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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
The Fire Within
DaCosta International Establishes S.F. Office
By Leslie Smallwood
SF Herald Staff Writer
In order to expand their rapidly growing Pacific Rim marketplace, Brazilian multinational DaCosta International recently opened the doors of the new San Francisco regional office. Last year, the company purchased the Norton Building in the city’s financial district after Mayor Willie Brown wooed the corporation away from Vancouver, its initial choice. At a press conference, DaCosta CEO Getulio Villa-Lobos, said “We look forward to a rich and rewarding relationship with this beautiful city.”
Inside the boardroom of the San Francisco office of DaCosta International, a Board meeting is underway. ‘DaCosta International is under siege, my friends. If we don’t act now, we could lose everything to this psicopata - this madman’ Villa-Lobos tells the Board members. One of them tells Villa-Lobos that he doesn’t like it any more than he, before asking if he is certain they are talking about Roberto DaCosta. The Board member declares that during his own unfortunate encounter with him, he referred to himself as Reignfire. ‘As he did when he broke into my home’ Villa-Lobos declares, adding that he believes it to be a sign of Roberto’s mental instability.
Villa-Lobos exclaims that if Roberto, or Reignfire, or whatever he wishes to call himself believes he can threaten this Board into submission, they will prove him wrong. He announces that, to that end, he has contracted specialized professionals who can end this menace once and for all. ‘Are you talking about murder, Getulio? Good lord, man! He’s the son of this company’s founder!’ someone asks. Villa-Lobos replies that he will do anything and everything necessary to protect this company’s best interests. ‘End of discussion’.
National Security Agency Memo
From: Asst. Director Barnett Chambers
To: Agent Louisa D’Angelo
RE: X-Force
Memo:
Lou, in wake of Zero Tolerance disaster, our database on the mutant strike team called X-Force needs to be revised.
Please update information on Danielle Moonstar a.k.a. Mirage a.k.a. Moonstar… Theresa Rourke a.k.a. Siryn… James Proudstar a.k.a. Warpath… Tabitha Smith a.k.a. Boom-Boom a.k.a. Boomer a.k.a. Meltdown… and Roberto DaCosta a.k.a. Sunspot.
All these mutants are extremely dangerous and volatile. It’s imperative that we keep them under constant surveillance.
Best,
Barnett Chambers
Los Angeles, a fire rages, and a scene of destruction is the backdrop for the teenage mutant heroes known as X-Force. ‘This is worse than I could ever have imagined’ Danielle exclaims. DanI adds that when she was with the Mutant Liberation Front, she prayed that the mutant called Reignfire wasn’t her old friend and teammate, Sunspot. Siryn declares that now they know the truth. ‘It’s a small consolation, considering what we just witnessed’ Siryn declares. Meltdown asks what are they going to do to stop Reignfire. She knows they have to stop him, but points out that as long as Reignfire controls Bobby’s body, any damage they do to him, they do to Bobby. Warpath reminds his friends that Reignfire brought them to Las Vegas to kill them, and declares that unless they can separate Sunspot and Reignfire, he is going to use their friend to try again.
High overhead, Sunspot tries to scream - but no sound comes from his mouth. ‘I’ve won, Roberto. You tried to kill me and failed. Now where tow once existed, there is only one!’ Reignfire exclaims. Sunspot tries to move, but his body ignores his commands. Instead there is another voice that speaks through him. Another mind that controls his mutant body. He has been possessed by his greatest enemy. ‘Sunspot is dead! Reignfire is triumphant!’ the evil mutant booms. ‘I won’t let you manipulate me…’ Sunspot utters. Reignfire tells him to give it up. ‘My will is far stronger than yours. Your body belongs to me now’. ‘How can this be?’ Bobby wonders.
‘Confused? Of course you are. You were always so blissfully unaware of the psychic link we share - a link so strong that even the telepathic prowess of your former drill sergeant Cable could not sever it completely!’ Reignfire declares. Reignfire declares that, moments ago, when Sunspot used Doctor Joshua’s weapon to return him to his original physical state, he realizes that their telepathic bond remained, and with it, he could manipulate him. ‘Just as I did a year ago when I made you believe you were me’.
Down below, Siryn points out that Reignfire’s flight is erratic, which suggests to her that Bobby is trying to resist Reignfire’s control. Theresa asks Dani if she can create a little psychic static to keep Reignfire off balance. ‘You’re the boss’ Dani replies as she readies a psychic arrow, before telling James that she needs a hand, and asks him if he has ever seen Colossus do this with Wolverine. ‘The “Fastball Special”? It’s legendary’ James declares as he lifts Danielle up by her feet. ‘Just give me some air, and I’ll take care of the rest!’ Dani exclaims, while James shouts ‘DO IT!’ as he throws Danielle into the air, and as she rises, she creates the bow of psionic energy. Long ago, her grandfather taught her the fine points of archery. These days, Dani uses the metaphor of the bow and arrow to focus her psionic assault against her opponents.
Sorry, Bobby. This is going to hurt you more than it does me!’ Dani remarks as she blasts Bobby/Reignfire. There is a brief moment when Dani’s arrows find their mark, and Dani is connected with her target. Reignfire screams, and in that instant, the turbulent mental energy generating from the duelling psyches feeds back to the source, stunning Dani with a cascade of conflicting thoughts, images and emotions belonging to both Sunspot and Reignfire. As Danielle plummets to the ground, Reignfire flies down towards her, telling her that she hurt him, so he is not going to let the fall kill her. ‘I’m going to do it myself!’ he booms. Bobby tells Reignfire that he will not let him do this, but Reignfire declares that Bobby can’t stop him.
Suddenly, several of Meltdown’s plasma “time-bombs” explode around Reignfire, preventing him from reaching Dani. ‘Blast her!’ Reignfire exclaims, while Warpath congratulates his teammate on keeping Reignfire occupied, while Dani’s limp body falls into Warpath’s arms. ‘Listen you jerk, Bobby and I haven’t had much time to sort through this new boyfriend-girlfriend thing by ourselves - so this demonic possession bit is really complicating things, y’know?’. Tabitha exclaims, throwing more “time-bombs” into the air. Meltdown jokes that she has always made a point never to date guys with more than one personality. ‘Three’s a crowd’ she adds.
Reignfire throws energy down at Tabitha and tells her not to delude herself into thinking her relationship with Bobby means anything. ‘He doesn’t love you!’ Reignfire exclaims, while Sunspot declares ‘That’s not true’, not that anyone but Reignfire can hear him. ‘He’s incapable of loving anyone but himself!’ Reignfire exclaims as he knocks Tabitha backwards. ‘You’re lying!’ Bobby exclaims. Reignfire drops down beside Tabitha and grabs her by the throat, and declares that Tabitha tries so hard to be a good girl. ‘But I know the truth about you’. Reignfire exclaims that he knows what Tabitha did when she was a runaway, living on the streets of New York. ‘Scared…vulnerable…’ he remarks. ‘You don’t know anything about me…’ a weary Meltdown retorts.
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‘You’re so wrong. Every memory Bobby holds is mine - including all of the intimacies and confidences that you and he shared!’ Reignfire exclaims. Reignfire tells Meltdown that she will never beat him because she is unwilling to do what it takes. ‘You don’t want to kill again, do you?’ he asks her. ‘Maybe now, but that doesn’t mean I won’t play dirty!’ Tabitha exclaims  as she shoves a time-bomb down the front of Sunspot/Reignfire’s pants. ‘You wouldn’t!’ Reignfire gasps, horrified. ‘Try me’ Meltdown warns him. ‘You’ll regret -’ Reignfire begins, but Meltdown interrupts him, beginning the countdown. ‘Three. Two. One’ she exclaims, but Reignfire takes to the sky, telling her that this isn’t over as he flies away. ‘Men. They’re so easy’ Meltdown remarks.
What is the sinister secret of the Damocles Foundation? What is their disturbing connection to the Transglobal Eugenics Cabal? Can we protect our children from bio-engineered experiments being performed on American citizens?
A leading scientist of the Damocles Foundation, Doctor Joshua, crawls across the road, between vehicles, thinking to himself that he never should have taken on Reignfire alone. ‘My body’s one mass of blistering flesh. I’ll have to spend a week in regeneration to recover from these burns’ he thinks to himself. ‘Thank God these clothes are made of unstable molecular fabric. This is humiliating enough!’. Dr Joshua realizes that he should have gone to the committee and requested a team to back him up. ‘They’re not going to be pleased I acted so publicly…’ he thinks to himself, when, suddenly, he is lifted into the air!
‘Where do ye think ye’re going, boyo?’ Siryn asks. ‘Huh?’ Dr Joshua exclaims. Holding Dr Joshua by one leg, Siryn tells him not to think that they didn’t notice him. ‘Ye brought that big ol’ disruptor to the party - the one that Bobby used against Reignfire’ Siryn remarks, before asking Dr Joshua to tell her who he is and what his connection is to Reignfire. ‘I can’t tell you!’ Dr Joshua retorts. Siryn drops Dr Joshua onto the ground: ‘That’s what a six foot fall feels like. Now imagine what’ll happen if I drop inform fifty or a hundred’ Siryn warns Dr Joshua, who exclaims ‘Alright. I’ll talk. I’ll talk’.
(Flashback, narrated by Dr Joshua)
Dr Joshua explains that he is a geneticist who has devoted his life to the study of mutation in higher life forms, and reveals that Reignfire was Project Nineteen  - a mutant life form he had been studying since the horrific circumstances of its birth. Dr Joshua reveals to Siryn that although Project Nineteen’s protoplasmic body lacked any human characteristics, a psi-talent determined Nineteen possessed a rudimentary consciousness, and when the External known as Gideon contracted him to run a series of experiments on Sunspot, he found the means to increase Sunspot’s ability to absorb and process heat and light.
