. ‘Not that it did much good, it disappeared! It was useless!’ he exclaims. Rictor tells Boom-Boom that she is losing it, to which Tabby begins to retaliate to, but Rictor cuts her off, pointing out that she tried to blow that dude up because she thinks he lied to her precious Cannonball. ‘You’re jealous of Sam, that’s it!’ Boom-Boom snaps back, to which Rictor replies ‘Jealous? Me?’
Cannonball has turned to see what all the commotion is about, when Rahne, in her half-wolf half-girl form pulls Rictor and Tabby off each other, asking them to stop it, as Dani has been struck down by an unearthly illness and may be dying. ‘How can you behave so badly? What will this man think of us?’ Rahne asks.
Inside the large house, Doctor Strange, not dead, is watching them, and thinks to himself that the youngsters are indeed overwrought, and with little wonder, as there is something palpable evil about the fallen child’s illness, Strange decides. He thinks that even from this far back he can feel it, even though its origin is well masked and obscure. Strange decides that the “little blonde” and the “dark-haired boy” seem most sensitive to it, but that in time, proximity to such toxic magic will affect them all. Strange wonders more and more if he even has the right to allow the world to believe him dead when such evil stalks humanity.
Wolfsbane approaches Wong, addressing him as Sir, asks him to tell them what they should do now, as they were told Doctor Strange alone could aid them in this, their hour of desperation. Suddenly, Dani screams, and is engulfed in a burst of magical flames. Everyone turns to her, and Cannonball cries out to his friend, whose eyes and mouth are now filled with flames. Sunspot is unable to stop Brightwind who flies away from him, also engulfed in the mysterious flames. ‘They’re surrounded…consumed by flame! Heaven above, what’s happened to them?’ asks Wolfsbane.
In his hidden, astral form, Doctor Strange flies outside of his home to investigate, thinking that this is not the work of the Heavens, and decides to aid them as much as he can without revealing himself. Cannonball calls out to Skids and asks her to throw a force field up as Mirage begins to throw her flames towards her teammates. Skids does so, while Boom-Boom points out that whatever the flames touch are beginning to burn. Suddenly, in a voice not her own, Mirage shouts ‘FOOLS! I will fight death no longer. Do you not realize…? I am Death!’
Doctor Strange hovers over her and remarks that she is not Death - at least not yet, but admits that she is not what she seems. Though the Eye of Agamotto has been destroyed, Strange casts a simple spell of revelation upon Mirage to shed some light on who she really is. The spell reveals to a surprised Doctor Strange that Mirage is a Valkyrie, but also a human, mutant girl of Native American ancestry. He wonders how this came to pass, as the ways of fate are more than passing strange. Strange notes the third figure he sees, a flaming skeleton, and realizes that is what drives Mirage, and will subsume the others if it can.
Strange feels sorry for Mirage, remarking that she has faced an assault that no human mind should have to bear. Mirage takes off into the air on Brightwind, and Strange follows her, remarking that it is a miracle she survived such an attack and that she has strength enough to enforce her winged horse into the air away from her friends and the city. Strange decides to remove Mirage’s astral form, her native self, which should quiet her physical body, while he does battle on the Astral Plane with the creature that possesses her, but upon pulling Danielle’s astral form from her body, Strange discovers that the evil magic is more potent than he imagined!
Mirage’s astral form shudders in pain and fear, for it alone restrained the monster who possessed her, Strange realizes his mistake in removing her astral soul, as he has freed evil magic of all restraints! Strange can only watch as an insane Mirage and Brightwind fly back down to Greenwich and begin shooting streams of flame at the New Mutants. Cannonball takes to the air, as he is invulnerable while blasting, and Doctor Strange notes that the New Mutants are far less than helpless, but that it is likely their power will not be enough.
Cannonball grabs Mirage and pulls her from Brightwind, thinking to himself that someone has to stop her, but down below, Brightwind continues to attack the New Mutants, and fires some flame towards Wong, who luckily for him is rescued by Wolfsbane, who pushes him aside. Rusty calls out to his girlfriend and tells her to throw a force field up and orders everyone to get inside it now, as Brightwind is returning for another. Rusty adds that they need something to capture and hold Brightwind, something that is fire-resistant.
Rusty sees an iron railing and using his own flame on the iron, softens it and stretches it into a wire. Warlock shifts his form into a jet-rocket so he can fly, and taking the wire heads up towards Mirage, after Rusty warns him that the iron-rope is still hot, to which Warlock replies it is not too hot for him to handle. Warlock attempts to lasso and hobble Brightwind like a cowboy in a rodeo video. From behind Sally’s force field, Rictor calls out to Warlock, congratulating him, but Wolfsbane points out that the rope is glowing red-hot and stretching, as Brightwind’s wings become free.
