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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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Bury Your Dead!
Do you ever feel like you’ve lost control of your life?
If you lived in Orloo, Ontario, Canada, you would. You might have tried to resist the sudden changes that threatened to consume the way of life your sleepy little town had know for over one hundred years. But in the end, your efforts would have been trampled by mini-malls, office buildings, four-lane roads and fast food franchises. Over the course of years that followed Department H’s opening and closing of a strange test facility at the edge of your town, you would come to accept those changes, though telling yourself that there are some things you simply have no control over - things like the swift current of progress - things like the weather - things like the past - all the things that can sometimes unexpectedly rise against you.
And for the citizens of Orloo, they are experiencing just that at this present point in time, for winds strong enough to blow people over and send cars literally flying down the streets are sweeping through the city.
Many such things also lurk within the Ministry of Defence’s Department H headquarters building. Do the residents of Department H think about those things? In particular, Eugene Milton Judd a.k.a. Puck, his codename for his role as one of the core members of Alpha Flight. It’s early morning, and Judd is lying in bed reading a lingerie magazine. ‘I may not be in the market for lingerie, but I sure am enjoying this catalogue,’ he says to himself, when there is a knock at the door. ‘Who is it? I’m…ah…busy in here, eh?’ Judd says, before asking if it is Heather.
Suddenly, a note is slipped under Judd’s door, and he quickly gets out of bed and opens the door to his quarters, looking to see if anyone is out there as he wonders who in the world would slip a note under his door, he’s even more surprised that he cannot see anyone, as this corridor is the only way out. Opening the note, Judd sees that it is on official Ministry of Defence paper, with “Classified Destroy After Reading” stamped across it. The letter is addressed to Director X and General Clarke, with the subject line “Hull House Protocol”. Several words have been blanked out with a marker, but the letter talks about a Hull House “subject” codenamed Cleric, and the circumstances surrounding this persons death. Scribbled across the bottom of the memo is “Judd, thought you might be interested in this, a friendly insider”.
Moments later, Judd is in his new blue and yellow uniform and enters Combat Centrale, where Heather McNeil Hudson a.k.a. Vindicator is testing out the capabilities of her new geothermal battle suit. The former long-time leader of Alpha Flight until its recent disbanding tells Chief Engineer Su who is watching her, that this doesn’t make any sense, for where exactly are her plasma blasts being drawn from? Heather reminds Su that he said the suit siphons them from tectonic reservoirs, but she doesn’t see how that can be possible.
Chief Engineer Su tells Heather that he can explain the physics of the battle suit to her after she has finished, before asking her to concentrate on the target devices. Judd makes his presence known by telling Heather that Combat Centrale isn’t for talking, its for fighting. ‘That said, you got a minute to talk?’ Su tells Judd that he isn’t scheduled for any tests this morning, to which Judd replies ‘That’s good, cause I sure didn’t study for none, eh?’
Dropping to the floor, Heather asks Judd why he always says that. ‘What?’ asks Judd. ‘”Eh?”’ Heather says, copying him and telling him that she feels like he is perpetuating the stereotype just for the fun of it. ‘Cant help it, Heather. Just the way I talk…eh?’ Su informs Heather that he will ready the next tests, but Heather tells him that she is done for now. She informs him that she still isn’t comfortable with the new capabilities, to which Su explains that any sort of control will take time, that she will acclimate.
‘I’d better!’ Heather remarks as she exclaims that she is not using any other new powers until she has got a much better idea about what is attached to her skin. As Heather and Judd begin to leave Combat Centrale, Su tells Heather to stop by his lab afterwards for today’s results, if she has the time. Judd asks Heather what is with the incessant training, pointing out that she has been at it non-stop for days now. Heather explains to him that she doesn’t understand the suit and certainly doesn’t trust it, adding that she would rather find out the suit’s weaknesses here than in the field where it might cost her her life.
Heather pauses before admitting that she is also looking for anything to keep her mind off Mac, explaining to Judd that it is like he is her dream come true and her worse nightmare all rolled into one - he is healthy, youthful and handsome, but he also has no real memories of their life together. She exclaims that it is eating her up, but that she cannot bear to leave the Department, especially with Walter all screwed up too. ‘I just wish I could be stronger. I always pretended to be’.
Walking slightly ahead of Judd, she asks him if he has any idea of what it is like to love someone who isn’t even aware of you. ‘Yeah. Sure do,’ Judd mumbles, looking up at Heather, before informing her that he got this note, when suddenly, Guardian appears on the view screen near them, informing all Alphans that there is a priority-1 emergency and that they are to meet in the briefing room. ‘Hold that thought, Puck. The past calls,’ Heather remarks.
A country away, in the State of Washington D.C. the past calls also, for the young mutant Wild Child has definitely lost control. Somewhere between his genesis in Gamma Flight and his current exploits with X-Factor, something snapped and his impulses became his actions. Kyle Gibney skateboards down a railing, and calls out to the person in front of him reading a newspaper to look out - but the person doesn’t hear and the two collide. ‘Hey! Watch out!’ the man cries as Kyle slams into him, sending his newspaper flying out of his arms. ‘Hey! Get your stinking newspaper outta my lap or I’ll rip it up!’ Kyle exclaims, that is until he seems the article on the back page - Alpha Flight Returns! Canada’s Finest Fight Once More the caption says, with a photograph of the new line up. Wild Child’s former team could probably help him with his predicament - the past calls, but will he answer it?
If your name is Michael Twoyoungmen, then you might feel the past is conspiring for control of the present this morning. As Michael Twoyoungmen trudges through an unseasonal ice storm in the reaches of the Northwest territories, he has a sudden urge to temper the tempest with the forces at his disposal, but he keeps his impulses under control - for now. Entering a small wooden building, Twoyoungmen greets Mr. Turndon and asks if there is anything for him in the mail. Turndon replies that there isn’t, but hands him a newspaper, explaining that it came in just before the runway was shut down.
Turndon informs Twoyoungmen that it says Alpha Flight is up and running, and asks him if he is going to go and join them. ‘You could be a hero again!’ The past calls, Dr. Twoyoungmen - do you answer it? ‘No!’ Michael replies, exclaiming that he will never go back, for helping the tribe here in Bear Lake is heroism enough for him, and adds that if Alpha Flight did not contact him, they mustn’t have wanted him, pointing out that the people of the tribe have long been in need of a good…Shaman.
There are men in the world who believe that the past belongs to the present - such as Alpha Flight’s “manager” General Jeremy Clarke. Heather and Puck have gathered in the briefing room, along with Guardian, Manbot, Radius, Flex and Murmur. Sitting at the table, Clarke informs Alpha Flight that an unusual crisis has arisen in the city of Orloo and they need to get to the bottom of it. Heather seems quite surprised by this and exclaims that Orloo is the city where she and Mac got married with odd Minister in that church…’And…never mind,’ she mutters.
Judd also remarks that Orloo is a flashback to his long lost past, as Guardian stands beside Clarke and explains to his team that reports of unnaturally violent weather phenomena began coming in this morning and they have now escalated to catastrophic levels. Concerned, Arlette Truffaut a.k.a. Murmur exclaims that they must go, for she lived in Orloo for many years. Adrian “Flex” Corbo agrees, for he lived there for practically his whole life. Adrian’s older half-brother, Jared Corbo a.k.a. Radius points out that they all lived there in that prison called Hull House. General Clarke interrupts the younger Alphans, declaring that he is sure they all have interesting stories to tell about Orloo’s past, but that they are concerned with the present…and its future.
Clarke informs everyone that earlier today high winds have led to immense destruction, and because of Department interests in the town, an Alpha strike squad is being sent to investigate. Heather declares that she refuses to go into another combat situation with the novices, for training against Master robots is one thing. Guardian informs her that the Department expressed a similar concern earlier, and therefore with the exception of Manbot to control Sasquatch, the reconnaissance unit will consist strictly of veterans, and the rookies will remain behind for additional training.
‘What? That sucks!’ exclaims Jared, telling them to forget it, for if he isn’t going to fight, then he isn’t going to train either. ‘I’m going back to bed’. Manbot whirs and clicks before telling Radius that he cannot, as he has been given orders. Jared declares that it is tough, because he has also been given free will, at least until someone in this place figures out how to suck that out of him too, he adds.
One hour later, Guardian, Heather, Judd, Sasquatch and Manbot are aboard a pilot-manned Alpha Jet, flying above the streets of Orloo. The past calls with a mournful voice that one can barely hear - and you worry about what the past will ask of you as much as you worry about whether you will be able to control it. Judd comments on how it is pretty weird coming back here after all this time, adding that he was keeping a low profile when he lived here, working at the orphanage and hiding out from everyone that was looking for him. ‘Who would have thought that it be the first way I’d meet you, huh, Mac?’ Judd remarks, adding that it is funny how little control they have got over life.
‘Meet me?’ asks Mac slightly confused, proclaiming that he doesn’t remember meeting Judd here, or even being here before. Judd tells Guardian not to sweat it and jokes that the Department must have left out that chapter when they rebuilt his memory. Mac just shoots Judd a cross look, and silence spreads through the ship, broken by Manbot who just whirs and clicks. Mac tells Judd that he doesn’t appreciate that comment, adding that he is the same man he has always been, just younger.