Dr Joshua continues, revealing that at the same time, he introduced a sample of DaCosta’s cell tissue into Nineteen to see if Nineteen would replicate Bobby’s photovoltaic ability, the result being far more amazing that Dr Joshua anticipated, with Nineteen transforming into a mirror image of Roberto Dacosta, as if Bobby was the template for his existence. ‘Soon after, Nineteen escaped, after setting fire to my laboratory and killing five people’. Dr Joshua concludes.
(Present)
Dr Joshua concludes by telling Siryn that a few months later, Nineteen reappeared as Reignfire with the Mutant Liberation Front. ‘I regret I was unable to stop him then’ Dr Joshua adds. ‘Now that we’ve established yuir complicity in this abomination, I need t’know if we can separate Reignfire and Bobby’ Siryn exclaims. Dr Joshua replies that it is possible, but he doesn’t know if the disruptor will be enough to stop him now that he has bonded with Sunspot. Siryn warns Dr Joshua that if anything happens to Sunspot, X-Force are going to hold him responsible.
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Nearby, Warpath and Danielle take cover behind a truck, which Warpath has turned on its side to block the flame attack from Reignfire. James asks Dani if she is okay, and tells her that she was out for a few seconds. Dani replies that she knows and tells James that she is much more of a telepathic sender and not used to being on the receiving end. Dani reveals that Bobby is trying to fight him, but Reignfire’s hatred is so intense.
Up in the air, Reignfire asks ‘Why do you risk your lives for Roberto DaCosta? He’s nothing but a selfish, egocentric, spoiled rich kid! He doesn’t deserve your loyalty!’ James lifts the car up above his head and tells Reignfire that he is wrong. ‘Bobby braved the fires of Hell to keep a demon from stealing my soul - and there’s no way on Earth I’m going to let you take his!’ James shouts as he throws the truck, which slams into Reignfire. James and Danielle run from the explosion generated by the truck, and James declares that Reignfire could have dodged the truck ordinarily, which means Bobby is still fighting for control. Dani asks James if he thinks the mutant that Reignfire used to cancel out there powers would help them. ‘What was his name? Short Circuit?’
At that moment, Short Circuit is standing amongst fleeing civilians, gazing up at the blazing sky, he exclaims ‘Pretty’.
James tells Dani that even if they could find him, he doubts he would be much help, as he thinks Short Circuit has a mental disability. James points out that Reignfire and Locus exploited Short Circuit’s simple nature. ‘And I don’t want to be guilty of that’ he declares. ‘Heads up, ye two!’ Siryn exclaims, as she throws the molecular disruptor down to James, who catches it. ‘Wow. This is a big gun. I feel like Cable - the old Cable, I mean’ James declares, before asking Siryn how she knows this will succeed any more than it did the first time.
‘Meet Dr Segismund Joshua!’ Meltdown declares as she shoves Dr Joshua towards James and Dani. Tabitha informs them that Dr Joshua was on Gideon’s payroll when the green pony tailed External was holding Bobby captive. ‘I no longer work for Gideon!’ Dr Joshua assures them. ‘Duh. Gideon croaked a while back along with most of the other X-Ternals’ Tabitha jokes, before remarking that it is funny, as she feels like she should know who killed the Externals, but she cannot remember. ‘Anyway, today’s lightning round question is who’s signing your pay check these days?’ Meltdown asks Dr Joshua, who replies that he will not tell.
Siryn tells her teammates that they will grill the nutty professor later, before explaining that Dr Joshua told her that they have to hit Reignfire with everything they have got before the symbiosis becomes permanent. ‘And if we don’t succeed, what then?’ Danielle asks James. ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that’ James tells her.
The Malhela Mountain Range lies in the northern part of the small Balkan nation of Latveria. Its highest point, the peak of Mt Sorcistino, reaches 18,600 ft. The heavily wooded mountains supply an abundance of mineral resources while the less wooded areas provide grazing areas for livestock.
From the 1988
Richards Encyclopedia
Atop a snow-covered mountain side, Sally “Skids” Blevins - a former New Mutant and friend of X-Force, huddles to keep warm. ‘Why did you bring us here? It’s so very cold…’ Sally utters, to which the aggressive young woman known only as Locus crawls through the snow nearby and exclaims that it was Skids’ bio-electric field which interfered with one of her trans-spatial portals. ‘You’re lucky you’re in one piece and not scattered across the globe!’ Locus exclaims. Sally replies that she doesn’t feel lucky. ‘All I wanted was a normal life. Then you and Reignfire had to show up and attack my friends. And now look at us, stranded on some mountain!’ Skids declares.
‘If you hadn’t screwed up my ability to open a doorway out of here, I’d leave you to freeze!’ Locus exclaims as she lunges at Sally, shouting that, right now, she is going to feel a lot better pounding her whiny little college girl face into a pulp. Locus grabs Sally by her collar, but Sally tells her that they shouldn’t be fighting, as they may need to work together to survive. ‘If you think I’m doing anything for you, you’ve got a -’ Locus begins, before suddenly, both she and Skids fall into a trance-like state. A voice suddenly exclaims ‘Now, now, ladies, there’ll be no fighting. After all, you’re my guests’ says the mysterious new arrival, stroking a cat.
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Inside the Love Me Tender Chapel, a wedding conductor dressed like Elvis Presley is in the process of marrying a couple, when suddenly, a massive blast of flame interrupts the procession, as Sunspot / Reignfire crashes into the chapel. Reignfire tells Bobby to stop struggling and to accept the inevitable. ’Never!’ Bobby declares as their shared body thrashes about as each tries to gain control. ’Look at the little human sheep run. Don’t you see, they fear mutants and with good reason. They know that in the end, they will have no choice but to bow down before us or die at our feet!’ Reignfire exclaims.
‘No, that will destroy everything we’ve worked for -’ Bobby begins, but Reignfire tells him that he has wasted his power and wealth. ’But I won’t make that mistake’. Reignfire declares that with the resources of DaCosta International at his command, he will wield more power than he ever did with the Mutant Liberation Front. ’I will resist you until I am an old man!’ Bobby shouts, still struggling within his own body. ’Don’t fight me, Bobby’ Reignfire declares once more, when suddenly, X-Force arrive, and Siryn exclaims ’Fer such a powerful mutant, you spend a lot of time talking to yuirself!’
Reignfire hovers in the chapel, telling X-Force that they are wasting their time. ‘Roberto DaCosta is as good as dead’. Reignfire declares that Sunspot is nothing more than an annoying buzz in the back of his head. ‘We wouldn’t be here if we thought that were true’ Siryn exclaims. Dani readies a psychic arrow as she declares that they do not give up on their friends. Reignfire tells Danielle that she should have stayed in Asgard. ‘You could have lived forever!’ he exclaims, telling her that instead she will die with the rest of her friends in some tawdry Vegas wedding chapel.
Meltdown throws some plasma time-bombs at Reignfire, telling him that he has it wrong. ‘You’re the one who should’ve gone to see Seigfried and Roy instead of messing with X-Force!’. Reignfire grins as he declares that he is going to take great pleasure in shutting her up permanently. Hovering off the ground, Siryn exclaims ‘Now, Jimmy, while he’s so sure of himself’. James holds the disruptor, remarking that normally he doesn’t like guns, but that in this case, he will make an exception. ‘Joshua’s molecular disruptor?’ Reignfire asks, wide-eyed.
Warpath fires the odd weapon, and Siryn joins in the assault with an ultrasonic scream. With both energies blasting towards Reignfire, the disruptor beams being to break Reignfire’s physical bold on Bobby’s body - while the piercing decibel level of Siryn’s wail makes it impossible for him to continue to sublimate Bobby’s psyche. Reignfire screams, ‘You’re killing me…you’re killing us…!’. Sunspot exclaims that it is better to die this way than surrender to Reignfire, while Meltdown rushes over to Warpath, telling him to stop. ‘We’re killing Bobby!’ she exclaims, while Danielle holds her back, telling her to take it easy, and that she knows this is hard to watch, but that it is the only way.
‘Give us back our friend!’ Warpath shouts, when suddenly, ‘Can’t take any more…you’re ripping me apart!’ Reignfire exclaims as his muck-like form is ripped from Sunspot. ‘I hurt…’ Bobby whispers, holding his face, while the muck remains of Project Nineteen a.k.a. Reignfire warns X-Force that they are going to pay for this. ‘All of you!’ he shouts. ‘Bobby, are you all right?’ Meltdown shouts out as she runs over to Bobby, lying on the floor. Tabitha asks Bobby if he is going to be okay, and whether he wants them to call an ambulance. ‘Guess you’re feeling a little more comfortable about these public displays of affection’ Bobby smiles while Tabitha puts her hands on him.
Helping Bobby to his feet, Meltdown tells him he should take it easy and try to rest awhile. ‘Not while Reignfire is still alive’ Bobby exclaims. ‘Not so high and mighty now, eg, Reignfire?’ Bobby asks, while the remains of Reignfire lie in a corner. Bobby tells Reignfire that they have unfinished business. ‘Before you invaded my body, you leeched all my body heat’ Bobby reminds Reignfire, before telling him that it is time for payback. ‘And I’m going to take your fire’. ‘No, you can’t do this. I’m Reignfire!’ the villain booms as his form begins to fade even more. ‘You were right. I have wasted my powers. I won’t make that mistake again!’ Bobby exclaims, standing over the last of Reignfire’s form, before Bobby returns to his solar form, ‘Hah! I’m back!’ he exclaims, happily.
Meltdown tells Sunspot to turn down the heat before he sets this whole cheesy love-me-tender shack on fire. Bobby apologizes and remarks that he cannot help himself. ‘I feel better in ages!’ he exclaims. Suddenly, a voice exclaims ‘Mr DaCosta, you will power down right now. And Mr Proudstar, place your weapon on the ground slowly’. ‘Who the -?’ Tabitha asks, spinning around.