Outside of the force field, Rusty is pulled into the air as he was anchoring Warlock and the rope. Sunspot who is also not in the force field reaches out and uses his strength to grab the rope. ‘Thanks, man!’ Rusty exclaims as he is brought back down to the ground. Bobby points out that if Brightwind goes free, then he will torch the city, when suddenly the hot rope begins to burn his hands. ‘Better my hands - than the city!’ exclaims Sunspot as he uses his incredible strength to force Brightwind down to the ground, the large horse lands with a thud.
Meanwhile, above the village streets, Mirage puts her hands over Cannonball’s eyes, preventing him from seeing where he is going. Sam then thinks to himself that he is beginning to seriously doubt if this is Dani, after all, if she isn’t Dani, the last thing she will be wanting him to do is see! Indeed, unable to see where he was going, Cannonball smashes into the pavement below, and Dani is knocked from his grasp. ‘Oh gross! Keep blasting Sam, or her fire will fry you!’ Boom-Boom shouts out to Sam after Skids drops her force field.
Boom-Boom rushes over to Sam and seeing a hydrant, tosses a time bomb at it, thinking it will douse the fire. The burst of plasma opens the hydrant, but as Sally points out, Mirage’s fire is not being put out, and as the water hits it, it is now being turned to steam. Sally exclaims that Sam will be scalded and rushes towards the steam, protected by a force field, Sally enters the steam and grabs her teammate. Dragging him out under her force field, she announces that Sam’s skin is red and already beginning to blister.
As Sally brings Sam over to their teammates, Rictor shouts ‘Skids! Behind you!’ as Mirage rises from the steam, her fire still raging. In that strange voice, Mirage tells Skids that by seeking to steal one prey from her, she has left the others open to an attack. ‘Foolish child!’ she shouts - but before she can attack, Rictor unleashes a seismic attack, knocking Mirage off her feet. ‘Don’t count on it, sulfur breath!’ he shouts. Mirage lies on the ground and everyone watches her. Warlock asks her to let him help, but Boom-Boom advises Warlock to keep back, ‘Whatever that thing is…it ain’t Dani!’ Indeed, as Mirage stares at them and begins to hiss.
Meanwhile, on the Astral Plane, Doctor Strange tells Mirage that she has been through a lot, and in truth she has had much to fear, but now that is behind her - for a while. Strange tells Dani to uncurl from her retreat, to relax and let him help her, but a frightened Dani replies that she cannot endure any more pain. ‘Get away from me! Don’t touch me! You can’t help me!’ she exclaims, before summoning her spirit spear and thrusting it towards Doctor Strange, telling him that he doesn’t know anything about it, anything at all! Dani then hurls the spear at Strange, directly towards his heart. Strange realizes that it is a dream spear, and conjures a spell to stop it, surprising Mirage, who wants to know how he stopped it.
Doctor Strange remarks that Dani’s conjuring obey the dictates of her heart, adding that he knows it is not he whom she wishes to harm, before asking her to let the hands of Cytorrak hold her. Dani finds herself frozen in place, and asks Doctor Strange what he has done to her. Strange explains to Dani that he has pulled her soul onto the Astral Plane. ‘The fire?’ asks Mirage. Strange replies that it was not his doing, before asking Dani her name. She replies that her name is Danielle Moonstar, and Strange introduces himself as Doctor Strange, adding that on the Astral Plane.
Doctor Strange tells Mirage that he has given her respite from her pain, before remarking that she is a mutant, and oddly enough, a Valkyrie. Strange asks Mirage to look below, and tell him what she sees. Dani replies that she sees Brightwind and herself - ‘No, just my body, I’m here, aren’t I?’ Dani exclaims that they are wreathed in flames, and attacking her friends. ‘NO!’ she shouts, before telling Strange that when he released her, she thought she was dead, and that the fire and pain and destruction had ended.
Doctor Strange explains to Mirage that she is under attack by a force of incredible and malevolent power, and that he hoped in removing her spirit, he would remove the animating force behind the violence, but now he understands, all too well, that Dani and the force were locked in battle. Mirage admits that the force would have won, as she burning up inside and could not have controlled it much longer. Dani asks who would attack her - and why, before looking at her friends down on Earth, all inside Skids’ force field as her own physical form attacks them.
Doctor Strange replies that the attack comes from Asgard, and involves her status as a Valkyrie. ‘Of that I am certain!’ Shocked, Dani exclaims that Brightwind chose her to become a Valkyrie. Doctor Strange reminds Dani that she is a human, and that such a choice - an honor - has never been made before, so she must be very special. Tears well up in Dani’s eyes, ‘Special? A specialist at destruction!’ she exclaims.