Suddenly, the Alpha Jet begins to shake in the air, and the pilot cries out as some shrapnel flies through the screen and hits him in the head, knocking him out. Mac immediately orders everyone to strap in, announcing that their pilot is unconscious. The Alpha Jet begins a nose dive towards a familiar looking church as someone asks Mac if he knows how to fly this thing. Pulling the jet upwards before it crashes, Mac replies that he has tested out on the simulator, but these winds are impossible. Sasquatch lets out a growl and Mac tells someone to strap him in, declaring that he has spotted a field to land in, but that they are going down hard, and in a mighty cloud of dust, the Alpha Jet lands in Orloo.
Back at Department H, in the monitoring station, one of the staff is watching Flex, and calls to a colleague, exclaiming that it should be interesting, as Flex is about to interrupt his brother.
‘Jared, you in there?’ asks Adrian as he bangs on his brother’s door. ‘What do you want, squirt?’ asks Jared as he opens the door. Flex tells his older brother that the guys in the combat room said he was supposed to help him with his training, as he keeps getting hit in the head by the ‘stupid target things’. Radius tells Flex to tell them that he doesn’t feel like training right now, as he is busy. ‘Doing what?’ asks Flex.
Jared is about to reply ‘None of your business,’ when Arlette walks out from behind him, excusing herself and pointing out to Jared that his brother needs him now, so he should go help him. ‘Awww, maaan!’ complains Jared. Flex looks quite puzzled to see Arlette in his brother’s room, but Arlette just bids them farewell.
Walking towards the training room, Radius tells his brother that he is going to pay for that. Innocently, Flex asks his brother what he and Arlette were doing in there. ‘Don’t be such a dork, she was giving me a back rub!’ Jared claims, before exclaiming that even if they were doing something more, he has got a built-in protection in his force field and it can never turn off, ever. Turning and grabbing Adrian by the neck, Jared exclaims ‘Who asked you to bring it up in the first place?’
Flex tells Radius to quit it, when they hear a scream coming from the room they are passing, a room with “Helios Project” labeled on the door. ‘What the hell was that?’ Jared asks before trying to open the door to the Helios Project. Adrian asks his brother why he always has to swear, and why he is so nosy, before pointing out that he won’t be able to get into the room as it has one of the security boxes on it, and neither of them have a priority access card. Taking a strand of his hair, Jared exclaims that his field is all the access he needs, and explains that he has been working on shaping it really thin, he does so, putting it into the tiny gap between the door and letting his field expand, so they can see who is screaming.
‘Whoa! It’s some kind of kung fu dude!’ Jared exclaims as he sees Shiro “Sunfire” Yashida, who crossly asks the scientists surrounding him why he is being caged here like some animal. One of the Department H staff tells the former X-Man that he will have to take that up with Doctor Huxley, explaining that when he tested positive for radiation poisoning, Huxley ordered him to be put into quarantine. The scientist adds that they have to wear these suits to protect themselves from him and there is nothing they can do about it.
‘No? Well there is something Sunfire can do about it!’ Shiro exclaims as he takes to the air in a burst of flames, informing the Department H staff that he was a lord in his own country and that he will not be treated like a dog in Canada by men he was told would help him with his powers. The scientists scramble about beneath Sunfire, pleading with him and telling him they will help him but that it will take time. Watching from the door, Jared smiles, exclaiming that he doesn’t know who the Japanese guy is, but that he thinks the two of them could definitely hang together.
Sometimes you gain control of a situation, while sometimes, you lose it. Like when one part of your mind starts telling another part of your mind that maybe you aren’t the great man you think you are, that maybe you’re just some hired worker’s idea of James MacDonald Hudson, rather than “Mac” himself. ‘Got to get out of here!’ exclaims Guardian as he bursts through the side of the Alpha Jet in a surge of electromagnetic energy. It is an unnerving thought on any occasion, but a particularly dangerous one to have just as you are charging headfirst into a potentially life-threatening situation.
As the rest of Alpha Flight emerge from the damaged Alpha Jet, Judd asks Mac if he isn’t overreacting a bit, pointing out that they did have a functional emergency hatch. ‘I’m not in the mood for your little jokes, Puck’ Guardian snaps back, to which Judd replies that he isn’t joking, and is about to give Guardian a piece of his mind when Heather points out that he is bleeding. Judd replies that it is just a scrape and that he will fine in a minute, but points out that they have to get their pilot to a medic, as he is hurt bad.
Guardian tells Heather and Manbot to take the pilot to a medic, but Manbot informs Guardian that he is to remain with him. Annoyed, Guardian says to Manbot ‘I’m team leader Manbot, and that was an order’. Heather exclaims that there is no time to argue, so picks the medic up and flies away with Sasquatch in tow, telling Mac that if she takes Sasquatch then the others can investigate the site. As Manbot follows Guardian, Judd suggests they go check to the South, as there is an old Department H piece of handiwork there which is worth looking into, and explains that he is going to poke around the town proper, as he has a bad feeling there is something ugly in there.
Rushing across the town, Judd thinks to himself that if the note he received this morning is any indication, then he knows just where to find it too…Hull House! Judd arrives at the orphanage and remarks that he hasn’t been here in years, but that the place hasn’t changed one bit. As he rings the doorbell, he wonders if the two boys he used to watch ever got placed, and tries to remember their names, but cannot recall them.
A large woman opens the door, ‘Yes?’ she says. Judd introduces himself and explains that he is with Alpha Flight. ‘Oh yes, the heroes’ she replies, adding that she has heard of them, and introducing herself as Beatrice de la Salle, the headmistress, and asking Judd if she can help him with anything. Judd replies that he isn’t sure to be honest, and remarks that he used to work here. ‘Really?’ exclaims Beatrice, before informing Judd that they aren’t hiring at the moment. Judd states that he isn’t looking for a job, but that he just wanted to know if she could keep the kids inside until she hears back from him.
Beatrice replies that she has already instructed the children to stay inside, as she heard the emergency report on the television, and bids him a good day. ‘Yeah, you too, uh…bye’ Judd replies as he walks off. Standing behind the door so he was hidden from view, Coordinator Proctor congratulates Beatrice on her effective and quick psychological work. Beatrice thanks the senior Department H staff member, exclaiming that she prides herself on her work.
At a hospital, Heather places the pilot onto a table as Sasquatch stands behind her and growls. ‘Oh my God!’ exclaims one of the doctors. Heather tells her not to worry as he is harmless - at the moment, and suggests no one touches him. Another doctor says to Heather ‘You’re Guardian, aren’t you? Alpha Flight?’ ‘They’re calling me Vindicator this week,’ Heather replies half-jokingly, before informing them the pilot was struck by a rock and took some windshield glass. She informs them that they can direct all of their paperwork questions to Department H in the Ministry of Defence, adding that their project code was AF2-6552, and that she thinks it is still the same.
Heather informs the doctors that they will come back for the pilot once they have tracked down the source of this weird weather Orloo is having, and begins to tell Sasquatch that they should get back to the others, when out of the window she sees the church where she finally got to marry Mac. ‘Walter?’ asks Heather, slightly confused as Sasquatch begins ambling away, just growling.
Guardian and Manbot have arrived at the site and Manbot announces that he has accessed Department H’s records on this site, explaining that it is the site of the Cosmic Collector Project, an early attempt to harvest and process cosmic rays. Before Manbot can say anything else, Mac exclaims that he has found a hand. He tells Manbot to stay where he is, as it doesn’t look good, adding that it may be leprous or radioactive. Suddenly, Guardian exclaims that it is moving, and in a blur, a giant creature emerges from the ground in a whirlwind, announcing that Chinook is alive once more, ‘After years of imprisonment, I am free!’
Back at Department H, Jared, Adrian and Arlette are on top of the building roof, and Jared suggests they break Sunfire out. ‘What?’ asks Flex, surprised. ‘You heard me, doof,’ Radius snaps at his brother. Arlette points out that they don’t even know him and tells Radius that from he said, Sunfire may be dangerous. ‘So? He looks cool?’ Jared exclaims, before pointing out that the three of them are dangerous too, and he would bet that Sunfire is just another guy being jerked around like the three of them are.
Jared admits that he knows it is a risky idea, which is why he brought them all up here, where no one can see or hear them. Unbeknownst to Radius and the others, someone in the monitoring station is indeed watching the rookies on hidden cameras. Flex asks his brother why they should break Sunfire out, to which Radius replies ‘Because I want to, because I’m bored and because it would be fun’. Arlette asks him if this is like the fun he used to have back at Hull House, to which Jared declares that “Hell House” was a nightmare for all for all of them and claims he was trying to liven things up a little and got out of control once in a while. Jared remarks that a few people got hurt, but so what?
Flex asks what happens when they break Sunfire out, to which Jared exclaims ‘Joy ride!’ before revealing that he knows where the keys to the new Department H Hummers are kept because he is mates with Gus in the motor pool, he plays broom hockey with him when he is on guard duty down there. He suggests they take on and make tracks for Montreal. Adrian exclaims that he doesn’t know about this, but Arlette smiles and exclaims that she likes this idea, so they should do it together, and now.
Outside the Helios Project lab, Flex exclaims that they are going to get in trouble for this, as Radius forces the lab door open. ‘No we wont. We’re Alpha Flight!’ he exclaims, before pointing out that they will get a little slap on the hand from Clarke but other than that, they won’t do jack. However, he exclaims that they will know the three of them aren’t just going to sit around while the “geezers” go out to play.