Outta My Head
By Jerry King
Nobody sings a Cole Porter tune the way Ella did…Who says romance is dead? I caught Reed Richards buying flowers for his lovely wife Susan…When did the Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law Enforcement Division become the Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Division? You can call them compact discs, they’re still records to me.
Jordan Holiday from SHIELD introduces himself as he stands in front of several other SHIELD officers and tells everyone to step away from Reignfire. Moonstar approaches Agent Holiday and asks him if he is going to try and arrest X-Force too. Agent Holiday reminds Moonstar that she worked for SHIELD, which is why he is going to let her and her friends walk, but Reignfire - or whatever is left of him - and Dr Joshua are now SHIELD’s business.
Siryn suggests that it may be better this way, pointing out that they do not have the means to keep Reignfire locked up. James announces that he is worried about Skids, reminding his friends that she disappeared with Locus, which means she could be anywhere in the world. ‘Then we have to hope she can take care of herself’ Dani points out, to which Meltdown declares that she wants to know how they are going to get back to Boulder. ‘Our car and all our stuff are there’. Taking flight, Bobby tells his friends to head for the airport and await his call. ‘I’ll take care of everything’ he assures them.
Light My Fire
Passionate SWF looking for human torch to spark a fiery romance. Must like cats.
‘…so anyway, the guy picks me up and takes me to some south of market bondage club on our first date. No, I’m not into that scene. It’s gross. And why is that the only men who wear chaps are overweight and hairy? Ugh. Of course I’m not going out with him again. Uh-oh. Gotta put you on hold. Someone just walked in the lobby’ a receptionist blabbers to someone over her headset telephone while examining her manicured fingernails. The new arrival approaches the receptionist and remarks that he doesn’t have an appointment, but he is sure Getulio will see him. ‘Would you please tell him Roberto Dacosta is here?’
‘Roberto…? DaCosta…?’ the receptionist gasps, wide-eyed. Bobby asks her if she is alright. ‘You seem like you’re about to hyperventilate’ he points out, asking her if she wants a glass of water or something. The receptionist replies that she is fine and that nothing is wrong. She proceeds to buzz Villa-Lobos, and when she gets a response she informs Villa-Lobos that Roberto DaCosta is here, and wants to see him. ‘What should I do?’ she asks. Moments later, the receptionist motions to a staircase and tells Bobby that Villa-Lobos says he can go straight in.
Moments later, Bobby bursts into Villa-Lobos’ office: ‘Getulio, how are you? Bet you didn’t expect to see me!’ Bobby grins. The doors slam, and back down at reception, the receptionist panics: ‘Omigod…omigod…this is terrible. Poor Mr Villa-Lobos!’ she exclaims, before ringing security, announcing that she has a code red. Dropping under her desk, she mutters that she isn’t paid enough for this, when suddenly, a quartet approach her desk, and one of them remarks ‘Ma’am, we recommend you leave the area’. ‘Things could get ugly’ another tells her.
Soon, upstairs: ‘Do you want to knock?’ one of the quartet asks. ‘I don’t see the point’ another replies. ‘Whose turn is it?’ the first asks. ‘You ripped open the vault door during that hostage crisis in Miami’ the second points out, before the double wooden doors are kicked open, sending shards of wood everywhere.
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Misty Knight holds a gun, while Colleen Wing has a sword ready, and Luke Cage and Iron Fist are ready for action. ‘Move away from the Board members, young man. We don’t want to see anyone hurt!’ Iron Fist exclaims, while Luke Cage tells him that this doesn’t feel right. ‘Are you sure that’s Reignfire?’ Colleen asks. Lounging back in a chair at the board table, Bobby smiles and introduces himself. ‘I’m happy to tell you, in no uncertain terms - I’m not Reignfire’ Bobby announces, while one of the Board remarks that it appears they are no longer in any danger.
Heroes for Hire look at each other and Luke Cage asks if someone is jerking their chain. ‘We were told DaCosta is Reignfire’ he adds, while Iron Fist tells him that he senses no threat from DaCosta. ‘I could’ve been in St Barts this weekend’ Colleen complains. Villa-Lobos tells the Heroes for Hire that he apologizes for the inconvenience, and explains that they mistakenly believed young Roberto was a threat when it turns out he was merely a victim. Villa-Lobos adds that Rboerto has assured him Reignfire is in the custody of SHIELD. He tells the Heroes for Hire that he no longer requires their services and assures them they will be fully compensated for their time. ‘See ya!’ Bobby exclaims, waving at them. Leaving the room, Luke Cage remindshis teammates that he told them it is better to stay away from anything involving mutants. ‘They’re nothing but trouble’ he declares. ‘No offense, Colleen. I know you used to have a thing for the guy with the funny visor’ Luke adds. Colleen looks at Luke and mutters ‘Luke, Don’t even go there’.
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‘Flight 35 from Denver has now arrived at gate 4’ an announcer exclaims, while various travellers make their way through the airport, four weary teenage heroes carry their luggage - Warpath carries most of it - as they make their way to where Sunspot is waiting for them. ‘Wow. San Francisco. I’ve never been here before’ Meltdown exclaims. Siryn remarks that she thinks some of her childhood friends from Ireland have moved here, while Dani declares that she cannot believe Bobby arranged to fly them from Vegas to Boulder and now to San Francisco. ‘It looks like his trust fund is no longer frozen’ Dani adds, while Tabitha exclaims that she feels just like those guys on Road Rules.
‘Hey, guys, over here!’ Sunspot calls out. ‘A limo?’ Tabitha remarks as they approach Bobby. ‘Yeah, I’d say Bobby’s not broke anymore’ James declares. Bobby tells everyone to hop in and announces that he has a surprise for everybody. ‘So where exactly are we headed, Bobby?’ someone asks as they make their way through San Francisco. ‘Our new home’ Bobby reveals.
Soon, the five friends stand outside a large warehouse. ‘You brought this entire warehouse? How much money do you have?’ Moonstar asks. Bobby replies that he doesn’t have that much and explains that the company owns the building and leased it to him for next to nothing. ‘All I had to do was agree to keep out of the corporation’s business until I’m twenty-five’ Bobby explains, adding that the Board want to avoid another Reignfire incident. ‘Can you blame them?’ Meltdown asks as Bobby pushes the doors to the warehouse open.
‘What do you think?’ Bobby asks, standing in the large open warehouse, lots of cartoons stacked along the walls. ‘It’s huge!’ Tabitha exclaims. Warpath points out that they are going to have to do a lot to make this place livable, to which Moonstar adds that living in motel rooms and on other people’s couches was fun for a while, but that it will be nice to have their own place again. ‘We could do worse than settling in San Francisco’ Siryn points out as she flies around the lofty warehouse, before dropping to the ground and announcing that her only reservation is that she wished Sunspot consulted with her before he took this place.
‘Yeah, Bobby, we all should’ve had a say’ Tabitha remarks, leaning against a post, before declaring that she has dibs on the room with the view of the bay. Bobby apologizes to his friends but points out that they have been carrying him since his funds were frozen by Reignfire, and he thought this was his way of paying them all back with interest. Tabitha frowns and tells herself that now Bobby has his money back he is acting a lot more arrogant. ‘I think I liked him better when he was broke’ she tells herself, before Warpath declares that from now on, they make all living decisions together. ‘Now, when do we start the renovation?’ he asks Bobby, slapping him on the back. ‘Not yet. That’s my next surprise’ Bobby exclaims as he holds up airline tickets, telling his friends that after all the grief they have been through with Reignfire, he thought they deserved a genuine vacation. ‘Pack up the suntan lotion. We’re going to Hawaii!’


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Hot Lava
(Re-telling of legend)
Among the pantheon of Hawaiian gods, none is more beautiful and more volatile than Pele, Goddess of Volcanoes, sister of Laka, Goddess of the Hula, Poliuah, Goddess of Snow, and Na-Maka-O-Kaha’I, Goddess of the Sea and Water. Long ago, when Pele was still mortal, she braved the long journey to Hawaii to escape the jealous wrath of her older sister.
Na-Maka-O-Kaha’I was angry because Pele seduced her lover, and could not forgive her younger sister’s transgression. The two sisters fought with ocean and volcano fire for many, many years, and their battle shaped the islands. In the end, Pele’s mortal body was killed, but her death freed her fiery spirit to assume her rightful place as a true god.
Since that time, Pele has appeared to the Hawaiian people in many guises, sometimes as a beautiful girl or an old woman or as a flaming spirit. In an age when many of the old gods have been forgotten, the constant activity of the island’s volcanoes reminds us that Pele will not be ignored.
(Present)
The eaves at Kahaluu Beach on the big island of Hawaii are small in comparison to the giant swells of Oahu’s North Shore. Still, the challenge of riding a six-foot break shouldn’t be underestimated - especially when two people share the same surfboard. Those two people being Tabitha “Meltdown” Smith and Roberto “Sunspot” DaCosta of the teenage mutant heroes known as X-Force! Sitting on Bobby’s shoulders, Tabitha tells him that she doesn’t know if playing Frankie and Annette was such a good idea. Bobby tells Tabitha to relax, and that surfing is all about balance. ‘You’re not going to fall unless you keep squirming like that’ he tells her as a seagull flies past them.
Even though they were born with extraordinary abilities thanks to a genetic anomaly, those abilities are of little use to them now, as a massive wave rises over them. ‘Um, Bobby, I think this ride’s over. Can you say “wipeout”?’ Tabitha exclaims. ‘Oops!’ Bobby mutters, before the wave hits them, sending them crashing into the water, and flipping the surfboard up into the air. Meltdown sinks in the water, thinking to herself that is the last time she lets Bobby talking her into doing something like that. ‘No more cute couple stunts’ she decides, telling herself that this is their vacation, they are supposed to be taking a break from their normal danger-filled lifestyle. Tabitha decides that the rest of this trip she is going to lie on a lounge chair and let Bobby massage her back with suntan lotion. ‘If he wants to do this girlfriend/boyfriend thing, he’s gonna have to learn it’s a two way street’. Suddenly, on the ocean floor, Tabitha sees several strange creatures, marching back and forth. ‘Huh? Am I hallucinating?’ Tabby wonders.