Strange tells Dani that it is within her power to stop all that, to return to her body and take control. ‘No!’ Mirage exclaims, declaring that the pain is more than fire, it sears and burns out every nerve. ‘It’s torture! More than I can bear!’ she gasps, before telling Strange that he does not know what he is asking.
Back on Earth, Rusty and Sunspot are still dealing with Brightwind, but Rusty exclaims that the cords are stretching and melting. It proves too much for the young men and Brightwind breaks free from them, running towards them, still covered in flames. Sunspot and Rusty dodge Brightwind’s attack, and just in time as Mirage leaps onto her steed. Some police officers arrive on the scene, and wonder how they can stop something like that, and they see that whatever Brightwind touches begins to burn.
Mirage and Brightwind begin to charge through the village, through groups of innocent bystanders. A small girl cries out to her mother as Brightwind looms over her. ‘Please don’t hurt me!’ the girl calls up to Mirage. Wolfsbane sees this, and shouts at her best friend, telling her not to do it, as she is just a child. Rahne leaps in front of Brightwind and grabs the child in her arms, telling the girl that it will be all right, when suddenly one of Brightwind’s hooves burn into Rahne’s wolfen body.
‘Rahne! NO!’ Dani shouts from the Astral Plane. Clearly upset, Dani informs Strange that Rahne is her dearest friend and soul mate. ‘I was so afraid to return to myself, to take control of my actions so she took control for me! Without her courage that child would have died!’ Mirage exclaims that Rahne saved the girl and paid for her own cowardice. ‘How many will die because of me?’ Doctor Strange tells Mirage to go then, with his blessing - and admiration. Strange remarks that it is Mirage’s lot to fight the monster, but he will aid where he can, though he prays that it is not too late.
The New Mutants are all engulfed in Mirage’s flames, when suddenly Dani’s astral form returns to her body, and her physical form responds by screeching ‘You seek to thwart me? Foolish mortal! This shell is yours no longer! Release me!’ Dani tells herself that she can’t, but although she is not afraid to die, she wonders how long she can withstand the pain. The evil magic wears Dani down, burns her out, and she believes that it will win in the end. Dani knows that she has to think, she needs respite, if only for a moment, if only she could stop the fire, then she could block the pain.
Suddenly, Dani realizes that there is a way, and wonders why she never thought of it before. Suddenly, a strange vessel appears out of nowhere and encases Dani and Brightwind in a huge chunk of ice. Doctor Strange witnessed what just transpired and realizes that it was Mirage using her powers. However, he notices that the flames still flicker around Dani within the ice, meaning the monster that possesses her is powerful, and he wonders how much longer the machinery can imprison her.
Strange turns his attention to Greenwich Village and sees burned people, burned buildings. He recalls how he promised to aid Danielle within his abilities, so casts a spell, shouting ‘Let what was destroyed be now restored! Let those innocent of all offence be healed and go about their business, unperturbed of body and mind!’ The astral form of Doctor Strange then returns to his sanctum sanctorum so he can return to his body and communicate personally with the brave teenagers outside.
Strange wishes that he could make the New Mutants also forget what has just transpired, but the very fate of Asgard lies in the balance, though he is thankful he can remove their physical pain. Returned to his body, Strange walks towards the doors, casting a spell of transformation so that his clothing will look more ordinary, though he believes it is a waste of a good illusion, as he is becoming annoyed by this charade he is forced to play.
Outside, the New Mutants are shocked. ‘Hey look! We’re healed! Didn’t we used to be crispy critters?’ Rictor exclaims. Sam tells him not to joke, before asking what happened. Sunspot motions to the ice-maker in the air, explaining that it appeared, then they all got better. Skids suggests that the ice weakened the evil spell, but that it didn’t break it, not totally, for Dani is still in there, trapped with the monster inside the ice!
Suddenly, ‘Might I be of assistance?’ a voice asks, standing on the front porch of Strange’s home. The heroes all turn, and Rusty asks who he is. Strange introduces himself as Dr. Stephen Sanders. ‘A doctor? See! I was right, It’s Doctor Strange!’ Boom-Boom whispers. ‘He was hiding and he saw and he saved us!’ Rahne rolls her eyes and tells Tabby not to be daft, ‘His name is Sanders, and that machine is obviously one of Dani’s conjuring!’
As the ice machine lowers the block of ice containing Dani and Brightwind to the ground, Rusty thanks “Dr. Sanders” for the offer of assistance, but points out that their teammate seems to have things under control. Sunspot remarks that Mirage saved them and maybe the entire world, to which Cannonball suggests to his team that they get Dani back to Ship.