As the trio enter the part of the Helios lab where Sunfire is sitting, Radius says to him ‘What’s up?’ Thinking it to be a scientist, Sunfire exclaims that he will speak only to Doctor Huxley, when Jared tells him to calm down as he is one of the good guys - Alpha Flight, ‘Maybe you’ve heard of us?’ he asks, before boasting that they are here to rescue him. ‘Rescue me from what?’ Shiro asks. ‘From being locked in here like some lab rat for the rest of your life,’ Jared tells him, before explaining that it is not like a breakout, but a sneak out, and that they will bring him back in a few hours, adding that if not, then he can fly back. Murmur suggests that perhaps she can convince Sunfire to come along.
Moments later, the staff in the monitoring room watch Jared, Adrian and Arlette, who is ordering Sunfire to “walk”, in the motor pool. One of the staff asks another if they should let them go, to which the second replies ‘Why not?’ and tells the first to just track the vehicle so they know where they are, adding that it will make a good psych profile. ‘Besides, you can’t choke a dog if you don’t feed him some leash now and again’.
Back in Orloo, Manbot is caught up in Chinook’s little windstorm, finding himself flung around in the swift currents. Guardian calls to him, asking him what is going on and where Chinook went. Manbot replies that his sensor panels detect no other organic forms, only building winds of - he doesn’t get to say how strong the winds are before exclaiming in a robot-like way ‘Alert!’ as Chinook appears behind Guardian exclaiming that he is the wind, and knocking him aside, as Mac tries to tell Manbot what he needs. A massive weapon appears on Manbot as the mysterious Alphan announces that back up is primed and engaged.
Manbot blasts Chinook before announcing that his sensors detect Vindicator is re-entering the sector. ‘Sensors are right!’ Heather exclaims as she unleashes a geothermal blast on Chinook, adding that she is just in time to stop the creature that almost made her husband miss their wedding permanently all those years ago. ‘Years?’ wonders the hideously deformed once-hero known as Chinook, before recognizing their voices in his head. ‘He is saying I am not responsible! You saying you love him!’
Suddenly, Sasquatch steps forward and growls. ‘Have at him, Sasquatch!’ Heather declares, and the powerful beast lunges at Chinook, knocking him to the ground. Heather tells him to keep Chinook down, when suddenly Chinook escapes Sasquatch’s grasp, flying high into the air, he boasts that he is the wind itself. ‘I am the air of all of Canada!’ he exclaims, adding that he will not be contained ever again, but will move over the land, toppling it, a gust of righteous vengeance against those who changed him.
Chinook exclaims that he will begin with a swift return to end their ill-conceived lives and shoves his hand towards Sasquatch’s throat. ‘You’ll do nothing of the sort, monster - or you’ll answer to me!’ Guardian exclaims, ready with a blast of electromagnetic energy. Chinook turns and looks at Mac, telling him that his energy means nothing, for it is of the Earth as he is. However, he will answer to Mac in one way, pointing out that it is he who is responsible for what he has become. ‘Your armor has changed, but your voice is one will always remember’.
Chinook approaches Guardian, ‘I was Canada’s greatest and only champion,’ he exclaims, declaring that he fought for Canada through the great wars and retired a hero, however, when he chose to return and aid the city he had come to call home, Mac’s meddling led to his “monstrous” transformation. Chinook points out that Mac didn’t even try to help him, just pushed him into the dark and hungry void, sealing him in a dimensional rift where he has drifted and dreamt of killing him for a decade.
Guardian replies that it is a captivating story, but that he has no memory of Chinook and cannot just stand by and let him destroy this town or his country. ‘You Can’t do anything else!’ Chinook exclaims, when suddenly Judd leaps up at Chinook, ‘I was just remembering you on my way across town, ugly’ he exclaims, kicking Chinook in the head. Mac is surprised to see Judd, who declares that suddenly it all came together and he thought that he better get himself over to the Cosmic Collector site and kick old Chinook’s bottom good and hard. ‘I will - ‘ begins Chinook, until he is interrupted by Heather, ‘Bathe in molten plasma is what, courtesy of Vindicator!’ she exclaims, unleashing her new powers on him. Chinook screams, ‘The winds of the North will be your death!’ he declares, as Judd exclaims ‘Talking too much will be yours!’, before pointing out to Sasquatch that Chinook is open, and suggesting that he do something with him. ‘Something mean’ he adds.
The mighty Sasquatch lifts Chinook high into the air as Chinook boasts that he will have his revenge. Sasquatch growls, before Chinook declares that the evil device that changed him was created by men who would destroy the world, ‘They and all who follow them will perish in the wake of my - ‘ he doesn’t get to finish, as Sasquatch tears his mutated body in half. A mighty blast of wind is unleashes, sending Alpha Flight scattered across the Cosmic Collector site, and leaving a strange marking in the ground.
Heather asks what in the world just happened, as Judd declares that he thinks the past just caught up with them - ‘And found us wanting’. Judd reminds his teammates not to forget that they are standing on Department H property, so this was no accident. He suggests they better look around, when Manbot announces that they have a priority summons to return to Department H, as the novices are missing. ‘I guess this mystery will have to wait’ Heather remarks, as Judd mutters ‘Great, another one to add to our collection’.
Meanwhile, on the open road, ‘All right! No more Department H!’ exclaims Radius as he drives the vehicle away from the home of Alpha Flight. Murmur agrees, commenting on how romantic it is. ‘No, it’s rad!’ Radius replies, ‘It’s kidnapping!’ Sunfire exclaims. ‘Quit complaining, you love it and you know it!’ Radius tells him. Flex asks his brother if he is sure they are going the right way, to which Radius replies that any way away from Department H is right in his book.
Even if it is just outside of Montreal. It doesn’t really matter where you find yourself, the past is always your traveling companion. As the Department H vehicle pulls up outside a diner, Sunfire mutters ‘Oh, are we finally stopping?’ Radius tells him to lay off and points out that he was a lot more fun when they started this road trip. Flex asks his brother to hurry up and park, as he has to “go” really bad.
As the quartet enter the diner, Radius calls them a bunch of wusses and mumbles that he should have done it alone. The past is open for 24 hours, and even if you don’t want to go in there, you’ll find you way to it somehow. ‘A lovely choice for food, my friend’ remarks Sunfire, as Flex whispers that it is full of weirdos. Radius tells them to shut up and sit down, as they are really starting to tick him off. Murmur suggests they sit by the window.
A man is reading the newspaper with Alpha Flight splashed across if, and recognizes some of the group as they take their seats, thinking to himself that this is too rich, for what are the odds of such good fortune? The brightly dressed green-skinned man gets up from his seat and announces ‘Welcome to “Food for Thought”, Montreal’s most provocative night spot. Please, come in, take a seat and prepare yourselves for a most unforgettable dining experience!’ He thinks to himself that they should prepare to look into his eyes, for they are the first of his chosen, and therefore, the last of mankind to fall under his boot when that time comes - and the time is coming…for Mesmero has mastered death, mastered his powers and will soon master the world itself!
The past can look you in the eye, as if to say “I own you - you are under my sway now and forever…you are mine to control!”.


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

[Assistant]
Mesmerized, part 1
What are you thinking right now?
Mesmero is thinking about choosing his moment. He has always been a second-rate villain, and even worse - he has always known it. It’s not that he doesn’t have the power, or the right opportunities, he did. He just never had the right plan, and that is why he has always failed. But this night, in this small restaurant just outside of Montreal, fate has smiled upon him and given him a new opportunity. So he sits, waiting, planning, listening and thinking….
‘…more…water…?’ asks a mesmerized waitress asks the four colorfully dressed people sitting at one table, however she pours the water, going relatively ignored. The handsome Jared Corbo a.k.a. Radius, one of Canada’s newest members of Alpha Flight, asks the Japanese mutant Sunfire otherwise known as Shiro Yashida, if he is from Japan. Shiro replies that he is, to which Jared asks him why he left there to come to Department H, ‘Trouble with the law? Or was there some angry geisha girl back home you had to get away from?’
Jared’s younger half-brother Adrian a.k.a. Flex tells his brother that he cannot ask questions like that, ‘You don’t even know him yet!’ he points out. Jared flicks one of his French fries across the table at his brother, telling him to shut up and pointing out that asking his how you get to known somebody. ‘Cut it out!’ Adrian whines. The attractive Arlette Truffaut, also known as Murmur, informs Jared that she wants to know something of him, and asks why he always calls his brother by his codename, even when they are not in a combat situation.
Jared reveals that “Flex” was his name even before those “Frankenstein Doctors” at Hull House found out that he could flex. He announces that his brother was the scrawniest kid at the orphanage and one day during physical training, Jared told him to flex for everyone and show off his muscles, and that night at dinner, Ethan called him “Flex” and that’s who he has been known as ever since. Jared points out that Arlette lived at Hull House and remarks that he is surprised she didn’t know.
Diva-like, Arlette reminds Jared that he is younger than her so she never spoke to him then, before motioning to his dinner and remarking that he has barely touched it. Jared explains that he can’t eat it because he left his stupid eating filter back at the Department, and there is no way he can shove the burger through his force field without the filter. ‘I’d like to see you try,’ remarks Adrian. Sunfire remarks that blood is the only bond there is, yet the two of them defy it, and warns them that they may one day regret their words.