Nearby, the rest of X-Force - Theresa “Siryn” Rourke, James “Warpath” Proudstar and Danielle Moonstar relax on the warm sand. As members of X-Force, a team dedicated to protecting the rights of mutants in a hostile world, they have stood up against government troops, demons and demi-gods. In some ways, their selfless dedication to their case has cost them a large part of their youth. They’ve earned a break. James leans back and holds up some suntan lotion while remarking that as long as the Impossible Man doesn’t show up like he did the last time they tried a tropical retreat, he is in heaven. ‘Nice of Bobby to foot the bill for this getaway’ he adds.
Siryn leans alongside and holds a large straw hat on her head, remarking that it is great to be here, but she wished Bobby would stop waving his money around, as he doesn’t need to buy their friendship. Lounging on a chair while reading a book, listening to music and sipping a drink, Dani remarks that Bobby is overcompensating for the past few months when his trust fund was frozen. She adds that Bobby has never been comfortable having to depend on anyone except himself.
Along the beach, Bobby emerges from the water, getting the water out of his ears, he remarks that not only did he lose his board, but the undercurrent washed him half a mile down the beach. He wonders where Tabitha is when suddenly, she emerges from the water as well, calling out to her teammates. Moonstar sees her first, while Siryn asks her friends if they think she is in trouble. ‘I’m on it’ James declares, jumping up and racing down the beach, his powerful muscles carry him through the surf, and he reaches Meltdown, asking her if she is okay. Sunspot arrives shortly after and Meltdown exclaims ‘Tiki Gods! There were about a million - okay, maybe half a dozen - Tiki Gods marching across the ocean floor!’ she tells the guys to look for themselves if they don’t believe her. But as James and Bobby look to the ocean floor, they see nothing but sand, rocks, and a lone fish.
Later, the five friends make their way to the village where they are staying, and Bobby tells Tabitha that no one is calling her a liar, but that he and James saw nothing except coral and fish. Meltdown exclaims that she is not making this up, that she know what she saw. ‘There was a…um…flock of Tiki Gods. School of Tiki Gods? Pride of Tiki Gods? Anyway, you know what I mean. They were real, I tell you’. Siryn smiles as she remarks that Tabitha has seen too many episodes of the Brady Bunch, and suggests that perhaps they should be watching out for giant tarantulas and Vincent Price as well. ‘Was that a pop culture reference, Theresa? I’m shocked’ Dani remarks. Siryn explains that Black Tom had a satellite dish installed on Cassidy Keep, so they got a lot of American television.
Suddenly, there is a loud rumbling. ‘What’s that?’ Meltdown asks. Moonstar remarks that it feels like an earthquake, while Warpath explains that these islands are geologically young, so there is still a lot of seismic activity. ‘Maybe I should have booked a trip to Cancun’ Sunspot mutters, while Theresa exclaims that it is not an earthquake, but a volcano. She adds that the flight magazine on the plane said that both Mauna Loa and Kilauea have been more active recently than they have in years. Suddenly, a rather large person sitting under an umbrella exclaims ‘Don’t you kids worry ‘bout no volcanoes. That’s just Tutu Pele - grandmother Pele - letting’ everybody know she’s still in charge!’
Later still, at the Coral Paradise Resort, a musician stands on a stage and sings away, while Moonstar and Siryn mingle amongst the crowd of people, Dani exclaims that she cannot believe they are at a luau. ‘I feel like such a Midwestern tourist’ she exclaims, while Siryn points out that with her red hair and fair skin, no one is going to every mistake her for a local. ‘Play “Tiny Bubbles”’ someone calls out to the musician. Dani motions to Sunspot and tells Siryn that it looks like Bobby is enjoying himself. ‘Yeh, but I don’t think Tabitha is’ Theresa remarks, as Tabitha watches Bobby with a waitress.
‘Just keep those tropical drinks coming, sweetheart’ Bobby tells the waitress. ‘I’ll be happy to, Mr DaCosta’ the waitress replies. ‘Mr Dacosta’s my father. Call me Bobby’ Sunspot tells the waitress. Another waitress walks past Meltdown, thinking to herself that she needs a raise, as she isn’t paid enough to put up with  every half-drunk haole. ‘Stop shaking your grass skirt in front of my boyfriend. He doesn’t need the encouragement!’ Meltdown tells the waitress. ‘Second thought. I need a vacation. Maybe I’ll go some place nice and cool’ the waitress tells herself.
Nearby, James gazes out over the beach and decides that the sunset is almost as spectacular as the ones he used to see from the mesas on the reservation. He notices a woman standing out in the water’s edge, and tells himself that something about her looks familiar. ‘Nah, it couldn’t be her. Could it?’ he wonders, before looking away. He turns back, and the woman has vanished. ‘I must be going as crazy as Tabitha and her “Tiki Gods”!’ James tells himself.
James rubs his head and tells himself that he may as well return to the luau. ‘I hope all the mahi mahi’s not gone’ he adds, when suddenly, a voice calls out ‘Looking for someone?’ James turns around. ‘Risque. Gloria’ he exclaims as Gloria Munoz stands before him in a purple dress. ‘I wasn’t imagining things. It is you’ James declares. ‘In the very warm and real flesh. Did you miss me?’ Gloria asks. Risque wraps her arms around Warpath’s shoulders, as James replies’ Tough question. Do I miss the woman with whom I had the most passionate affair of my life? Yes. But do I miss the woman who drugged me and dropped me in Detroit to pay off a debt she owed? No’.
Gloria asks James if he can forgive her. ‘I need you so. I’m in desperate trouble -’ she begins, but James holds his hands up ‘Time out, Gloria’ he declares, reminding her that she already suckered him once, and he is not going to play the fool again. ‘I’m sure you can take care of yourself’ he tells her. ‘James…please…’ Risque calls out as James turns and walks away. ‘Maybe in another life, Risque. This one’s way too short’ James replies, unaware that large bubbles are forming on the surface of the water. ‘There is the one Krotok seeks’ a strange creature exclaims as it emerges. Risque hears splashing in the water, and spins around, seeing the creature standing before her. ‘You will come with Krotok, female. Do not resist!’ the creature exclaims.
A frightened Risque screams for James, who comes running, slamming his fist into the creature, ‘Alright, this qualifies as trouble’ he remarks, before telling Risque not to think that this means he still has feelings for her, as he would have done this for anyone. ‘I’ll take what I can get’ Gloria replies as she moves away from the creature. ‘Aah…you hurt Krotok, human - now Krotok kill!’ the creature exclaims as it falls to the sand on the beach. James remarks that he would like to avoid that, before grabbing Risque and telling her that they can outrun it. ‘And while we do, you’re going to give me the four-one-one on what on Earth you’re involved in this time’ James adds.
Krotok gets up and clenches his firsts, boasting that he will hunt them down if only for the fact he can not be seen by the upholders. ‘The High Priest does not want to attract attention of human warriors called Ah-vehn-jerz’. Krotok boasts that he is not afraid of the “Ah-vehn-jerz”, but admits he is afraid of the High Priest.
Back at the luau, Tabitha and Bobby are dancing, as the former calls out to Theresa: ‘You have appointment on the dance floor to shake your booty’. Sunspot jokes that Siryn is Irish, so knows how to get jiggy with it. ‘Ye’re gonna pay for that on’ Siryn tells Bobby, before exclaiming ‘Oh, no. Not her!’. Siryn puts her hands on her hips as Warpath and Risque approach her. ‘You remember Gloria Munoz’ James tells Theresa, who exclaims ‘Believe me, I haven’t forgotten Risque, or what she did t’ye, Jimmy. Ye’re trouble, girlfriend’ Siryn exclaims.
Risque calls Siryn “Red” and remarks ‘I know you don’t like me’, before asking her to hear her out. Risque explains that she came to the big island with Sledge and Vanisher to obtain the “Heart of Pele” - an allegedly mystical artifact hidden when the first Europeans arrived on Hawaii. She remarks that they did not know a faction of subterranean Lava People also want the “Heart”, and while she and the Vanisher escaped the Lava People, Sledge was not so lucky. ‘Then that’s yuir problem, isn’t it?’ Siryn remarks. But James remarks that according to Risque, the theft of the Heart is responsible for the recent volcano activity, and unless it is returned, Kilauea and Mauna Loa are going to erupt simultaneously in a volcanic catastrophe that will destroy the islands.
Soon, at the Kilauea Caldera in Volcanoes National Park, X-Force follow Risque up the side of the volcano. Someone remarks that the rangers weren’t too happy to see them, as the recent lava flow forced the park service to close off this entire area. ‘Then we’re lucky Risque is so very good at wrapping people around her little finger’ Siryn mutters. Risque tells her companions that when you live in the shadow of a volcano, you must respect the god who calls it home. She adds that the rangers here know that Pele is not simply an old myth dusted off to sell souvenirs. ‘Promise me no one’s gonna be sacrificed to the volcano’ Moonstar asks, to which Sunspot tells Meltdown that she needn’t worry. ’You’re not a -’ he begins, but Tabitha tells him to shut up.
Risque climbs up onto a higher ledge, telling X-Force that Pele never demanded blood tribute from her believers, only Ku, the God of War demanded human sacrifice. She announces that this entrance will take them into the volcano so that they may learn the location of the Heart. Moonstar climbs up to the ledge and remarks that the way Risque speaks of Pele, one might almost think she was one of her faithful. Gloria remarks that Dani is a Cheyenne who has stood in the halls of Asgard, and asks her how she can doubt the existence of other gods.
