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

[Assistant]
To Hunt the Hunter
Beneath New York…a large mutant known only as Samson runs through the sewer tunnels. He is a man who does not miss the surface world, as his blindness made him different there, as did his enormous size and strength. That‘s why he fled to the tangled tunnels and joined the disaffected mutants who called themselves the Morlocks. Here, his mutant powers were a blessing, as he discovered that his blind eyes could „see“ - by infrared - in the darkness. Samson became a valued member of the Morlock society, where he belonged. But then, the Marauders invaded the tunnels, strangers from the surface world with genocide in their hearts. When the Marauders left, most of the Morlocks had been killed. The tunnels are catacombs now, tombs for the slain - and the soon-to-be-dead - which Samson might find himself in that category, as Sabretooth - who took part in the slaughter of the Morlocks - is hot on his tail….
Sabretooth watches Samson from the shadows, recalling how he and the Marauders slaughtered most of the Morlocks, and declaring that it is up to him to clear out the stragglers, as he doesn’t like to leave a job unfinished. Trudging through the water, Samson knows that someone is following him, and admits that his tracker is good - but not so good that Samson cannot hear him. Samson wonders if it is one of Masque‘s gangsters, or someone else, while thinking to himself that there are not enough survivors left to ring a decent campfire! Though Samson knows that doesn’t stop some of them from trying to extend their power by killing off the others. ‘Stupid gits. What good is power over dead men?‘ Samson asks, before realizing that he needs to brace himself….
….and just in time too, as Sabretooth leaps at Samson. Samson realizes that it is Sabretooth, and calls him a murderer, before asking him what he is doing here. ‘Three guesses, loser - first two don‘t count!‘ Sabretooth replies. Samson boasts that Sabretooth will not take him the way he took the others, and uses his strength to smacks Sabretooth aside before the villain can attack him. ‘Good move - for a Morlock!‘ Sabretooth snarls, before lunging at Samson again and boasting that it is the last move he will ever make. Samson screams - then there is a mighty slashing sound as Sabretooth continues his attack.
However - not all Morlocks have remained helpless victims, cowering in the darkness. A few have left the tunnels, and now, one who has sold his soul for power, has returned. His name is Caliban. The tracker-mutant knows that Sabretooth is nearby and tells himself that is good, for it means his hunt has almost ended!
Meanwhile, on the surface, at the ruins of the Xavier Mansion in Westchester. ‘This is the famous X-mansion you‘ve told me and Boom-Boom so much about?‘ Julio “Rictor“ Richter asks his teammates in the New Mutants as they stand in rubble that was once home to many mutants. The alien New Mutant Warlock informs his teammate that their home is not as it was, while Rahne “Wolfsbane“ Sinclair tells Rictor that he should have seen it before Mr. Sinister blew it up, as it was a real mansion then, and they were happy here.
Sam Guthrie a.k.a. Cannonball informs everyone that Jean Grey told him the sub-basement is still intact, and that Forge and Banshee even left the lights on. ‘I don’t think, like, a little light will improve the ambience all that much‘ Tabby “Boom-Boom“ Smith mutters, and Rictor agrees, adding ‘Or change this into a place where any sane person would want to live!‘ Warlock remarks that they have no choice, and the New Mutants new mentor, Cable, who is currently clad in full armor declares that Warlock is right, as Freedom Force - and the individual federal government which they represent - are not too pleased with the New Mutants and he right now, so Cyclops‘ suggestion that they lie low here was well taken.
Bobby DaCosta a.k.a. Sunspot points out that you cannot get much lower than the X-Mansion‘s lower levels, and Rahne, in her half-wolf half-girl form helps him move a boulder which leads to a secret passage. Bobby adds that most of the good stuff is down in the sub-basements anyway. ‘Like what?‘ Boom-Boom asks. As the young heroes and Cable make their way down below, Cannonball exclaims that there are supplemental living quarters, a medical area and a gym. Bobby exclaims that it has everything - showers, an artificial sun-deck, ‘Even a swimming pool! Maybe this won‘t be so bad after all!‘ Tabby exclaims as she sees the pool.
Soon, Cannonball leads everyone into the library, boasting that there are books on every subject and computer terminals for each of them. Cable stands at the back of the room and noticing something is bothering Rictor, he wonders if it is himself. Cable decides that he doesn’t know Rictor well enough to tell, and that it would be useful to pry, but that given time, they will sort it out. Cable informs his charges that the complex seems both secure and well suited to their purposes, before remarking to Sam that he is glad to see he appreciates the library and the need for learning.
Cable goes on to tell the New Mutants that he wants them each to design their own curriculums and clear it with him. Cable adds that the curriculum must be heavy on the “three R‘s“, and also with history and government, geography, the hard sciences and psychology. Puzzled, Rahne, addressing Cable as “Sir“, asks him why. Cable replies that the New Mutants would be wise to get to know the world in all its complexities if they have any hope of saving it.
Cable continues, informing the New Mutants that they will also design new costumes with motifs that express team unity, but including variations to express their own identities. He adds that they can transmit the designs to X-Factor‘s Ship for implementation. ‘Commander Cable, sir, new costumes will not hide selves from Freedom Force!‘ Warlock exclaims. Cable replies that the new costumes might confuse Freedom Force momentarily.
Sunspot suggests to Cable that they should keep out of the tunnels that lead out of the lowest level, as that is Morlock territory. Bobby adds that, from what Jean Grey said, the Morlocks that are still there have gone dangerously insane. Boom-Boom exclaims that she seconds that, as she was in the tunnels once, and once was certainly enough for her!