Flex complains that Jared started it, before informing everyone that the “weird guy” is staring at them again. Everyone turns to the counter where the green-skinned Mesmero is seated, ‘Right here…right on the front page…’ he mutters, before Arlette remarks that he is staring at them, and suggests that perhaps they should have not worn their costumes out in public. Jared asks them what they are so worried about, and points out that the “weird guy” is wearing clothing more outrageous than their own, before telling Arlette that she is so self-conscious.
Sunfire however agrees with Arlette and remarks that there is something about the green-skinned stranger that is dangerous. Flex exclaims that they should just leave already, as they are already going to get in trouble for stealing that car they used to get here. ‘You’re all a bunch of panic cases! That guy’s a total freak!’ Jared exclaims, before suggesting that this guy is probably one of those lame club kids that dress up like idiots so people will notice them at discos. ‘The oldest one on Earth at that!’ Radius then reminds everyone that they are Alpha Flight and are government operatives. ‘I say we exercise a little authority and just ask him what his problem is!’
Murmur smiles and excuses herself, before asking the “weird guy” if there is a reason he is looking at them. ‘Nnnooo…but now that you have looked at me…let me welcome you once more to my restaurant, and state what an “honor” it is to be noticed by the children of Alpha Flight’ Mesmero exclaims as he gets up and walks over to their table. ‘You know who we are?’ asks Arlette, surprised. Mesmero replies of course, and points out that the costumes were a little clue, and adds that they were in the papers. ‘Don’t you read?’
‘Fine, you know us, so who are you? You said you own this dump!’ Radius exclaims, to which Mesmero reaches across the table and grabs Jared by the collar, pulling him towards him, ‘I do if I say I do!’ he exclaims, before revealing that he is called Mesmero. ‘Pleasure to make your head-butt, butt-head!’ Jared exclaims as he smacks his head into Mesmero’s, causing the villain to fall to the ground. Jared looms over Mesmero and asks him what his problem is, ‘You some kind of super-villain?’
‘I am the only kind’ Mesmero replies, before revealing that he has been sitting in this restaurant for weeks and thinking, ‘and…well, eating’, and it suddenly came clear to him what he must do - ‘As simple as one, two - ‘ ‘THREE!’ declares Radius as he punches Mesmero across the face, announcing that once Mesmero identified himself as a villain, that gave him the jurisdiction he needed to mop the floor with him.
Before Radius can do anything else to Mesmero, Sunfire grabs him and tells him to stop and think for a minute. Radius is thinking though - thinking perhaps that a hero is someone who can take down someone else. Or perhaps that he only feels like he has worth when he battles someone else and imposes his will. Or, maybe he is thinking that since his force field always keeps him at least a millimeter away from the world, that he will show the world he can still affect it. Why? Perhaps because he is frightened by people who get close to him.
‘Leave me alone!’ Radius tells Sunfire, as Mesmero exclaims ’Boy! Look into my eyes!’ ’Sorry, I don’t go that way, greenie. I know I am cute, but you’ll have to get over…over…’. Radius says, before going silent and motionless. Mesmero remarks that Radius is not so bold and brazen now, before revealing that he has learned some interesting things about his powers lately, namely that he can ‘Sleep!’ exclaims Murmur as she comes up behind Mesmero and places a hand on his face.
‘Who -? Oh! Two!’ Mesmero exclaims as he turns to look at Murmur, telling her that he did enjoy her charming presence in his mind, but that before she tries her little parlor tricks on a fellow mental manipulator again, she should make sure hers is the stronger mind. Flex rushes over, calling to his teammates, and asking Mesmero what he did to them. Sunfire urges Flex to stay away from him, before announcing that everyone in this diner is unaware of what is happening, all the patrons are just continuing with their meals. Shiro exclaims that they must all be under Mesmero’s control, as if they have been… ‘Mesmerized? Three!’ exclaims Mesmero as he takes command of Flex.
In a burst of flame, Sunfire flies towards Mesmero and tells him to release them, remarking that he may have been able to easily ensnare children who have been pushed into the role of savior for their country, but that he will find Sunfire has many more years of experience, adding that he is not afraid to demonstrate that experience to those deserving of his might. Sunfire forces Mesmero over to a mirror and holding him in front of it, asks him if these people are under his control. ‘Of course! It’s all part of my master plan!’ Mesmero exclaims, to which Sunfire orders him to release them, when suddenly, ‘Made you look!’ Mesmero exclaims as he takes control of the fourth super being. Grinning, Mesmero mutters that he supposes their can be four, although it is not quite as punchy as one-two-three, but he is nothing, if not flexible.
A little over an hour away, in a conference room sequestered within Department H headquarters. ‘Don’t tell me to be flexible!’ shouts James MacDonald Hudson a.k.a. Guardian, telling General Jeremy Clarke that Alpha Flight is his responsibility, that they left the rookies behind to go and investigate some strange goings-on in Orloo because the Department feared they might not be ready for more assignments, and the Department doesn’t even watch over them. James Hudson is currently thinking about the fact that since his rejuvenation, his regression to the youthful age of nineteen and subsequent reinstatement as team leader of Alpha Flight, he has had little to define himself as a person, save his responsibilities. Responsibilities that only now are beginning to seem impractical.
Mac stands alongside Eugene “Puck” Judd, and his estranged wife Heather McNeil Hudson, a.k.a. Vindicator and long-time leader of Alpha Flight until its demise several months ago, who after Clarke claims that he has no idea when the rookies left or where they went, says ‘I doubt that,’ and declares that this building is bugged and monitored like the Watergate hotel, before saying that assuming the kids did sneak away, then what?
Elsewhere in Department H, in the monitoring station, one of the staff watching the conversation asks a colleague if they think Vindicator knows about them. ‘Nah, it’s just sarcasm. She’s been uppity ever since she came back,’ he replies.
Arms folded across her chest, Heather asks Clarke if it has occurred to him that the rookies are too young for Alpha Flight and points out that she and the others are all of age and seasoned veterans - ‘Well, all of us except Mac’. This annoys Mac, who exclaims that he is as trained as she is and that his memories of all of Alpha Flight’s past missions were recreated - ‘That is classified information, Mr. Hudson!’ Clarke shouts as he walks away, informing the heroes that as for the novices, he will contact them when they have been located.
What do you think lies beyond these doors labeled Beta Flight Wing: Restricted Access Government Priority Only. At one time, Beta Flight was the program one step below Alpha - the training ground for heroes on the cusp. Do you think that’s still the case - and if so, why do you think the guards who stand just inside this lab look as if they are here to keep someone out? Or worse, keep someone…in? ‘You know you aren’t allowed to smoke in here, Anthony,’ one of the red-clad Department H Epsilons tells his colleague. ‘Yeah’ Anthony replies, pointing out that he also knows nobody else on the graveyard shift has got the clearance to come in here and check up on him.
The first Epsilon asks Anthony if he ever wonders why out of all the Epsilons, the two of them were picked. Anthony replies that he never tries to figure it out the Department, he just does his job, take his check home and that’s that. ‘Yeah…’ begins the first, until Anthony exclaims that with all the liberals that got in the last election, they will be lucky if there is a Department H to work for much longer. ‘Aw, don’t go bumming me out with that kind of talk. Me and Lucy just made an offer on a house!’ the first Epsilon exclaims.
Cigarette still hanging out of his mouth, Anthony apologizes, before pointing out that if it ain’t one thing, it’s another. ‘Tell me about it!’ the first exclaims, before asking Anthony if he also hates the new uniforms, as the padding they added to the crotch is always riding up and - ‘I never complain about crotch padding, I figure -’ before Anthony can continue, there is a loud “slosh” sound, and both Epsilons turn to the large tanks in the lab, ‘What was that?’ Anthony replies that he doesn’t know, but that they better go have a look. As they approach the consoles and tanks, Anthony announces that it is no big deal, one of them just moved again. He adds that he hates it when they do that, for it makes him think they’re alive, that the might be dreaming or something. Now that’s some food for thought.
Back in Montreal, Mesmero stands in front of his four “subjects” and tells them that he knows what they are all thinking - ‘Whatever I tell you to,’ he jokes, before exclaiming ‘And right now, that would be “How oh how did you, Mesmero, ever manage to escape your last encounter with our beloved Alpha Flight - let alone your death plunge at the hands of the fearsome Dark Riders?” Well, let me tell you how…’ he begins.
(Told with flashback images)
Mesmero claims that he was minding his own business running a small plan in Vancouver, when suddenly he was besieged by Sentinels. ‘Your better known brethren - Guardian, Northstar, Vindicator, Puck and the charming Purple Girl, arrived, I thought, to help’. ‘Imagine my horror when, after defeating the Sentinels single-handedly and rescuing Alpha Flight, they turned on me and allowed the authorities to cart me away like a common criminal! I am far from common!’
Mesmero continues, exclaiming that no sooner did he free himself from that deleterious position and try to establish a clean start in Seattle - ‘love the city, hate the rain’ - than those overbearing Dark Riders showed up and - ‘And…chocolate mint milk shake!’ he remarks to the waitress, getting side tracked from his story for a moment as she brings him the wrong drink. ‘Who were the Dark Riders?’ Mesmero asks rhetorically, ‘Frankly, a bunch of dreadful cretins with silly names’. He admits that “Mesmero” is a bit florid, but nevertheless it still has a certain devilish flare, adding that he was christened back when being a villain was more than just a job.