Moonstar and Siryn make their way down the passage, and Dani quietly tells Theresa that she doesn’t know about Risque, as she gets a really strange vibe from her. ‘I’ve never trusted her’ Siryn quickly replies. ‘No, it’s more than that. Something about her is…well…different’ Dani explains, when suddenly, a large figure looms before the young heroes. ‘Look out!’ Meltdown screams, but as the figure enters the light: ‘Oh, calm down, kid, I’m not the Bogey Man!’ Sledge exclaims. Propped up by two walking-sticks, he tells the heroes that they are a sight for sore eyes, and that he has been wandering around the lava tubes for a day and a half.
‘Sledge!’ James exclaims as Sledge lifts him off the ground. ‘Good t’see ya, Proudstar!’ Sledge remarks, adding that he doesn’t know how Gloria managed to get him and his crew here, but he is glad she did. Gloria hangs her head, while Warpath tells Sledge that the feeling is not mutual, and that from what Risque has told them, he may be responsible for the volcanic destruction of Hawaii, before James asks ‘What happened to the Heart of Pele’. Sledge replies that a cave-in separated Risque from he and the Vanisher, the Vanisher grabbed the stone and disappeared. ‘And after all the trouble I went through to get that crazy S.O.B. outta limbo’ Sledge adds.
James remarks that this thing must be something to get him out of Detroit. ‘I thought you never left your warehouse’ he tells Sledge, who replies that he isn’t a shut-in, but with his legs, he doesn’t get around as well as he used to. ‘Anyway, the chance to snag the Heart of Pele was too enticing to pass up’ Sledge remarks, adding that the stone is said to possess the energy of a thousand volcanoes. ‘Do you know how many clients I got who’ll sell their grandmother to get their mitts on a new, alternate energy source?’ Sledge asks, when, suddenly, ‘THIEF!’ a voice booms. ‘Uh-oh’ Sledge utters.
‘Give us the Heart of the Fire Queen or die humans!’ one of the creatures exclaims. ‘Lava Men!’ Sunspot gasps, identifying the creatures. Siryn orders her team into defensive positions, while Sunspot takes to the air and Moonstar readies a psionic arrow. ‘See, I told you there were Tiki Gods!’ Meltdown mutters, while Sledge tells the Lave Men to take it easy. ‘Let’s be civil about this’ he tells them. One of the Lava Men steps forward, introducing himself as Jinku, High Priest and leader of the Lava Men. He declares that with the Heart of the Fire Queen in his possession, he will unite the lost tribes of Gortokia under his rule. ‘Then you’re the big kahuna we need to talk to. See, if we die, you’ll never see the Heart of Pele’ Sledge exclaims.
‘You dare threaten Jinku?’ the High Priest of the Lava Men asks. Sledge quickly exclaims that Jinku misunderstands, and tells him that he would love to give him the Heart, but that it is no longer in his possession, as his ex-partner absconded with it. ‘Gee. And if you can’t trust an upstanding citizen like the Vanisher, who can you trust?’ Sunspot mutters. Meltdown declares that she will never forgive the Vanisher for conning her and a bunch of stupid runaway mutants into doing crimes for him. ‘That bald creep should be the one with these lava giants breathing down his neck. And by the way, guys, I have two words of advice for you. Breath mints’ Tabitha exclaims.
‘If you do not have the Heart, you are wasting my time!’ Jinku exclaims, before ordering his fellows - Krotok, Styrak and Boraku - to kill them. Risque steps forward, ‘One moment, honoured Jinku’ she exclaims, before informing him that her companions are super-powered humans who can return the Heart to him. ‘Who gave ye the right to speak f’r us?’ Siryn asks Risque, annoyed. ‘Very well’ Jinku declares, telling them that two of them can go, and if they do not return in half of the upworld cycle, then the others will die slowly and painfully. X-Force look wide-eyed at Risque, while James tells her that she has put all of their lives in danger, and that he hopes she knows what she is doing. ‘Trust me. No one will die as long as I’m here’ Risque replies, while Bobby asks how they will know where to find the Vanisher.
Two hours later, above the island of Maui, Siryn and Sunspot soar across the sky, and Theresa tells Bobby that, according to Sledge, this is the hotel the Vanisher always stays at after he pulls a job. Siryn adds that this seems a little too easy to her, and that none of this feels right at all. ‘I think we’re being played like chess pieces’ she adds. Sunspot remarks that he doesn’t get it, as the Vanisher could be anywhere in the world, so why would he book a hotel on another island. The two friends drop down at the resort, and Siryn sees him immediately. ‘There’s the Vanisher. Not hard t’miss someone with his fashion sense’ she tells Bobby, adding that, even out of costume he is creepy.
‘Ah, this is the life’ the Vanisher thinks to himself as he relaxes in a deck chair whilst reading the newspaper and sipping a drink. ‘Everybody figures I teleported to another continent, when I just caught a shuttle over to a nearby island’ he tells himself, while deciding that when he gets back to the States he will call some guys he knows at the Advanced Idea Mechanics and see what they’ll offer him. ‘Let me take him out!’ Sunspot exclaims, clenching a fist, but Siryn tells him to hold on, pointing out that the Vanisher will disappear as soon as he sees Bobby burning up the sky.
Siryn tells Bobby that she will handle this, as the Vanisher doesn’t know her, and if he did, he is not going to be looking her in the face. With that, she hitches up her dress, turning it into a mini skirt and tank top. ‘Theresa, you wild woman!’ Bobby exclaims, to which Theresa tells him to wipe that look off his face, as the only reason she is doing this is to get the Heart back. As she walks over to the bar, Siryn tells herself that she feels like a fool vamping this way, but she is betting that the Vanisher will not be thinking with his head. ‘HELLOOOO…’ the Vanisher exclaims as Theresa leans over the bar, several feet from where he is seated. ‘Men are sooo easy’ Siryn thinks to herself, while the Vanisher calls out to her: ‘How you doing, babe? Can I buy you a drink?’ and he rushes over to her.
Theresa decides to lose her Irish accent, and that she will try her best “Rogue”. ‘That’s awful kind of you, sugah’ she tells the Vanisher as he stands by her. The Vanisher asks her what a fine looking lady like her is doing all by her lonesome, to which Siryn smiles and exclaims ‘If Ah tell you, darlin’, you have to promise to keep it absolutely confidential’. ‘Your secret’s safe with me, sweetheart’ the Vanisher smiles as he leans closer to Siryn, who suddenly unleashes her powerful sonic scream, directly in his ear. The Vanisher falls backwards as he exclaims ‘You’re the Banshee’s daughter! Why -’, but at that moment, Sunspot drops down and grabs the Vanisher by his shirt, ‘You know why, Vanisher. Think about how hot it’s gonna get for you if you don’t give up the Heart of Pele’ Sunspot exclaims. ‘What? I can’t hear anything…’ the Vanisher exclaims, to which Sunspot suggests he read his lips.
Soon, Siryn carries the Heart of Pele back to the Lava Men, while Sunspot carries the Vanisher by his feet. ‘The item you’ve all been waiting for - the Heart of Pele!’ Sunspot exclaims, while Siryn announces that the Vanisher had it packed in his travel bag along with one of the hotel robes and about twenty miniature bottles of shampoo. ‘Proof that he’s nothing but a petty thief’ Sunspot remarks. The Vanisher exclaims that his ears are still ringing, before Sunspot throws him at Sledge’s feet. ‘Serves you right, you double-crossing weasel!’ Sledge exclaims. ‘What’d you say?’ the Vanisher asks. ‘Serves you right, you weasel!’ Sledge shouts.
Siryn stands before Jinku, telling him that they have done their part, and asking him to let them go. Jinku takes the Heart of Pele and tells Siryn to do what she will, as she and her companions no longer concern him. ‘You will perish with the rest of her kind soon enough. Jinku holds the Heart of Pele up and declares that now that the Heart of the Fire Queen is his, he shall destroy the surface world with a purifying rain of molten fire. ‘And when the lava cools, the world will belong to my people!’ he booms.
‘I knew this wasn’t over’ James mumbles, while Siryn asks ‘What do you mean ye’re gonna destroy the surface world?’ Risque tells James that this is why she brought him here, and the heroes enter another part of the volcano - where lava flows beneath them, and a large drill-like construction sits in the middle of the volcano. Jinku exclaims that in the ruins of ancient Lemuria, he discovered ancient texts that described a mighty weapon that leveled continents. ‘I have built that weapon. Behold the Firebringer!’ he exclaims, declaring that once it is activated, it will awaken every dormant volcano on the planet in a symphony of molten destruction. Jinku declares that all that was missing was the Heart of the Fire Queen, Laholana, whom is known by the others as Pele. ‘And now the world ends as it began. In fire!’ he booms as he places the Heart of Fire into the Firebringer.
Risque exclaims that there is not much time, that they must take the Heart and return it to the center of the earth from which it came. ‘If we don’t, there’s no way to reverse the chain reaction the Firebringer will start!’. Siryn declares that Risque has been holding out on them, and asks her how much she knows about all of this. ‘Just do it!’ Gloria exclaims. Dani creates a psionic arrow and declares that it is time to find out of her psionic arrow can penetrate their lava hide, while Bobby tells her that he hopes so, because his solar flares do not mean much to creatures who bathe in molten fire. Meltdown throws some plasma time bombs at the Lava Men, while remarking that they should have invited their former teammate from the New Mutants, Magma, as all this lava reminds her of Amara.