Meanwhile…in a dimension far, far away…The Goddess Hela holds in her hands a statue of Mirage and Brightwind encased in ice. ‘So, the Valkyrie maid used her conjuring to disrupt me fell design!’ the green-clad Goddess exclaims angrily. Hela knows that Migard is blocked from her for now, and those young warriors will not enter her kingdom. Her eyes and mouth full of flames, Hela exclaims that the mutant trick will be their undoing. ‘Hela has not finished with that upstart Valkyrie. By the Shattered Ship of Nails, my revenge is just beginning!’


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Asgard
Ever have one of those days when nothing seems to go right? Well, the New Mutants have had that kind of week. Their co-leader Danielle “Mirage” Moonstar has been possessed by an unknown flaming entity. Their teammates Rusty Collins and Sally Blevins a.k.a. Skids have were captured by the government’s mutant police, Freedom Force, and their Ship headquarters disappeared into outer space with their mentors, X-Factor, on board. Now, the New Mutants have been inexplicably transported to the dimension of the Norse Gods - and a bad day just keeps getting worse….
‘I hate this, guys! I really do!’ Tabitha “Boom-Boom” Smith exclaims to her friends and teammates as they watch a flaming Mirage ride her crazed winged horse Brightwind, also flaming nearby. Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair asks what they are doing up in Asgard, while Boom-Boom wants to know how they even got here. The alien New Mutant known as Warlock replies that they were teleported, but why and by whom his sensors do not know. Julio Richter appropriately codenamed Rictor points out that someone obviously brought them here - or maybe sent them here. Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta exclaims that it must have something to do with Dani’s transformation.
An anguished Wolfsbane looks up at her deranged best friend and remarks that perhaps now they are in Asgard, some Asgardian magic will counteract whatever it is that has transformed Dani. ‘Oh, Dani! I know you don’t really wish to harm us. Please gain control again. Please be yourself!’ Rahne pleads. Rahne switches into a wolf so she can establish the rapport that Dani shares with all animals. Communicating with Mirage, Rahne asks her to tell her how they can save her and defeat that “thing”.
Rahne thinks to herself that she can hardly feel Dani’s presence in her own body anymore, Rahne wonders how Dani can stand contact with this vile energy, ‘How did she find the courage to fight it for so long?’ Rahne tries to be like Dani, to show Dani courage and reach out to her, reach out through the fire and darkness and pain - but she can’t, and screams as she is forced out of her wolf form and into that of a half-girl half-wolf. ‘FOOL!’ the frightening and twisted Mirage screams, ‘Let this serve as a warning!’ she cries as she blasts her dear friend with her deadly fire.
Mirage boasts that she is undefeatable, ‘For my business is death!’ she exclaims, warning the New Mutants that death will come, in time, to own all of them. Mirage warns her teammates not to interfere in her business any longer, or else she will take a premature interest in theirs!
Meanwhile, in the nearby dimension of Hel, the Asgardian Goddess of Death, Hela, searches for her creature. ‘She was on Migard…and then she was gone! But how…and where?’ Hela wonders, before looking into a scrying glass and seeing that Mirage is here in Asgard, specifically in Valhalla, below the Peak of the Valkyries. Hela thinks that it must be impossible - and yet it is true, the scrying glass reveals Moonstar’s presence. Hela wonders how Moonstar got here, as the dimensional path between Migard and Asgard, the Rainbow Bridge, has been shattered.
Hela remarks that Asgard now floats in the Negative Zone, severed from Earth for all time - so she wants to know what enemy has the strength and cunning to teleport Moonstar here. Hela exclaims that Moonstar was to have laid waste to Earth, then bring the souls of Earth’s greatest heroes to swell her army of the dead. Not completely disappointed that her plan was ruined, Hela is pleased that Moonstar’s little friends the New Mutants were transported here with her. ‘Their souls must satisfy me…for now!’ she exclaims.
Meanwhile, ‘That…monster hurled fire at her!’ Rictor exclaims. Warlock announces that his sensors detect no burns, despite the flames, and the New Mutants co-leader Sam “Cannonball” Guthrie asks Rahne if she is all right. Mirage begins to fly away on Brightwind and Sunspot runs after her, telling her to get out of here, ‘And good riddance!’ he exclaims, reminding Mirage that Rahne is supposed to be her best friend, not to mention the nicest amongst the New Mutants, ‘And you tried to kill her!’