‘Anyhow, there I was, banging my fingertips over the edge of my apartment’s balcony, when this Gauntlet character - clearly having taken his name from too many viewings of that middling Clint Eastwood film - proclaimed that I, as the most powerful mutant on Earth, was a threat that had to be eliminated’. A moment later, Mesmero was shot, sent plummeting to his death - or so Gauntlet thought, because in the moment before he fired, Mesmero reached out and took his mind, took it and told him to fire past him, that he had killed him and told him to take his dreary little friends and leave, which is what Gauntlet did.
(Present)
Mesmero boasts that he kept concentrating and was able to hold on to the mind of that stupid man, keeping him for months, making him step in front of oncoming traffic, buy shoes he didn’t need and making him eat until he gained fifty pounds. ‘I only let him go when I got bored’. Mesmero declares that the point of this story is that he has realized he is like a virus - once he is in a mind, he can just stay there until he cures himself, which has changed his whole outlook on life. ‘But more of that later. For now, let’s get started with you, my darling new children - there is much to do before morning!’
Elsewhere…what do you think of this house? If you think it looks like a normal residence, then you are wrong. Because it isn’t. It is Hull House, an orphanage dead in the center of the often troubled city of Orloo. It is a long-standing residence for wayward children with unclear ties to Department H and home to something called “The Legacy Program”. There is some sort of celebration going on at Hull House today, a goodbye party to one of the soon to be former residents. A man informs the orphanage headmistress Beatrice de la Salle that they should collect Lilli’s things and get on the road.
‘Of course,’ replies Beatrice, mentioning to Lilli that she has a long drive ahead and a new family to settle in to, asking her if she is excited. ‘I guess so’ Lilli replies. ‘Yes, well…’ remarks Miss de la Salle, before informing Lilli that she wants to make an announcement first and then she can be off to her new life. The large woman takes the podium and addresses the other orphanage children, telling them that the time has come to say farewell to Lilli, who has had the wonderful fortune of finding loving parents to adopt her.
Beatrice tells the children that she thinks of each of them as a precious seed and that they day has come for one of the sprouted seeds to be harvested. Beatrice declares that they should not be sad to bid Lilli adieu, as here is the good fortune that awaits most of them someday. Lilli and her friend Claire, hug, with Claire exclaiming that she cannot believe Lilli is leaving, and asking her not to forget her, Lilli replies that she won’t and that she will write letters and even call if she is allowed. Claire points out that her new mother and father look nice, and that she is sure she will be happy. ‘Maybe I can convince them I need a sister?’ Lilli exclaims.
Claire sniffles as she exclaims that would be nice, before bidding Lilli goodbye. ‘Only for now, Claire, I promise’ Lilli assures her friend, before Beatrice de la Salle leads her over to where a black car is waiting. Beatrice tells Lilli to remember that there are things in life they must do to make the world better, and informs her that she can come back here if things don’t work out, but that they wouldn’t want that to happen because it would mean she has failed. ‘Do you understand?’ Lilli replies that she does. ‘Good, now do as your told and you shouldn’t have any problems’ Beatrice tells her as the door to the car opens.
‘Ah, Lilli, please…hop in!’ exclaims someone from inside the car. ‘Who…who are you?’ Lilli asks slightly confused. As the door closes behind her, Lilli asks where is Mr. And Mrs. Smith - ‘I mean my parents?’ The gangly man sitting in the back seat of the car beside Lilli informs her that she wasn’t adopted by “the Smiths”, but that she was adopted by her country. Lilli asks him who he is, and he introduces himself as Mr. Proctor. ‘But you can call me “Coordinator”, that’s what I do, I coordinate’ he informs her.
Proctor informs Lilli that they know what she can do and that they are very excited about. ‘What…what about my parents? I thought…’ Lilli begins, until Proctor cuts her off, informing her that her abilities are about to allow her to become part of Alpha Flight, Canada’s highest most special honor. ‘That means you will soon be a national celebrity, like Wayne Gretzky, or Elvis Stojuko, what do you think about that?’
As Lilli arrives sometime later at the Department H building, she comes to realize that what she thinks doesn’t really matter. This is what will be, and she’d better just accept it. That is one of the core teachings of Hull House, after all. And so she accepts the strangely hypnotic films she is shown, and the “energy building” drinks she is fed - even being measured for a costume tailor-made to her specifications. She even accepts the slight pain of having an identification code tattooed on her lower back.
However, Lilli says nothing about her memories of her grandfather branding cattle, years before she was taken to the orphanage after his death. But that is what she is thinking about when Coordinator Proctor returns to her at the end of the day. ‘You see? Not so bad at all, was it?’ he asks, to which Lilli mumbles that it was okay she supposes, before asking if she can call her friend Claire at Hull House. But Proctor informs her that Hull House is her past and that she should start settling into her future. Don’t you think?
Shortly, Heather, Guardian, Judd, Sasquatch and Manbot have set down at the location where Department H triangulated the stolen vehicle. Guardian tells Judd to wait at the Alpha Jet with Manbot and keep Sasquatch under control, and they will radio back if they need help. Judd remarks that this is probably just kids blowing off steam, so they will be ready, but not expecting. Heather and Mac are wearing long overcoats to hide their costumes and Heather motions to a restaurant up head, wondering why the kids would come all the way to Montreal in the middle of the night and just stay here.
Mac replies that all they know is that the car is here, and that the kids may be long gone. He tells Heather that they are probably just showing their independence, reminding Heather that she was young once. ‘Excuse me?’ Heather exclaims. ‘Uh…I didn’t mean it like that,’ Mac replies, before suggesting they go into the diner and take a look.
As they enter the diner, Heather and Guardian are greeted by Murmur. ‘Allo and welcome to Food for Thought. Two for lunch?’ she asks with her thick French-Canadian accent. ‘Sure, by the window if we could,’ Heather replies. Murmur leads them to a seat, ‘A lovely seat for a mother and her son, no?’ she asks. ‘He’s my husband you -’ Heather begins to say, when Mac cuts her off, telling Murmur that the seat is fine. Murmur notices that the table is messy and tells them that she will go and get someone to clean it.
Heather watches Murmur leave as Mac leans over the table and tells her that he is sorry to cut her off like that, but since they have no idea what is going on he thinks they should keep a low profile until they have figured out what the situation is. Heather tells Mac that he is right, but that she thought Arlette was trying to provoke her. Mac replies that she might have been, but points out that Arlette is obviously not herself, as she acted like she had no idea who they were.
Heather agrees that something strange is going on, but points out that Arlette might just be playing at something, for other than her, this place is normal enough, there are customers eating and no one seems out of place. Suddenly, Radius appears at their table, ‘She said your table’s dirty?’ he asks, to which Heather replies that it is. Jared places a hand on the table, and exclaims that he can handle it. He then uses his force field to push all the crumbs away. ‘As good as new,’ he remarks, smiling at Heather, and calling her pretty, he asks if she would like to start with a salad. Wide-eyed, Heather replies that it will be fine.
‘Pip-squeak! Salad! And make it a good one!’ Jared shouts into the kitchen, where Adrian is using his own metal limbs to cut up some vegetables and declaring that he is working as fast as he can. Mac points out that three of them are accounted for, but getting up, Heather replies that only physically, not mentally, and whispers that she is going to feign a bathroom visit and see if she can find the Japanese man that Clarke showed them photos of.
What is Heather Hudson thinking right now? ‘What in the world is this?’ is what she thinks to herself as she glances into the kitchen. But is she still mulling over her spellbound teammates reference to Mac as her son? Or has she finally been pushed past that by the sight of her fourth quarry in a role completely beyond anything that she can understand. ‘Two burgers! Pick up,’ shouts Sunfire from the kitchen where he is using his powers to heat up some meat.
Heather rushes back to Mac, ditching her jacket on the way as she tells him to signal the others as something is very wrong here, though she doesn’t notice the man come up behind her, ‘Well…who do we have here?’ he thinks to himself. Guardian radios to Puck and Manbot, telling them that they have confirmed their targets, but that something is up - they aren’t themselves. Silently, James Hudson thinks to himself ‘I know how they feel’. ‘Oh, no you don’t! exclaims Mesmero as he orders Radius to go and take care of Guardian. Mac tells Heather they should try and get the kids out of here and see if the effect wears off, but Radius throws a table at him, telling him that they aren’t going anywhere.
You would think Alphans fighting Alphans would have Department H buzzing, wouldn’t you? But in fact, here in one of the most remote corridors, things look calm…resolute. It is the one lab in Department H where the lights never go out, where work on the world’s most interesting “appropriated technologies never ceases. This is the Prometheus Division…would you like to see inside?
Several staff are sitting around a table having a meeting in which they are discussing recent acquisitions. Someone reveals that they have purchased a sound-hammer wrist attachment that once belonged to the super-villain known as Klaw. Another announces that a recent model LMD of Nick Fury was covertly appropriated during S.H.I.E.L.D field operation, and that a sample of Spider-Man’s webbing was bought, but unfortunately proved to be fake.
A short-haired woman sitting at the head of the table tells someone to have Dr. Su take a look at the LMD immediately, and is about to say something else when someone else comes running over to her, announcing that they finally got “it” running. Dr. Myra Haddock excuses herself and walks into the lab area, telling Larry that he better not be exaggerating again, for he is beginning to sound like the boy who cried wolf about this project. Larry exclaims that it is no exaggeration and motions to the gaping device in the floor, telling her that she can see for herself. Myra exclaims that it is beautiful and congratulates Larry for making her a happy project director.