Siryn swoops down and collects the Heart, but Jinku grabs her legs, telling her that she is as annoying as the Avengers, but boasts that this time he cannot be stopped. Suddenly, ‘Leave her alone!’ Warpath booms as he shoves Jinku, causing the High Priest of the Lava Men to release Siryn. ‘We may not be the Avengers, but we’re gonna stop this insane scheme of yours anyway!’. James boasts as he punches Jinku. ‘Blasphemer, you have destroyed my sacred mask!’ Jinku exclaims. Siryn tells Jinku that is not all they are going to destroy, and declares that she is going to put this giant reactor out of commission once and for all, adding that the Heart is useless now, before unleashing her powerful sonic scream, causing the Firebringer to fall into the lava beneath it.
There is a loud rumble, and rocks begin falling from the volcano. ‘This is exactly the reason I swore I’d never live underground again!’ Sledge exclaims, while Vanisher mumbles that the ringing has stopped, but now he hears a rumble. Warpath tells Siryn that he doesn’t know what she did, but now the whole cavern is starting to crumble. Suddenly, a very solemn looking Risque calls X-Force “Children” and tells them that they need not panic, and that they will be safe. She asks Siryn to give Sunspot the Heart, explaining only he can return it to its rightful place. ‘Only he can withstand the heat of the molten lake that feeds this volcano’.
‘James never said you were this spooky. How do you do that?’ Sunspot asks Risque, to which Moonstar exclaims that she should have pieced this together earlier, before announcing that she is not Risque. ‘WHAT?’ James gasps. “Risque’s” hair begins to float upwards and she stares at X-Force, before announcing that Danielle Moonstar is correct. ‘I am not Gloria Munoz’. “Risque” begins to grow in size, before announcing ‘I am Pele’. Standing in the lava of the volcano, Pele announces that long ago she hid her heart in the subterranean labyrinth of her palace her in Kilauea. ‘However, a spell placed by my jealous sister prevented me from reclaiming it for myself’ Pele explains, adding that she had need of warriors of noble heart, and when she found this would-be thief lost here, she learned of X-Force and took her form.
James asks where the real Risque is, to which Pele tells him that his woman is sleeping an enchanted sleep on the black sands of Kamoamoa Beach, unaware of what transpired here, before announcing that they must reunite her heart with the soul of the volcano. Pele tells Sunspot to take the heart, which he does as Siryn hands it to him, and Pele tells him to let her voice guide him. ‘Hard to refuse a god with legs like those’ Bobby remarks, before diving into the lava. ‘You are almost there!’ Pele tells him. ‘Now!’ she announces, enabling Bobby to emerge from the lava. ‘Did it work?’ Bobby calls out.
‘I’ll take that as a great big yes’ he remarks as he sees Pele transformed, and one with the lava. ‘You have my thanks, children. I am whole once again’ Pele declares, before telling them that anything they desire is theirs. Moonstar replies that they have learned that it is better not to take anything from gods, while Meltdown remarks that DanI is the expert. ‘Does this count as a mystical experience or a spiritual one’. Tabitha adds that she is never sure how reverent she is supposed to be when dealing with gods. ‘I mean, I could never sit still in Sunday School’.
Pele turns to the Vanisher and Sledge and tells them to be thankful, for today she feels merciful. ‘Leave my islands and never return’ she tells them. ‘Vanisher -’ Sledge begins. ‘Way ahead of you, Sledge. We’re outta here!’ Vanisher replies. With only X-Force remaining in the cavern, Pele tells them that they are welcome to remain in Hawaii as long as they desire. ‘Settle down, raise children, be happy. You have my protection and my blessing’. Meltdown replies that is a little more commitment than they were looking to make, before asking Pele, if it is not too much trouble, whether she could make sure that the rest of their vacation is uninterrupted.
And so, Pele granted the young mutants’ wish, and all was well on the big island. Sitting on a palm tree, Bobby declares that he hasn’t felt this relaxed since he doesn’t know when. Dani leans in to Bobby and remarks that all the craziness in their lives makes them appreciate these moments of peace more. James declares that the saved the world, so they deserve a little downtime. Lounging in a hammock which swings from the palm tree, Theresa remarks that it is too bad the quiet moments never last. Tabitha splashes around in the water under the tree, exclaiming ‘That’s why I say, enjoy it while you can! Whooo yeah!’


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
The Gryphon Agenda
Situated in a remote part of the Northern California Coast, near the Oregon border is the Aguilar Institute. It is a research and development facility specializing in bio-technology and its military application. Trespassers are not welcome here, such as the one being dragged through a corridor lit by green light. ‘Where are we taking this one?’ an armored security officer asks his colleague. ‘You know the drill. Any intruder exhibiting even the slightest hint of extra-normal ability belongs to the Gryphon the second guard replies. ‘Man, that woman gives me the nightmares. I can’t believe she let the doctors transform her into that…creature’ one of the men remark as they enter the Gryphon’s laboratory. ‘She’s not even human anymore!’ he adds.
‘Don’t let her hear you saying that. She put Lou in the infirmary for looking at her sideways during the big man’s last visit’ the other guard remarks. Standing up on a platform, the woman called the Gryphon tells the guards that they had better have a good reason for interrupting her regeneration session. One of the guards addresses her as Commander as he apologizes for the intrusion, before remarking ‘We thought you’d like to see this’. ‘Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in’ Gryphon snarls, grinning as she sees the unconscious intruder held up before her - Domino!
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, where after two weeks in Hawaii, the young mutant heroes of X-Force have returned to their new home, settling here after a harrowing cross-country journey prior to their Hawaiian vacation. The five friends walk past several civilians and out of a cinema which was playing The Big Sleep and To Have And Not Have. Danielle Moonstar asks her friends if they are glad they saw that instead of Immortal Rampage II. Dani tells her friends to forget Leo and Kate, as nobody sizzles on screen like Bogart and Bacall. Theresa “Siryn” Rourke tells Dani that she was right, as the films were absolutely brilliant.
Siryn adds that she can’t believe that Lauren Bacall was their age when she made To Have And Have Not. ‘I wish I was that cool’ she exclaims, before quoting “Ye do know how to whistle, don’t ye Ye just put your lips together and blow”. She then whistles, while Tabitha “Meltdown” Smith exclaims that she has never been to a theater with a cute little man who plays the organ before the show. ‘It makes you feel like it’s still 1940’ she tells her friends. Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta, Tabitha’s boyfriend, puts his arm around Tabitha as he exclaims ‘What did I tell you, Tabitha, this’ city’s got everything’. The friends approach their convertible, and James Proudstar remarks that the city doesn’t have parking. ‘This is definitely not the place to be driving a tank like our Eldorado’ he exclaims.
As the friends get into their car, Siryn remarks that it is not as bad as New York City. ‘Ye have to be a maniac to drive there’ she exclaims, while Tabitha declares that she is glad to finally have a place to crash, as she was getting pretty tired living out of her suitcase. The heroes begin driving back to their new home while Siryn points out that it is not as if they had much to pack after Zero Tolerance confiscated all their belongings when they cleaned out the Mansion. Sunspot tells his friends to wait until he gets a construction crew to start work on their warehouse. ‘It’s gonna be great’ he exclaims, boasting that they are going to have the X-Men wanting to crash with them instead of the other way around.
Siryn tells Sunspot that just because he got his trust fund back, doesn’t mean he has to pay for everything. ‘Excuse me for wanting to live in a little big to style’ Sunspot remarks, asking who wants to go back to living in underground bunkers again. ‘Not me’ he exclaims. Meltdown frowns while looking at her boyfriend, She tells herself that Bobby means well, but she wishes he would stop flaunting his money like that. ‘I can’t help thinking he’s turning back into the arrogant rich brat I met when I joined the New Mutants - and that’s not someone I want to be romantically involved with’.
Soon, they pull up at the warehouse. Siryn remarks that they would be on the street if DaCosta International didn’t agree to rent the warehouse to Bobby for next to nothing. She asks Bobby if he knows what real estate is going for in this city and exclaims that it is insane. Moments later, they enter the warehouse, but Siryn exclaims that the door is wide open. ‘I dinnae like the looks of this’ she remarks as they walk into the area set up as their living space, only to find an African-American man, about their age, sitting in a chair. ‘Hey, kids. It’s about time you got home’ he remarks, turning to them. ‘Thank God for syndication. I’ve seen this episode of The Simpsons a hundred times and it still makes me laugh’ he exclaims, adding that it is the one where Bart insults Australia’s honor. ‘He’s such a scamp’ the mystery man remarks, while Homer Simpson can be heard saying his famous “D’oh!” on screen.
X-Force look concerned about the stranger in their home. ‘Pardon us f’r interrupting yuir viewing enjoyment, but what the bloody hell d’ye think ye’re doing here?’ Siryn asks. ‘Why be polite, Theresa? This guy broke into our place. I say we throw him out!’ Meltdown exclaims, while Sunspot tells the intruder that he picked a bad place for a burglary. ‘Relax. If I wanted your stuff, I’d be gone. Not like you have much to take anyway’ he remarks, standing up, before Siryn tells him to explain himself and asks how he got past their alarm system. ‘You’re Theresa Rourke. The team leader. The Irish accent gives you away. It’s really sexy’ the stranger remarks, but an unimpressed Siryn just tells him to answer her question.
The intruder apologizes, pointing out that they were not home and that he didn’t feel like waiting outside, so he jammed the alarm and lock with a bio-electric field that he can generate. He explains the field disrupts mechanical and electronic devices. ‘My name’s Jesse Aaronson. I’m a mutant just like all of you’. Meltdown readies a plasma time-bomb as she tells Jesse that the fact he is a mutant does not give him the right to waltz into their home uninvited, while Sunspot powers up and points out that since Jesse knows who they are, he knows what they can do. ‘Think you can handle the heat, Aaronson?’ he asks.