Rahne gathers herself and tells Bobby not to scold Dani, as she is being driven to destroy them by the entity who is possessing her. Rahne informs her friends that Dani is in such terrible pain, as if the entity is trying to drive Dani from her own body. Rahne declares that Dani won’t leave, that with all her will she is fighting for control, and that time, she won. Rahne reveals that Dani forced the creature to spare her, but next time, they will not be so lucky. Sam grabs hold of the weakened Rahne and thinks to himself that Rahne must miss Dani more than any of them, except maybe him, as he and Dani used to share leadership. ‘Now I have to somehow save Dani - and see that none of us dies doing it. Might be a tall order!’ Sam thinks solemnly.
‘So this is Asgard?’ Boom-Boom remarks as she looks around. ‘Not much to it, is there? Just rocks and that creepy castle’. Looking up at the pink-colored sky though, Tabby exclaims that the sky is ‘definitely weird’. Sunspot points out that as Tabby and Rictor are new to the team, they haven’t been here before, so wouldn’t notice, but the sky is supposed to be weird. However, Roberto remarks that it used to be the most beautiful azure. He begins to say that he wonders why it is no longer that color, when Boom-Boom interrupts, exclaiming that she wonders why their Ship took off back on Earth, and what will happen to Rusty and Skids, and why they are even here - teleported down in the middle of nowhere. ‘It’s ugly and scary and I hate it!’
Sunspot uses his incredible strength to lift up a massive boulder and tells his new teammate to quit whining, remarking that Asgard is not so bad once you get used to it. ‘I am not whining! And I don’t want to get used to it. I want to go home!’ Tabby snaps back. Bobby begins to spin the rock around on one finger as he reminds Boom-Boom that Dani was chosen to be a Valkyrie, adding that he met the Warriors Three and that beautiful women fell all over him. Bobby adds that the Asgardian sun makes him stronger than ever.
Sam, Bobby’s best friend, tells him to chill out, as this is serious, they are not here on vacation. ‘Kill joy!’ Bobby exclaims as he tosses the rock away, informing Boom-Boom that they weren’t on vacation last time either, and that most of the team still didn’t want to leave! Suddenly, there is a mighty cry, ‘Who screamed?’ Bobby asks as he and the others rush over to where the large rock landed.
As everyone gathers around the gaping hole in the ground, the New Mutants are suddenly attacked by a horde of unfriendly dwarfs! Boom-Boom screams as she is pilled in. ‘What the heck?!’ exclaims Rictor. Pulled down into a series of caverns and surrounded by the dwarfs, Wolfsbane points out that they are not in Nidvallir, so wonders where they could be and why there are so many dwarfs here. ‘This is so gross!’ Boom-Boom shouts, while the dwarfs, armed with deadly swords and other weapons proclaim the New Mutants to be spies. ‘Our secret assault on the castle has been discovered!’ one of the dwarfs remarks, while another shouts ‘Kill them!’ and leads the attack against the confused New Mutants.
‘They stink!’ Boom-Boom exclaims as she cowers to one side. ‘They’re like roaches! They’re everywhere!’ Rictor tells his friend to chill out, and stands in front of her, promising that he wont let the dwarfs get to her as he unleashes his seismic powers. Warlock and Sunspot set about punching through the dwarfs, while Cannonball blasts along and grabs Wolfsbane, protecting her from an assault, he reminds her that her wolf-form is strong, but not invulnerable, like he is when he is blasting.
Sunspot smashes one of the dwarfs while pointing out that the New Mutants are stronger, but are far outnumbered. ‘Perhaps you are, self friend, but self is not!’ exclaims Warlock as he shifts his alien body, giving himself six arms which he swings around in a circle, punching several dwarfs out. Rictor asks Warlock how long he can keep that up. ‘It’s only a matter of time before…’ his voice drifts off as he battles on.
‘A matter of time before what - we’re overwhelmed? Destroyed?’ Boom-Boom thinks to herself. ‘In the hands of those filthy creatures? This is the most awful thing that’s ever happened to me!’ Tabby thinks to herself that she cannot let them touch her, that she would rather die than have them touch her! She thinks that she has to stop them, and a time bomb - a really big one will save them all! Boom-Boom tosses a time bomb skywards, ‘Self friend…no!’ Warlock shouts, but it is too late, as the cave begins to fall in on the New Mutants and the dwarfs.
‘The lass commands explosives!’ one of the dwarves shouts as the dust and debris begins to clear, and everyone gathers themselves. One of the dwarves exclaims that the master forger, Eitri, trusted them to advance in stealth and silence. ‘We could not have announced our coming more boldly had we blown trumpets outside their door!’ another dwarf snickers. Shocked, Cannonball exclaims ‘Eitri’s leading this expedition?’ He then calls out to his teammates, telling them to stop fighting, declaring that these dwarfs are not their enemies.