Myra smirks as she reveals this piece was her first acquisition for the division, and a fitting one given their name, actually. And after so many years, it will finally be hers to control - the Prometheus Pit will breathe fire once more! She declares that it will mean new life and new power for the division, that this is a breakthrough day, and suddenly, the world looks very real to the eyes of Myra Haddock.
But have you ever thought how the world must look though the eyes of a crazed man like Mesmero? Do you think he sees it as you see it? Or do you think it appears more as a cartoon to him. A madcap caricature of the world everyone else knows to be real. As the four brainwashed super beings rush towards Heather and Mac, Heather is surprised that they are attacking, while Mac tells Radius to stop, that he must know who they are. ‘Sure do - you’re the enemy!’ Radius exclaims as he punches Mac into the cash register.
Heather moves out of the way just as Flex lunges at her with his hand transformed into a knife. ‘What are you doing?’ Heather exclaims, to which the mesmerized Adrian replies ‘I have to cut you,’ but Adrian finds his body stuck into the table, as he cannot pull the knife out. ‘More…soup…’ says one of the patrons sitting at the table. Heather unleashes a blast of geothermal steam and tells Flex that he has to stop what he is doing before he hurts someone.
Suddenly, a whir and a click sounds the arrival of Manbot as he announces ‘Battle is enjoined’. ‘You got a flair for the obvious’ Judd tells the red robot-man before he asks Mac what is going on. Mac replies that the novices are not acting like themselves, to which Judd asks if that is a bad thing. Mac exclaims that they must subdue them before they hurt themselves, when Sasquatch growls and lunges forward, smacking Radius across the room and into a wall. ‘…more…coffee?’ asks a mesmerized waitress as Mac exclaims ‘Subdue, Sasquatch! Not kill!’
Unbeknownst to everyone present, Manbot is keeping a very close eye on the scenario that is set before him. Suddenly Sunfire unleashes a burst of flame at Judd, who remarks that they haven’t met yet. Judd supposes that he is Shiro, the one that General Clarke told them to keep an eye out for. Heather informs her coherent teammates that the civilians in the room don’t even seem to notice them, like they are in a trance. She thinks to herself that this reminds her of something but that she cannot quite remember what, before telling her teammates to keep the civilians out of harms way at all cost.
Mac agrees, and as he lets loose a mighty blast of electromagnetic energy, he tells Sunfire to get a grip of himself, as Alpha Flight isn’t in the business of harming innocent bystanders. Suddenly, Sasquatch whacks Mac in the face, sending him to the ground, so Judd climbs up on his friend, and addressing him as Walter tells him that he has to stop beating up on the good guys. As Sasquatch moves his uber-sharp teeth towards a frightened Radius, Judd remarks that someone should try to get Murmur out from under the spell she is in so she can control their friendly “Bigfoot”.
Heather declares that she will handle it, and as Arlette lunges at Heather screaming ‘Die!’ Heather grabs her and holds her from behind, brining Murmur’s hand up to her own face and telling her that she doesn’t know what they taught her in Department H, but that she can never use her power that way. Heather points out that if Murmur wasn’t so obviously under some kind of control she would…her voice trails off, ‘Forget it’ she exclaims, before remarking that it is time to see how Murmur’s power works on herself. ‘N-no!’ exclaims Arlette, but tells Arlette to say “Remember” right now, or else she will get a load of lava in her pretty face that she worries about so much. Wide-eyed, Arlette exclaims ‘R…remember!’
Murmur grabs her head and wearily, asks what happened. Heather apologizes for being so cruel, and explains that someone was controlling her. Heather tells Murmur that she is free now and that she wants her to go around and free the other novices using the same word suggestion on them. Heather declares that she is going to scout around as she thinks she remembers who has this kind of ability. ‘You mean…ME?!’ exclaims Mesmero as he reveals himself to Heather. ‘Mesmero!’ Heather exclaims, as he welcomes her to his world, ‘Five!’
Judd is taking hold of Adrian and telling him that he isn’t going to flex those hands at him and suggests he stop struggling. ‘I have to hurt you!’ Adrian exclaims when suddenly Arlette asks Judd to spin around, and touching the young Alphan on the cheek, Arlette tells him to “remember”. As Flex begins to relax, Judd congratulates Murmur.
Nearby, Heather unleashes a blast of lava at Guardian, ‘You must die…again!’ she exclaims as Mac dodges the flow of lava, asking Heather what has come over her. Mesmero leans down over Guardian, ;Oh, she’s suffering from a slight case of me!’ he exclaims, before welcoming Mac to the plague as his number six victim.
Suddenly, Judd rushes towards Mesmero, exclaiming that he remembers him, while the still-controlled Sunfire unleashes a solar blast at Murmur, realizing that she has change. Mesmero smiles as he remarks that he remembers Judd and takes control of him as number seven. Murmur tells Sunfire that she has changed and so must he, touching him on the cheek as she tells him to remember. ‘Hey, ugly!’ Mesmero shouts at Sasquatch, who, slightly confused, looks at Mesmero and suddenly becomes victim number eight.
‘Kill you, you little pest!’ Radius shouts to his brother, while Flex calls to Murmur for help. ‘Nine!’ Mesmero shouts as he tries to take control of Manbot, but it doesn’t work, as Manbot orders Mesmero to surrender. Mesmero is surprised at Manbot and wonders how he can resist him, while Murmur comes up behind Radius and tells him to remember. Manbot declares that his surrender order has been ignored and initiates the compliance phase by blasting Mesmero with some weapons.
Mesmero narrows his eyes as he remarks that he might not be able to take over the robot-man, and perhaps he has lost control over some of his new Mesmero youth, but that it hardly matters given the better recruits he has gathered! ‘Alpha Flight! Eliminate those pretenders!’ Mesmero orders Guardian, Heather, Judd and Sasquatch. ‘Yes…Lord…Mesmero’ comes the reply from the trance-like Alphans.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Mesmerized, part 2
You think this is funny, don’t you?
Mesmero must, because he is laughing. ‘Food fight!’ he orders, which is carried out by those patrons and certain others under his control in the diner near Montreal. He laughs hard. Not the smug little self-satisfied giggle he let out over his idea to name the diner he abducted “Food for Thought”. And it is not the chuckle he allowed himself each time a new customer that he knew he was never going to let leave sat down for lunch at his counter. It is not even the gleeful titter that squeaked out of him when Fate marched the newest members of Alpha Flight, Canada’s only super hero team right through his front door. No, his laugh today is none of those laughs. This is the laugh of a man who is either a mad genius…or a man who is genuinely mad.
Either way, one thing is certain - his ability to possess the minds of others has rarely yielded him to so powerful a puppet force. At this moment, he manipulates the most formidable citizens of Canada - Guardian, Vindicator, Sasquatch and Puck. And although he has lost control of Radius, Murmur, Flex and Sunfire, he is still supremely confident that this is his day of triumph. Over what? Over whom? That remains to be seen. But still, he is happy, and so he laughs.
Jared Corbo a.k.a. the hot-tempered Radius exclaims to his teammate the sultry Arlette Truffaut a.k.a. Murmur that he doesn’t know how she managed to free him without being able to touch him, to which Murmur smiles and declares that perhaps she did touch him. Former X-Man Shiro “Sunfire” Yashida points out that regardless, their other teammates are now enthralled and they must free them before they harm any of the civilians in here. Watching the senior members of Alpha Flight engage in a food fight with some mind controlled civilians, Adrian “Flex” Corbo asks how they can.
Adrian’s brother Jared declares that he knows how - by fighting them! Flex exclaims that he can’t because he head hurts too much from whatever Mesmero did to his brain. ‘Heroes don’t get headaches, wuss!’ Radius tells his brother as he rushes into action. Sunfire exclaims that this is no time for arguing and that their course is obvious - they must remain in tight formation, move to the center and get Murmur close enough to touch the senior Alphans.
Radius mutters that it is a great plan for people who like the indirect route, but as for him, he’d rather get right into it. Jared stands amongst the food-fight occupied civilians, his force field protects himself as the throw food at him. Of course he would like to get right into it because he is a loner and as a result, his personality if a lot like his super powered force field - it pushes people away from him. Jared doesn’t know much about his father, he knows he was a boxer because he sent Jared a letter once at the orphanage, though there was no return address. It was Radius’s fathers job to keep people who get close to him an arm’s length away - but what’s Jared’s excuse?
Sunfire calls Radius an idiot and exclaims that actions like that could cost them this battle, if not his life. Murmur tells Radius to wait, as they must take this seriously, when suddenly, a banana cream pie lands on her face. It hits her where it hurts the most. Beauty may only be skin deep, but beneath her beauty is an ugly secret. Perhaps that is why she takes this pie so hard. ‘No…’ she mumbles beneath the banana cream.
Radius shoves a mind-controlled patron out of his way and exclaims that he is taking it seriously - ‘I’m going to do some serious damage to Mesmero!’ Standing with his arms folded across his chest, Mesmero declares that this is absolutely appalling, that none of the new vanguard super hero youths have any respect for history or tradition. ‘Like what, Psycho?’ Jared asks. ‘Like leaving the villain alone and fighting your turncoat teammates!’ Mesmero declares, adding that it is what people really want to see.