Aaronson smiles as he exclaims ‘You’ve got to be Tabitha Smith and Roberto DaCosta, Sunspot and Meltdown, right?’. He declares that it is so cool to see other mutants use their powers. Aaronson turns to Danielle and James and exclaims ‘That makes you two Moonstar and Warpath’. ‘Who is this guy?’ Dani asks, while James announces that he doesn’t use Warpath anymore. ‘No offense. I didn’t get the memo’ Jesse replies, gape-jawed, while exclaiming that he is amped to finally meet them. Siryn frowns and folds her arms, telling Jesse that he is trying their patience. Meltdown tells him to get to the point as she asks him if he is here for a reason, or if he is just the first mutant groupie stalker.
Aaronson calms down as he admits that he almost forgot, before revealing that their friend Domino is kind of kin a ham up North and that he could really sue some help. ‘Umm ‘cause it’s kinda my fault that she was captured in the first place’ he announces. ‘Excuse me? Domino‘s a prisoner and ye‘re responsible?’ Siryn asks, before suggesting to Aaronson that he start from the beginning. ‘And if you’re lying to us in anyway, you’re dead’ Bobby warns him. ‘Heh…that’s what she said’ Jesse replies, before explaining that through his sources he learned that Domino had been released from a New York hospital following a nasty beating by an assassin named Blockade. ‘I found her recovering in a bar in the Lower East Side called the Violent Overthrow’….
(Flashback, takes place after X-Force (1st series) #76 and Cable (1st series) #56)
‘Don’t bother, pal. I got my drink and I’m not looking for conversation’ Domino exclaims as Aaronson approaches her in the nightclub, where Domino turns and looks out over the dance floor. ‘What if I told you I can help you find Ekatarina Gryaznova?’ Aaronson asks. ‘What did you just say?’ Domino asks, spinning around. Aaronson leans over the bar as he reveals that he knows that Domino for the past month has been making discreet enquiries about a former Zero Tolerance Sentinel who is not in SHIELD custody. ‘You must need to find her pretty bad’ he remarks.
Domino grabs Aaronson by his shirt and asks him who he is and what agency he works for. Aaronson replies that he is a free agent and does not work for anyone. ‘Then what’s your angle, kid?’ Domino asks, before letting Jesse go as he replies ‘A straightforward business exchange. I give you something you want, and you return the favor’. ‘Don’t keep me in suspense, kid’ Domino mutters, arms folded. Jesse explains that he wants Domino to help him locate his brother. ‘You tracked that rock star down when the whole world thought he was dead’ he reminds her, but Domino narrows her eyes and explains that the rock star owed her money. ‘First you’re going to take me to Gryaznova. And if you’re not on the level…’ her voice trails off, threatening to kill Jesse.
Domino and Jesse catch a redeye to California and head up the coast to the Aguilar Institute, a heavily guarded research compound that George Lucas apparently wishes he owned, according to Aaronson. Hiding in some bushes near the Aguilar Institute’s perimeter, Aaronson tells Domino that the Aguilar’s involved in some really scary biotech development, and that Gryaznova is on the payroll. Domino asks Jesse how he knows all this, to which Jesse explains that he has access to a lot of classified information, which is how he found Domino. ‘Sometimes knowing too much can get you killed’ Domino tells him.
‘That can be arranged!’ a security guard with high-tech armor exclaims as he drops down beside Domino and Aaronson, telling them that perhaps they did not see the sign back there, but that they are on private property. ‘Trespassers are target practice around here!’ he announces. Three other security guards wearing phaeton series III smart armor surround Domino and Aaronson. According to Jesse, the battle suit’s computerized sensor array actually adjusts the suit’s defenses and offences according to opponent - or in this case, target. Jesse and Domino raced through the bushes, and Domino moved like nothing Jesse had ever seen. But unfortunately the phaeton system was faster, and Domino was struck down. Aaronson did what he thought was the only sensible thing, and ran - his cowardice saved his life, though. When one of the guards got close enough, thinking Jesse was harmless, Jesse proceeded to use his mutant powers to crash the phaeton armor system.
(Present)
‘Wait. Time out. Are you saying you just left Domino there?’ Tabitha asks angrily. ‘What kind of man are you? Don’t you have any sense of honor?’ Sunspot asks. ‘For a tosser who claims to know so blasted much, why didn’t you know about these guards and their armor?’ Siryn asks. Aaronson replies that the Aguilar Institute does not exactly post their security stats on the internet and claims that he knew as much as he could. Jesse declares that he would not have helped Domino by sticking around, which is why he came to X-Force. ‘Well actually, I tried to find Cable first, but, man, he’s impossible to track down’.
Moonstar tells Jesse that he seems to know a lot about Domino and them, but they don’t know a thing about him. ‘How do we know you didn’t set Domino up, and are trying to do the same to us?, she asks. Jesse tells X-Force that if they do not want to believe their friend is in trouble, then whatever happens to her will not be all his fault. Jesse reveals to X-Force that his brother vanished off the face of the planet fifteen years ago, and that Domino is the best - maybe the only - hope he has of ever finding him. ‘The emotional pitch. Guilt and sentiment. A hard combination to ignore’ Moonstar remarks, while Siryn exclaims that if Gyraznova works for Aguilar then Domino may be in grave danger. ‘Remember what she did to Domino last time’ Siryn adds, while James remarks that, for what it is worth, he thinks Aaronson is on the level. Tabitha points out that there is one problem - ‘How are we going to get up North?’ she asks. ‘Let me take care of that!’ Bobby exclaims.
Forty minutes later, on top of the DaCosta International Office in downtown San Francisco, X-Force, all in their team costumes, and Jesse approach a helicopter. ‘Oh, how I long for the PACRAT. Life was so much easier when we had our own souped-up stealth jet’ Meltdown mutters. Sunspot tells his friends that it pays to have an international corporation’s air fleet at your disposal, before turning to the man standing beside the chopper and asking him ‘Are you Weaver?’. The man tips his cap and tells Bobby to call him Zeke, before asking what the flight plan is. Bobby explains that they are going to Humoldt County and tells Zeke that this is not company business, so he is going to need his discretion.
‘Half of my passengers are execs who aren’t traveling with their wives, if y’know what I mean’ Zeke replies, opening the door to the chopper, he tells Bobby that so long as his credit is good, then he is the king of discreet. Once inside the chopper, Siryn remarks that ordinarily she would not worry about Domino as she is the most self-reliant and capable woman that she knows, but that Domino has not been the same since Gryaznova implanted that device in her brain that interferes with her nervous system. ‘You mean she’s helpless?’ Jesse asks. ‘No, but the implant drastically reduced her reflex and reaction time’ Siryn explains. Jesse replies that Domino didn’t say anything and announces that he never would have asked her if he had known that was the case. ‘It’s a little late for regrets’ Dani tells him coldly.
Meanwhile, three hundred miles to the North, Domino is being held in a stasis tank, while Gryphon exclaims ‘I assume you came to see me, Domino’. Gryphon steps into the light, and remarks that Domino is a resourceful woman. ‘My affiliation with the Aguilar Institute is a closely guarded secret’. ‘Gryaznova!’ Domino exclaims as she sees her nemesis standing before her. ‘Call me the Gryphon - after the mythological beast who enacted retribution upon the deserving guilty!’ Gryphon declares.
Domino stands up, but Gryaznova tells her not to, explaining that the energy field surrounding her is quite inescapable. ‘In case no one’s said anything, you look awful’ Domino tells Gryaznova, referring to her transformed appearance. Gryaznova replies that it is the unfortunate result of her time as a Prime Sentinel. Gryaznova reveals to Domino that shortly after she was left incapacitated on the side of the road by her teammates in X-Force, Bastion discovered that she was a double agent planted in the sentinel corps to monitor the Zero Tolerance program’s activity.
Ekatarina reveals that, as punishment, Bastion reprogrammed the Prime Sentinel nanotechnology in her body, effecting an agonizing transformation into a monstrous abomination. She frowns as she explains that her employers brought her here and began a radical genetic treatment to counter the rampaging nanotechnology. ‘Just as the Gryphon in mythology was half-lion and half-eagle, I’m now a hybrid of nature’s most efficient predators. ‘You should have stayed at home, Domino’ Gryphon declares.
Outside, the helicopter approaches the Aguilar Institute, and Zeke remarks to Sunspot that he couldn’t help overhearing that he and his friends are not exactly on the guest list here. ‘The less you know the better’ Sunspot replies, to which Zeke tells them all to be careful. ‘When I was your age I thought I was invincible. I got scars to prove otherwise’ he reveals. ‘Thanks for the concern, Zeke, but we can -’ Sunspot begins to reply, when suddenly, the armor-wearing security guards appear hovering around the chopper, and one of them calls out ‘Attention helicopter, you are in restricted air space. If you do not turn around you will be shot out of the sky’.
‘We’re under fire! I didn’t sign up for combat duty!’ Zeke exclaims, to which Sunspot tells him to stay calm and to turn around like ordered, but at the same time get them as low to the ground as possible. ‘Once we’re out of the copter, get as far away as you can, and wait for our call!’ Sunspot tells him. Zeke does so, and when the chopper is low enough, Moonstar, Proudstar and Meltdown leap out, while Siryn flies herself and Jesse down, and Sunspot follows. ‘We’re flying! You’re amazing, Theresa. If I could do this, I’d never come down!’ Jesse exclaims. ‘It’s a lot more fun when someone’s not shooting at ye’ Siryn replies, before wondering where Domino would be held.
Meltdown exclaims that it looks like they don’t want visitors, while Jesse declares that Domino will be in the main compound, but that he didn’t get to take the tour. Siryn tells Sunspot and Meltdown to give James and Dani cover while they try to get into the compound. ‘I’m gonna see how immune this state of the art armor is to me singing voice!’ she exclaims. Meltdown begins throwing her time-bombs about, muttering that she wants to know why everybody and their sister has body armor except for them. ‘Remind me to sign up for Tony Star’s intern program when we get back home’ she jokes.