‘You’re joking, right?’ Tabby exclaims horrified. She explains that brought the ceiling down on the dwarfs so that the New Mutants could escape! Suddenly a dwarf comes up behind Boom-Boom and grabs her, putting his hand over her mouth so she cannot speak anymore. Another dwarf boasts that the New Mutants are their prisoners, and the New Mutants are all rounded up, as Cannonball declares that he is a friend of Eitri’s, and asks them to tell Eitri that Sam Guthrie is here, and to be quick about it if they value Eitri’s good will!
Back in Hel, Hela grins as she watches the New Mutants planning to ally themselves with the dwarfs. ‘Fools leading greater fools…and I shall be the richer for it!’ she exclaims. Hela knows that Moonstar still resists her spell, for Moonstar has a loyal heart, and a spirit stronger than Dani herself realizes. ‘So far, she has refused to harm her friends…but in time, that will change!’ Hela exclaims, before deciding that for now there are others equal and more than willing to accept that task.
‘You who used to be a Valkyrie!’ Hela exclaims to one the fire-engulfed corpse-like Valkyries that stands before her. ‘Valkyries we remain, Queen of Hel!’ replies the Valkyrie, adding that they still have all of the Valkyries powers and prerogatives, ‘But we serve death now, instead of life!’ Hela tells the Valkyrie that she and the others have served her well, bringing all sorts of men to Hel, before informing her that dwarfs and sons and daughters of Earth have invaded the chambers beneath her palace. ‘I would have you prepare a party to greet them…’ Hela exclaims.
Deep beneath the Valkyries castle, the caverns wind through narrow fissures and grottos big as mead halls, the dwarfs carry their captives. Boom-Boom wants to know why, if Cannonball knows the dwarfs leader, why they are in chains, not to mention why they are invading the Valkyries’ castle, as she thought the Valkyries were supposed to be good and carry off heroes who die in battle to feast and fight in Valhalla. Tabby adds that it sounds like whatever changed Mirage must have changed all of the Valkyries!
Sunspot grins and tells Boom-Boom not to worry, with his augmented strength he can free them anytime, so he doesn’t see what the problem is. Cannonball remarks that it seems awfully convenient that when they were transported to Asgard, they arrive on top of where the dwarfs were tunnelling. Rahne tells Sam that she was just thinking about how odd that was, while Sam thinks to himself that they learned before that in Asgard, there is no such thing as a coincidence. Sam wishes that he could talk to Dani, admitting that he took her so much for granted as co-leader, as she thought and acted so quick, he wishes he could think as fast. Sam thinks upon his decision not to fight the dwarfs and how his teammates, particularly Boom-Boom are unhappy about his decision. Sam recalls that the dwarfs did not even say for certain if they would tell Eitri that he is here. Sam wonders what will happen if Eitri does not remember the New Mutants, or doesn’t care about them. ‘Hope I made the right decision…’ Sam thinks to himself.
‘This place will hold you!’ a dwarf exclaims as he tosses the chained New Mutants into a small room. ‘You’ll tell Eitri -’ exclaims Sam before he is cut off, ‘Maybe we will, youngling…and maybe we wont!’ the dwarf replies before slamming the door on them. ‘Nice fellow, real cooperative!’ Bobby remarks sarcastically, before declaring that they don’t have to pretend to be prisoners anymore, and uses his incredible strength to break free of his chains. Warlock boasts that his method of egress is more elegant, which he demonstrates by shifting his body into a large key, undoing the chains which Sam and Rahne are tied in.
Sam pulls his chains off while thinking that the rules that govern existence are different here in Asgard than they are on Earth, he knows that, but he doesn’t know how he will understand how Asgard really works - he played his hunch, but doesn’t know if he got it right. ‘BLAST!’ exclaims Sunspot as he smashes his fists against the solid cavern door. Bobby declares that he has tested it with all his strength, but it won’t splinter or budge. He turns to Cannonball and says to his best friend ‘I think you just ordered us into an air-tight trap!’.
Warlock comes to his leaders defense, exclaiming that Cannonball is too wise to make such a terrible mistake, before shifting his form again so that he reaches through the bars on the door and inserts his fingers, transformed into a key, into the keyhole. But Warlock is fried with magic that shields the lock, and is forced back into the dungeon. Wolfsbane tends to her friend, while a furious Boom-Boom exclaims ‘I hate this! We’ll be stuck here forever!’ Sunspot folds his arms across his chest and agrees, exclaiming that he doesn’t like it, and that Dani wouldn’t have stuck them in here, she would have had a plan.