‘Oh, well… look in to my eyes,’ Mesmero says to Jared. But Jared declares that he isn’t falling for that again, that his eyes are wide shut ‘And I’m ready to kick your - ‘ before Jared can say exactly what he is going to kick, Mesmero calls to Alpha Flight, telling them to make short order of the novices. ‘Whatever you order,’ the mind-controlled James MacDonald Hudson a.k.a. Guardian replies as he uses his electromagnetic abilities to blast Radius across the diner. Mesmero laughs at his “short order” joke, being in a restaurant and all.
What kind of control would this take of Mesmero? To be aware of where everyone is, what they can do - to have some aggressively fighting and others passively eating. It’s spectacular and says a lot about his current abilities. A man with this much power could have almost anything - so what is it he wants? ‘Chocolate mint milkshake!’ he shouts.
The messy Murmur dodges her way past some equally messy patrons, when Sasquatch comes up behind her. ‘No!’ she exclaims as Sasquatch takes a swipe at her, she tries to remind him that she is on his side. Murmur thinks to herself that she could control Sasquatch if she could touch him, but knows that under Mesmero’s power he is even wilder. Nevertheless, Murmur always has to be in the thick of things - she finds it exciting. Even though this time, Sasquatch grabs her by the arm, pulls her to the ground hard. ‘Ahhhh! My hand! Let go!’ Arlette shouts in pain.
Neither her fall nor her crushed hand is a laughing matter - but she still doesn’t lose her concentration. Sasquatch holds her in his hand and brings her up towards his face, where he growls loud as she shouts’ Remember!’ Suddenly, Manbot comes near Sasquatch and informs Sasquatch to release Murmur. The mysterious Manbot then unleashes a powerful blast from his myriad of abilities, which smashes into Sasquatch and causes Arlette to lose her balance. Arlette struggles to stay on top - but she does, clinging on around Sasquatch’s neck she once more shouts ‘Remember!’ - and she should be proud, for that is the mark of a hero.
Meanwhile…it would be nice if all you had to do to get what you want was ask. But across the country, entering the front doors of Department H for the first time in this new era…the spectacular Lillian Crawley-Jeffries is about to learn that life is not that simple. ‘Yes, Diamond Lil, when I’m dressed like this, that is my name’ Alpha Flight’s former vixen tells the receptionist, Jennifer Tartan, who rather uninterestedly replies ‘Oh, all right, how can I help you then?’
Back in her original yellow and green classic costume, Lil explains that she is looking for her husband, Madison Jeffries. ‘…yes…?’ the receptionist mumbles. Hands on her hips, Lil reveals that she and Madison had a fight, then he came here while she went to take care of some…”personal” stuff. ‘Your husband came here?’ the receptionist asks. Getting annoyed, Lil says ‘Look, lady, I’m  not some crackpot! I used to be a member of Alpha Flight. Madison rejoined when you opened back up’.
Lil doesn’t notice the young girl banging on the doors nearby as she leans over the reception desk and lowering her voice, Lil tells the receptionist that just between the two of them, this is what they fought over, and asks the receptionist not to tell Madison that she is here. The receptionist picks up the phone and informs the person she speaks to that she has a “Diamond Lil” here looking for her husband, a Mr. Jeffries.
Suddenly, Lilli, the girl that was banging on the door reaches up and taps Diamond Lil on the shoulder, asking her if she can help her, as she doesn’t want to be here anymore, but that they said she cannot go back to the orphanage. ‘Huh? Who are you?’ asks Lil before the receptionist motions to a couple of Epsilons, telling Lil that they can help her. The Epsilons lead Lil away and one of them informs her that her husband is waiting in the infirmary. ‘Infirmary?’ asks Lil, before asking about the girl, as she looks familiar. A scientist tells Lilli that she isn’t supposed to be out here, as Lilli exclaims that she wants to go. ‘Department H, may I help you?’ the receptionist asks as the phone rings.
Back in Montreal…it is funny how things change, isn’t it, Sasquatch? Sasquatch is supposed to be a brilliant scientist named Walter Langkowski - but he acts more like a raging beast. Sasquatch growls loudly as he tosses Arlette aside. If he could talk right now - what would he say? Would he explain to Murmur that he did remember when she touched him? Would Sasquatch tell Murmur that it didn’t make a difference, because all he remembered was that he didn’t want to be here?
Arlette lands hard on a table, smashing it as she falls to the ground. ‘Murmur!’ exclaims Radius - with, perhaps, actual concern in his voice. Jared tells Arlette that he will hold Guardian so she can touch him and do her thing. Forlorn, Arlette replies that she can’t, for her hand - it didn’t work on Sasquatch. Radius tells Murmur that she has to try it again, when suddenly Guardian lunges at Jared and shoves him through a window, and into a car.
Guardian uses his super powered battle suit to then fly upwards, carrying Jared, boasting that he is going to fly high where he can drop him ‘You egotistical little twerp‘. Mesmero is happy as he listens to this, and he snickers to himself - because he knows that these aren’t word’s he made Mac say about his teammate - he just found them floating around inside of him.
In the middle of the air, Radius struggles and gains the upper hand, proclaiming that Guardian is jealous of him, because he is a better leader. ‘Leader? You’re not even fit to be on this team!’ Mac replies, before suggesting that he drops Radius from the roster right now. Placing his hand on Mac’s face, Jared declares that he is good at this, ‘Better than you’ll ever be! I notice things!’ Indeed, Jared does notice things - like how a major suit has got a major weakness when it comes to breathing. Mac begins to struggle, and Radius pushes downwards, forcing both men to the ground, with Jared exclaiming ‘If I ever take a fall, you can bet you’ll be under me when I land!’
Mesmero doesn’t want to fall with Guardian, so he lets his all-controlling mind drift - back into his restaurant and into the mind of Heather McNeil Hudson, otherwise known as Vindicator. As Sunfire flies towards Heather, Alpha Flight’s former and greatest leader uses her new geothermal battle suit to unleash a burst of molten lava from the ground below, telling Shiro that his powers won’t help him. Heather reveals that she can turn the very bedrock against him by releasing the molten lava trapped beneath it.
Trapped in some rock, Shiro struggles as he points out that there is no lava under Canada, to which Heather replies how then can he explain the stone she is solidifying around him with the cooling spring water mists. ‘Science…sorcery…’ he suggests, to which Heather just scoffs at, ‘Magic? Don’t make me laugh!’ she exclaims, before suggesting they finish off Sunfire’s head.
Murmur comes up behind Heather and is about to place her hand on Heather’s shoulder, telling her to remember, when Mesmero alerts Heather to Arlette’s presence. ‘Remember? I remember all too well how much I hate you!’ Heather exclaims as she unleashes a blast of sulphurous gas and mockingly apologizing for the smell, telling Arlette that it should wash out of her beautiful hair in a week or two.
Sunfire suddenly uses his powers to burst free of Heather’s rock prison, and tells Heather that the evil within herself is not her own, that she must break free of its control. Holding his fist towards her, he warns her that if she does not, or cannot, then she leaves him no choice but to - Shiro doesn’t get to the chance to say exactly what he will do as Radius and Guardian crash through the ceiling, then crash straight through the floor. Heather calls out to Mac, allowing Sunfire the moment he needed to knock her off balance by blasting her as he tells Heather her concern should be for her own well-being.
Nearby, Eugene Milton Judd a.k.a. the diminutive Puck bounces around and hits Flex in the chest, knocking him over as he tells him he needs to keep his eyes in front of him, remarking that Flex mustn’t have learned anything from their training sessions. As Adrian falls to the ground it hurts him - but it hurts more to be criticized by a man he respects. Judd lunges for Flex’s legs, pointing out that his arms may be deadly but his legs aren’t, however Adrian warns him not to - only for Judd to cut his hand as Adrian flexes his lower leg.
As Adrian begins to run away, calling for Murmur, Manbot seems to be recording this. Judd is surprised at this revelation that Adrian can flex his legs, and runs after the teen, telling him that he should have cut his hand off when he had the chance, for you have to learn that missed opportunities can cost you. Adrian flexes his hands, ‘Fine! You wanna fight me?’ he asks Judd, but Judd grins and smashing Adrian in the face tells him that it is too late for that.
What about Manbot? Can he still laugh? Is humor part of his programming? Or did Department H completely neuter what little of you used to be named Bernie Lachenay - when they merged him with what they had made of the system formerly known as “Box”? ‘Cease and desist’ declares Manbot as Sasquatch throws a table at him.
Manbot transmit’s a request to Department H asking for clearance to use lethal force against Sasquatch, and a reply is issued immediately, denying Manbot’s request and ordering him to deploy nerve toxin M-11. Manbot readies the toxin as the Department H employee communicating with him orders him to restrict the spray area to affect only Sasquatch, which is acknowledged by Manbot.
Manbot fires the toxin at close range, which splashes all over Sasquatch, who growls in disgust. Bernie Lachenay would have laughed at the last defiant act of Sasquatch - a defiant snapping of the weapon that felled him. But Manbot does not even crack a smile. ‘Target neutralized,’ is all he says.
One small part of the personnel to blame for Manbot’s lack of emotion is Doctor Myra Haddock, coordinator of Department H’s Prometheus Division. But at the moment, Manbot is far from her thoughts as she stands beside the giant Prometheus Pit in her laboratory. Myra thinks to herself that this is it - after all her years of dealing with this maddening bureaucracy are about to be vindicated. She thinks that if the notes were accurate, then this Prometheus Pit is a doorway to a sub-atomic Microverse that will one day make her legendary.