One of the armored guards follows Sunspot, ‘You’re going down, kid!’ he exclaims, while Sunspot remarks that Jesse was right, as the soldiers’ armor compensates for their powers. ‘Nothing we do seems to slow them down’ he remarks. ‘I hate being forced to play defense’ he adds, while Jesse takes cover around the corner of the Aguilar Institute building. ‘I don’t know how Theresa and the others can act so calmly under fire. It’s all I can do not to panic and bolt!’ he exclaims. Suddenly, Theresa realizes that Jesse is missing. She exclaims that she shouldn’t have taken her eyes off him as she doesn’t think he knows the risks he is taking with all of their lives.
Meanwhile, inside the Aguilar Institute security office, one of the security monitor guards tells his colleague that the cameras have gone off-line. The other guard suggests that it is probably just a power surge from one of the labs.
In truth however, the source of the surveillance system malfunction is not mechanical in origin, but human. For after gaining entrance to the Institute, Jesse disabled the cameras with a touch. ‘Hey, Domino, how’s it going? Did you miss me?’ Jesse asks as he approaches the stasis field where Domino is being held. ‘I thought you were dead. Why’d you come back?’ Domino replies. Jesse uses his powers on the stasis field, disrupting it while he reminds Domino that they have a deal. ‘I need you in one piece. So I went out and got help. X-Force’s outside’ he adds, before the field shuts down. Domino steps off the stasis field platform as Jesse asks her if she found the woman she was looking for. ‘She found me’ Domino replies, explaining why she was in the stasis field. ‘Now that I’m out, however, it’s time I paid her back for what she did to me’ Domino exclaims.
‘Right. The thing in your head. I can help you with that’ Jesse tells Domino as he puts a hand on her neck. ‘What the heck do you think you’re doing?’ Domino asks, to which Jesse tells her that she should have told him about the implant that is screwing with her nervous system. Jesse remarks that it is a mechanical device, so he can shut it down. Domino tells him to wait, as he doesn’t know what will happen, but too late, as she screams when his powers interact with the device inside her. Domino passes out, ‘Uh-oh’ Jesse mutters, before placing Domino on the ground, relieved that she is still breathing.
Suddenly, a voice exclaims ‘I don’t know who you are, boy, but if you broke her out of the containment field, you’re most likely her friend - and that makes you dead!’ With that, Gyphon reveals herself, and she slams Aaronson across the laboratory. She begins attacking him again, ‘I don’t recognize you. Are you one of those X-Force brats?’ Gryphon asks, punching him again, before he can answer her. Gryphon wacks him again while remarking that the Institute can always use another mutant specimen to dissect, unaware that Domino has regained consciousness.
‘I’ve got an electric taste in my mouth like I just French-kissed a nine volt battery’ Domino tells herself, while clutching her head, before realizing that the dull buzz in the back of her head is gone. She smiles, and lunges at Gryaznova, telling her to get away from Jesse. Gryphon spins around: ‘You’re conscious, Domino? All the better. This has always been about you and me’ Gryaznova declares, she pushes Jesse to the ground, and grabs some piece of machinery, ‘You’re not match for me, Domino. I’m stronger, faster and more deadly than you’ll ever hope to be!’ she boasts as she swings the lab machinery at Domino, who is knocked back.
Domino tells herself that the equipment must weigh a ton, and supposes that now might not be the best time to go head-to-head with Gryaznova. But Gryaznova bursts through the equipment with her enhanced strength, exclaiming that she has hated Domino ever since she put her in a coma in El Salvador. Domino dodges, thankful that she is starting to get her speed back, ‘But Gryuaznova or whatever she wants to call herself now is just as fast’. Gryphon slams Domino up against a wall, ‘I took away your legendary luck once before. What can I take from you this time? Your life?’ Gryaznova snarls, before deciding that as much as she hates Domino, she is more valuable to the Aguilar Institute alive. ‘Your friends, on the other hand…’ she begins.
Domino, with Gryaznova’s hand around her neck, manages to utter that she should respond in an appropriately witty manner, but as she grabs a loose electric cable, she shoves it against Gyraznova’s face: ‘But why bother?’ she remarks, before Gryaznova screams in agony. ‘You’re going to have to do better than that, Domino’ Gryphon exclaims. ‘I told you, I have been bio-engineered to be the ultimate predator’. Domino finds Jesse and asks him if his power permanently disables the devices it scrambles. ‘Not always’ Jesse replies. Domino remarks that she was hoping for a more definite answer, before racing towards a console, remarking that she will have to cross her fingers and hope that the force field generator still works. ‘Don’t move, Gryaznova!’ Domino exclaims, seeing Gryphon standing half on the stasis field platform.
Domino slams her hand down on the activation button, which energizes the force field around the Gryphon’s body, pounding her with the commensurate force and pressure of a falling building. Gyraznova screams once more, while Domino helps Jesse up, telling him that he needs to find X-Force and get out of here. ‘Can you walk?’ she asks. Jesse replies that he thinks he can, while remarking ‘So that’s Gryaznova, huh? Did she get up on the wrong side of life or what?’. ‘She’s a real charmer. No doubt about that’ Domino smirks, before telling Jesse that she and “Miss Congeniality” are going to have a little chat about the Aguilar Institute and who has been signing her pay check.
Despite her injuries, Gryphon painfully slides over to the control console, ‘This isn’t over, Domino!’ she exclaims as she presses a button. A recorded message suddenly announces that the emergency destruction sequence has been activated, and that exits will be sealed in one minute, with detonation in two minutes. ‘That’s the last thing I wanted to hear!’ Domino exclaims. ‘You’re going to die with me, Domino!’ Ekatarina snarls. Domino turns to Jesse and asks him if he can stop the triggering mechanism, but he replies that all he can do is shut down the computer that relayed the order. ‘If the detonator were in front of me, that would be different’ he explains.
Domino tells Jesse that they need to get out of here fast. ‘See you later, Gryaznova!’ she exclaims, when suddenly, the armored guards enter the lab. ‘Halt. Surrender or we will open fire!’ one of them warns Domino and Jesse. Domino asks them if they can do this another time. ‘In case you weren’t listening, the building’s about to explode!’ she tells them. ‘We’re not going to make it, are we?’ one of the guards asks his colleagues, when suddenly, one of them is struck down by a psionic arrow, courtesy of Moonstar. The rest of X-Force are with her, costumes torn and bruises plentiful, while Siryn exclaims that they would have been here sooner, but it took them a little while to realize that the guards’ armor lacked psi-shielding. Dani remarks that makes the guards vulnerable to her psionic arrows, while Meltdown tells Domino that it is good to see her again. ‘We were worried Aaronson got you killed’ Sunspot adds, while the computer announces that all exits have been sealed and there are sixty seconds to detonation.
‘Ten seconds to detonation’ the computer announces as X-Force make their way out the front entrance - presumably after busting the sealed exits down. Siryn flies above her teammates as she remarks that she hopes the soldiers’ armor protects them. ‘I’d hate t’think we were leaving them to die!’ she exclaims. Domino tells her that there was nothing they could do for them, as the phaeton armor becomes electrically charged if the wearer loses consciousness, so they couldn’t get close to them. Sunspot assures Siryn that they will call 911 when they get clear of this place. Suddenly, there a massive KABOOM, and the young mutants are blasted clear across the grounds.
Moments later, they are gathered in the nearby trees, and overlooking the ocean, Tabitha asks why it is that the bag guys always have the spread with the great ocean view. ‘What could this place possible have to hide that they’d rather blow the place to kingdom come instead of risking exposure?’ Siryn asks, adding that she would like to sift through the rubble and see what they find. ‘Me too’ Domino tells her, but that right now she thinks that is a bad idea as an explosion of this magnitude is bout to attract the authorities. ‘We can investigate the Aguilar Institute later. Right now we should disappear’. Domino adds that the last time she checked they were still wanted by the feds, while Sunspot tells his teammates that he will radio Zeke. ‘We’re gonna owe him a big, big tip’.
Later, back in San Francisco, X-Force, Domino and Aaronson are gathered in the living area, ‘Then the implant in yuir head’s out of commission?’ Siryn asks. Domino replies that until she sees a doctor she cannot be one hundred percent positive, but that thanks to Jesse she is definitely back in the game. Domino adds that she is curious about the Aguilar Institute and their research, as Gryaznova said it involved mutants. ‘Forget about the anti-mutant hate groups. They’re fanatics. We need to worry about the multi-nationals who see mutant kind as a resource to exploit and co-opt’ Jesse exclaims.
Siryn remarks that she hates to admit it, but that Jesse has a point. ‘Domino if you need help with any of this, we’re there for ye’ she tells her. ‘You’re practically family’ James adds, while Sunspot asks her if she is going to call Cable in on this. ‘No. Cable and I have gone our separate ways’ Domino reveals, before she and X-Force have a group hug. Domino adds that she has all the back-up she needs with X-Force beside her. ‘Wow, the new touchy feely Domino. That woman is full of surprises’ Meltdown remarks.
‘Don’t I get a hug, too?’ Jesse asks, standing nearby. Everyone turns to him as Domino tells him not to push his luck. She assures him that she is going to help him find his brother, as that was their deal. ‘But first, you’re going to have to explain how you know so much about all of us’. Jesse flops down on a sofa, ‘Before I give you the four-one-one on my life story, could we order a pizza first? I’m starving’ Jesse replies. ‘Can ye believe this guy?’ Siryn asks, turning to her friends.
Elsewhere, ‘We’ve located Bedlam in San Francisco, sir’ someone reveals as they hand over an aerial shot of San Francisco. ‘After all we’ve done for that boy, you’d think he’d show a little more gratitude’ a grey-skinned man remarks, stubbing out a cigar, while declaring that they are going to have to find their prodigal and bring him home before he destroys everything they have worked so hard to create….