Cannonball replies that just because they do not like his plan, doesn’t mean he hasn’t got one, before pointing out that they do not need to insult the dwarfs by breaking out of their cage. Sam points out that the dwarfs are a power here on Asgard, so they don’t want them for enemies. He reminds his friends that they are up against something too big for them to handle alone, and are therefore going to need all the allies they can get. ‘Dwarfs as allies. Swell’ Boom-Boom mutters as she goes over and stands by her long-time X-Terminators teammate and friend Rictor.
Rahne continues to tend to Warlock, while Cannonball solemnly thinks to himself that he hopes he guessed right about Eitri, because his answer to Bobby earlier was one big lie! Sam admits to himself that he was counting on Bobby’s strength to bust them out of here almost as much as Bobby was. Sam supposes that if Eitri doesn’t come through for him, then there are always Boom-Boom’s time bombs….
Rictor tells Boom-Boom not to sweat it, pointing out that it is not much worse than being in jail. Rictor reveals that he and his father were thrown in jail in Costa Rica. ‘Did I ever tell you -’ Julio begins until Tabby tells him not to try and cheer her up. ‘I’m not just some kid!’ she exclaims. Boom-Boom begins recalling all the events that have happened to them recently, beginning with how they got sucked into Limbo and demons attacked the world. ‘That was bad enough!’ Tabby exclaims, adding that at least Illyana was from Limbo and had some control over it, ‘And we did manage to save the world’.
Tabby continues, reminding Rictor how Illyana was turned into a six-year old kid, and the New Mutant’s school was destroyed. Rictor points out that X-Factor took the New Mutants in, like they did with the two of them. ‘Then Dani turned into a monster…and Rusty and Skids were captured by Freedom Force…and our Ship disappeared…and X-Factor abandoned us…and we end up here…surrounded by dwarfs!’
Boom-Boom snarls that she got them free, but that Sam said they have to be captured, and no matter what she does, things don’t get any better, they just keep getting worse. ‘I’m an ordinary Earth kid! I’m good at video-games…not other dimensions!’ Tabby declares that before X-Factor found her she was doing okay, as she had her time bombs and could take care of herself. ‘Then X-Factor saves me…yeah…saves me, right!’ she mutters, remarking that she joins up with the New Mutants and suddenly it is disaster city. ‘It stinks, you hear me, Rictor?’ she shouts, before telling Rictor to leave her alone and pushes him away.
Boom-Boom turns her back to everyone, and Sam goes over to Rictor, telling him to give Tabby some space, that she will snap out of it. But Rictor replies that he isn’t sure, as this is not ordinary Boom-Boom antics, all this Asgard stuff is really bothering her. Rictor informs Sam that Boom-Boom saved him once, explaining that the Right, who had tortured him once before, were after him again, and he was ready to die, rather than let the Right have him.
Rictor remarks that it might have been enlightened self-interest on Boom-Boom’s part, after all, there was a goo chance that if he went, he would take her with him, but Tabby did talk him out of dying. Rictor declares that it was a turning point for him, as he was able to grab hold of himself for Boom-Boom’s sake. Julio tells Sam that he owes Tabby, and that Boom-Boom may think she is tough, but really she isn’t. ‘I know her, probably better than she knows herself’ Rictor claims, explaining that he tries to watch out for her and boss her around, steer her when she goes wrong. He declares that he will not let her down - no matter what.
Warlock asks Wolfsbane why bad things keep happening to his wonderful friends. Warlock regrets that they are trapped here and that he cannot get them free, adding that he doesn’t want anymore of his friends to die like Doug, or to go away, or become monsters… his voice trails off and Rahne hugs him, telling him not to worry as Sam has a wonderful plan and that soon they will be free with their friends. ‘Such faith!’ Sam thinks to himself as he looks at Rahne, before admitting that they tend to see Rahne as being weak because she is the littlest and the most emotional, before acknowledging that it was those very qualities that got through to Illyana and saved them all during the Inferno. Sam thinks that Rahne is so special, she will be strong for as long as there is somebody around who needs her to be. ‘She’s really the heart of this group!’
Rahne tries to put a smile on Warlock’s face as she tells him to cheer up, as it really isn’t that bad. Sunspot watches them and tells himself that he is acting like a moping fool. ‘They’ll open this cage eventually and then you can clobber them!’ he thinks to himself, before approaching Warlock and telling him that Rahne is right, and he begins juggling the chains that he broke, reminding Warlock of how easily he broke them. ‘This is what I think of their paltry effort to keep us here!’ Bobby exclaims, before slipping and falling over, the chains thudding to the ground beside him.