One of Haddock’s Prometheus Division workers approaches her with some buckets of dry ice and water, remarking that he cannot imagine what they need either for. Myra tells the man to just stand ready, remarking that there is high science and there is low science, and that one is no more valid than the other, but if her hunch is right, then both will be needed this day. Myra announces that they have power, and orders someone to prepare to pulse the Pit. There is a loud sound for a moment, then it is over.
Someone announces that this process caused a blackout on levels 20 through 47, while someone else informs Myra that the pulse should have been successful. Leaning into the pit, Myra replies that it was. ‘My God, how it was…’ she utters as she holds in her hand black and yellow clad being. Someone informs Myra that there is an incoming call from General Clarke, to which Myra replies ‘Don’t respond just yet,’ as she quickly hides her new “acquisition”.
Moments later, Myra steps in front of the console where Clarke is asking her how the test was, and informing her that her video feed is off. Myra urges someone to put some water on the dry ice before informing Clarke that it was no luck, that it overheated and blew something, before assuring him that if they get it working he will be the first to know.
Back at the diner, Murmur rushes over to Flex and asks him if he is hurt. ‘Puck hit me in the face!’ exclaims Adrian, to which Murmur points out that Puck is not himself. Adrian tells Arlette to just leave him alone and declares that he hates this, that he wants to quit, remembering that he got Madison Jeffries - before he can say anything more about Jeffries, Arlette wipes away his tears, telling that he should not recall his failures, that he must now have courage.
Murmur’s plan worked as she hoped, and Adrian leaps to his feet, telling Arlette she is right, and asking what he is crying about, pointing out that he has powers, good ones too, so he can do this. ‘Yes you can’ Murmur tells him, while thinking to herself ‘And so can I’, and wondering if perhaps this is how the whole team should be run. Murmur’s idea is an amusing one, but despite the good she might do, how would she then be any different than the man she fights - Mesmero?
Sipping his milkshake, Mesmero tells Arlette that he is getting really tired of her, for she is becoming much too like him. ‘Weren’t you crying a minute ago? What’d you do? Tell yourself to feel better?’ he asks, before offering her another dose of pain courtesy of the paying customers? And with that, Mesmero orders the patrons to attack Arlette. Murmur begins darting past the patrons, touching each of them and saying things like ‘Sit!’ and ‘Leave!’ while informing Mesmero that she is not so easy. ‘That’s not what the others think,’ Mesmero remarks cruelly. ‘How dare you say that!’ Arlette exclaims.
‘This is too rich!’ Mesmero thinks, deciding that he will have to have his next one made with less chocolate syrup, before ordering Guardian to get back up here. Suddenly, Radius appears from out of the hole in the floor he and Guardian made, to which Mesmero remarks that he didn’t ask for him, and that he isn’t even under his control. Radius lands hard on the floor across the room as Guardian flies through the hole, informing Mesmero that Radius was blocking his way, but it was a problem easily solved.
‘I’m gonna block your -’ begins Jared, before Puck interrupts him, warning him that his big mouth is going to get the better of him one day. Jumping onto Jared’s back, Judd exclaims that there is no time like the present, he thinks it best if he just get the better of him now. Guardian tells Judd to turn Radius around so he can blast him, as Jared informs Puck that he cannot hurt what he cannot touch.
Jared manages to swing his body around so that Puck is in front of him, and receives the brunt of Mac’s blast, as Radius suggests to Guardian that he as a “leader” needs to stop yelling out his plans, ‘All you’re doing is making sure I know how to beat them easier’. Judd rubs his head and wonders what he was doing. ‘Somebody else’s dirty work, now move!’ Jared exclaims as he shoves Puck out of the way of Mac’s second blast, realizing that the first must have reset Judd’s mind, but he probably couldn’t have survived a second.
Manbot approaches Mesmero, informing him that all means necessary have been approved for his capture, ‘No, leave me alone!’ is all Mesmero can exclaims - but he shouldn’t lose that Devil-may-care attitude, for he is doing so well. Mesmero controls great forces - he should use them. Mesmero orders Heather to jam Manbot’s gears, or melt his sockets, so Heather does as she is commanded, causing Manbot to repeatedly whir and click. However, Sunfire comes to Manbot’s aide by blasting Heather and telling her that distraction at her master’s hand is nothing she can afford.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, courage fades quickly as Flex has just discovered, thinking to himself that he has got to get out of this place and hide. It is a very delicate thing - just as being chased by someone you can trust is a delicate thing. ‘Flex, wait!’ shouts Judd, but Adrian just wonders why Puck is picking on him. However it is not the first time Adrian has not been able to get away from someone he trusts - and he thinks that this is just like back in Hull House when…when…’NOOOOOOO!’ he screams, as his mind flips backwards in his history, and he relives that time at Hull House.
But was it someone all those years ago - or some thing? Flex remembers screaming for Miss de la Salle to help him, and a hideous being standing in front of him, ‘Help you she can’t, young thing! Sure of that I am! MMM, pretty eyes you have. Eat them I could!’ the being exclaims as young Adrian tells it to leave him alone.
Flex’s mind returns to the hear and now, and as Judd approaches him, he flexes out and fights back, telling Judd to leave him alone. Judd manages to grab hold of Adrian and assures him that he is himself again, and telling him to calm, down. ‘What…?’ asks Flex. Judd repeats that he is himself again, which Heather overhears as she flies past them. Smirking, Heather says to Judd ‘Yourself again? That’s a pity…I always thought you were kind of cute,’ before telling him that now she has to kill him.
Suddenly, Murmur comes up behind Heather and shouting ‘Remember!’ is about to place her hands on Heather’s head, when Mesmero warns her to stop or else he will stab - not himself of course, but someone she likes almost as much - Guardian! The mesmerized Mac holds a knife at his own throat and Mesmero orders him to push the tip in a little further. Smugly, Mesmero tells Murmur that they will make this quick - that she will either “convince” the other Alphans to rejoin him, or “Commander Canuck” here will die by his own hand. ‘Or is that my own hand? Whatever. Either way, he will die’.
Heather McNeil Hudson is the kind of woman who can forget the punch line to a really funny joke. But there are some things she cannot begin to get out of her mind. Things like watching her husband die before her eyes years ago, then also in service to his country, then for no apparent reason. ‘MAC!’ Heather screams.
‘Such hysterics,’ Mesmero remarks, pointing out that the last time they met he recalls that they were very level-headed, ‘Department H have really made a mess of your mind haven’t they? Regardless, shrieks and tears won’t help you now! Only cooperation’ he declares, telling Murmur that she has until the count of three to meet with his demands - then Mac will kill himself. Mesmero begins his countdown, and just as he says ‘Three’ Sasquatch comes up behind Guardian and smacks him across the room, thrusting the knife from his hand.
Heather calls to Sunfire, asking him to help her break Mac’s fall, and as they catch him, Heather urges Murmur over, so Arlette rushes over and places her hand on Mac’s head, telling him to remember. ‘What…is going on?’ Mac asks as he comes to, before saying ‘Never mind, I do remember,’ and telling Mesmero that it is over, as he has lost.
Some believe that laughter is the best medicine, others believe the laying on of hands is helpful. But Mesmero believes in the very old adage that he who laughs last…laughs best. ‘Over?’ he remarks, ‘There was nothing here to end. This has been nothing but play - a last romp around my old playground my dear puppets’. Sipping his milkshake some more, Mesmero reveals that this was only a test, and that in the event of a real super-villain assault, they would have heard the emergency sound followed by important instructions.
Mesmero tells Alpha Flight that as fun as it has been, it was a waste of his abilities of which he is finally beginning to understand. He remarks that it has given him ideas, but he cannot share them just yet. He points out that if he did control every mind in this restaurant simultaneously, then there would be no limit to the type or number of minds he could control at once. ‘Whatever I want! Good bye!’ he exclaims, before mysteriously vanishing.
The patrons in the restaurant suddenly return to their normal selves, many of them wondering what happened. ‘Subject escaping’ Manbot announces. ‘More like escaped, huh?’ points out Judd. ‘Subject is escaping’ Manbot repeats, to which Judd reminds everyone that he couldn’t go invisible last time they fought. ‘Where could he have gone?’ asks Mac.
Far, far away…Paris, France, to be exact. The City of Light begins to twinkle into its full glory as old passions flare up as well. An elderly couple driving through the city are having an argument about where their friends’ house is. ‘I think your mind is going the way of your hair, Georges. We are no where near close!’ Georges’ wife tells him. ‘You never have confidence in me, never!’ Georges exclaims, taking his eyes off the road as he looks at his wife. ‘That’s not true, I am confident you are lost!’ the old woman exclaims. Georges asks his wife if she would prefer he let her out to walk the rest of the way, when suddenly, she tells Georges to look out, as there is a woman on the road.
Georges cannot break in time, ‘Sacre bleu!’ he shouts, while the woman standing in the middle of the road mutters ‘Sc - sc - sc - sc -’, before the car hits her, and knocks her several meters down the road. The elderly couple get out of the car, and the old woman asks Georges if she is alive. Georges replies that she is and that she is trying to speak. Lying on the road, the pink-clad woman with a large gun utters a single word in English. Her name is Virgo, and she whispers ‘Scorpio…’