Sunspot remarks that even he can’t juggle and dance at the same time, to which Warlock grins and boasts that he can, as juggling was a game on his planet. Sunspot asks Warlock if he thinks he still can, and tosses him the chains, ‘Show us how it’s done!’ Bobby exclaims. Warlock begins juggling the three parts of the chain with ease, and Rictor exclaims that it is awesome, before tossing him one of his cuffs and asking if he can handle more. ‘Mix gets more fun’ Warlock exclaims as he juggles the cuff too. ‘How bout this?’ Sam asks as he tosses a padlock towards his teammate. ‘It’s not a problem!’ Warlock grins.
‘Ah…but can you juggle this?’ Boom-Boom exclaims with a grin before tossing one of her time bombs at Warlock. Suddenly though, Cannonball grabs Boom-Boom hard by her arm and asks her if she has lost her mind, before Rahne calls out to Warlock and tells him to get rid of it. Warlock exclaims that he must protect his friends and shifts his body into a shield, only for the time bomb to fizzle out. ‘It fizzled!’ Sam exclaims, to which Tabby replies that of course it fizzled, as she made a dud.
Upset, Boom-Boom exclaims that she wanted to play too, and that she thought Sam of all people would understand. Sam begins to apologize to Tabby, when suddenly the door slams open. ‘Sam Guthrie, son of my heart…why art thou in jail?’ a dwarf asks as he enters the room. ‘Eitri!’ Sam shouts as he rushes up to his friend, remarking that he supposes Eitri’s friends didn’t want to let a good thing like the New Mutants get in their way. Sam turns to his teammates and reminds Eitri that he has met Rahne, Warlock and Bobby, before introducing him to Rictor and a sullen Boom-Boom as his friend the weapons-smith extraordinaire and leader of the dwarves.
Shortly, in the vast caverns beneath the Valkyries castle, the dwarf-army pauses to refuel and welcome their old friends. Sunspot remarks that they are lucky that when he tossed that rock it broke through on top of the dwarves raiding party, before admitting that he was disgusted when Sam called of the fight, but admits that Sam was right, they are a lot better off now than they were before. ‘Sure are, good grub, Eitri!’ Rictor agrees. ‘If you like pickled herring’ Boom-Boom mumbles, not eating anything. Sam watches Boom-Boom and thinks to himself that she is still grumpy, which is partly his fault, and tells himself that he was wrong to go off at her about that time bomb. Sam thinks that he was edgy and was not thinking clear. He realizes that Boom-Boom would never hurt them and decides to apologize after dinner.
Eitri declares that it wasn’t luck, but the fates who led the New Mutants here. He goes on to explain that these caverns were once natural, but were converted before living memory to dungeons and warehouses, like the cell that the New Mutants were locked in. He informs the young heroes that the Valkyries have forgotten about the caverns existence, but that the earth-memory of dwarves is strong.
Rahne approaches Eitri and informs him that when she was here in Asgard last, she met a wolf-prince, and asks if Eitri knows what happened to him. ‘Wolf-prince, lass? What would he look like?’ Eitri replies. Rahne shifts into a half-girl half-wolf form and replies ‘Like this…only he’s silver…and a boy of course…and very handsome!’. ‘Wolf-prince? Oh boy! What next?’ a wide-eyed Boom-Boom thinks to herself.
Eitri replies that he hasn’t seen a wolf-prince as they have been busy as of late to notice the passing of changeling princes, explaining that the Valkyries used to only take the souls of slain warriors, but now they have changed, and horribly. Eitri reveals that now the Valkyries have begun to raid the living, and have stolen several of the very best dwarf weapon-smiths. ‘But…that’s against the rules!’ Cannonball exclaims.
‘That it is, lad!’ Eitri agrees, explaining that they have sent complaints to Odin, but whether the complaints have reached him or not, they do not know. Eitri adds that with this accursed Negative Sky and the attack of the demon Annihilus, the all-father has had a lot on his mind, so they are left to take matters into their own hands. Eitri declares that they shall infiltrate the Valkyries castle and win back their forgers. Eitri tells Cannonball that it is a pity their teammate has fallen to the curse, but that it is good to have them in his ranks. ‘You chose well, son of my heart, when you made bold to join us!’ Eitri exclaims.
Boom-Boom slaps a hand against her forehead as she thinks ‘That means more fighting…gross…and beside these little…monster dwarfs!’ Tabby thinks that her only consolation is that things cannot get any worse, when, suddenly, Wolfsbane calls out to Sam, ‘Look! No - it can’t be!’ she exclaims. Three flaming Valkyries flanked by several warriors appear, and one of the Valkyries declares that they think Cannonball chose well too, exclaiming that he and his friends will be joining them in Hel…forever! ‘I knew it…it did get worse! I just knew it!’ Boom-Boom shrieks as she and her friends look on in fear….