Later, Cannonball leads everyone into a large chamber, declaring that he saved the best for last, and asks everyone what they think. ‘This is your amazing Danger Room?‘ Rictor asks, unimpressed. Sunspot remarks that it may not look too impressive now, ‘But wait until we switch it on!‘. Cable announces that on that note, they will convene here at 3 o‘clock to try the Danger Room out.
Meanwhile, in the tunnels beyond, Caliban continues to stalk Sabretooth - but what he finds is slaughter. ‚‘Another Morlock dead‘ Caliban thinks to himself as he stands over Samson‘s body, blood gushing into the water beneath them. Caliban declares that these very walls weep with the cries of the slain, and the waters run red with their heart‘s blood. Caliban remarks that Sabretooth is arrogant, so convinced of his own powers and invincibility, that he leaves a trail of death that any fool could follow. Caliban boasts that he is no fool though, nor is he just any tracker, for his is a special power. ‘I am a hunter of mutants!‘ the former Horseman of Apocalypse exclaims, adding that he is the Hell Hound, and that before dawn, he will corner Sabretooth - and Sabretooth will die!
Nearby, Sabretooth thinks that someone is following him, though he doesn’t know who and does not really care either. Sabretooth assumes his follower thinks he cannot hear him splashing through the water, and looking at his blood-stained hands, Sabretooth exclaims ‘Doesn’t know my claws are living razors!‘ Sabretooth‘s pursuer gets closer and the deadly villain catches his scent, which seems familiar to him. ‘A lucky Morlock who escaped our little massacre? Another fool, looking to die!‘ Sabretooth exclaims that it is bad news for this loser, and that whoever it is should have stayed cowering in the shadows, should have left all of this alone. ‘You put your head in the tigers mouth…you better expect it to get bit off!‘
Meanwhile, the New Mutants are busy designing their new uniforms. Cannonball asks Warlock what he thinks, to which Warlock replies that the designs are acceptable, but that Cannonball does not need goggles, as his power protects him when he blasts. Sam asks Warlock to give him a break, as he wants the goggles because he thinks they look cool, before he calls out to Rictor, informing him that he is next and asking if he has worked out a design yet. Rictor replies ‘Nope‘ and declares that he doesn’t want a new uniform, as it is just macho kids stuff, and he likes his clothes the way they are.
Boom-Boom turns to Rictor and tells him that ever since Cable came along, he has been acting like a real pain, and asks him what is up with him. Sullenly, Rictor announces that he knows Cable, from a long time ago. This surprises his teammates, and Boom-Boom remarks that Cable doesn’t seem to know Rictor, before asking him what the problem is. ‘He some kind of mass murderer or what?‘ Rictor replies ‘No‘ and that he doesn’t want to talk about it, as it is personal.
Wolfsbane begins to try and get Rictor to talk about it, when Warlock exclaims that he must interrupt, pointing out that it is three o‘clock and therefore time for the Danger Room practice session. ‚‘Fantastic!‘ Sunspot exclaims, before suggesting they “modem“ the uniform designs to Ship. ‘Then self friend New Mutants are out of here!‘ Warlock exclaims excitedly. With regards to the Danger Room, Sunspot tells Boom-Boom and Rictor that it is great, that they will not believe their eyes.
Rictor stands back from his teammates as they leave the room, and Rahne asks him if he isn‘t coming. Julio doesn’t answer, instead, he thinks that he is just like Rahne - the New Mutants are the only family he has left, but that Cable, with his new uniforms and practice sessions has stolen them from him - just the way he stole his father. Rahne asks Rictor again to please come, as it is going to be wonderful and she wants him to give it a chance. Rictor turns to Rahne and tells her that he will give it a go is she says so - and he will give Cable a try. ‘But if it doesn’t work out…‘ he thinks to himself.
Soon, the New Mutants, except Rictor of course, have changed into some work-out outfits and stand in the middle of the Danger Room, their pulses pounding, despite this being an apparently empty, metal sheathed arena. From the observation and control booth, Cable asks the New Mutants if they are prepared. Cable addresses Cable as “Sir“ again and replies that they are as ready as they will ever be. Cable declares that they shall begin, but nothing happens. ‘Where‘s all the special effects you guys were bragging about?‘ Boom-Boom asks, when suddenly, ‘Heads up, people! Here we go!‘ Cannonball shouts as the New Mutants find themselves on small asteroid like platforms, with warriors rushing towards them and small aircraft firing lasers at them.
Boom-Boom asks where they are and what those creatures are, to which Wolfsbane replies that this is an alien landscape and those are their enemies, creatures from another world. Cannonball blasts in between the asteroids while explaining that the Danger Room was built by the Shi‘ar using alien technology so advanced, that it is near incomprehensible to humans. As Sunspot begins punching the alien warriors, he exclaims that the Danger Room is programmed with scenarios from hundreds of worlds, both real and imaginary, adding that he is operating at his maximum strength, even though this is a pretty low-level exercise, and that the more advanced states can get pretty dangerous.
Warlock announces that he is more than glad of his own body‘s malleability, as he dodges the warriors, while Wolfsbane exclaims that the enhanced strength and agility of her wolf-form can be truly a life-saver. ‘You mean, these things aren‘t just holograms? They‘re, like, real?‘ Boom-Boom exclaims in horror. Warlock replies that in the Danger Room they are, and suggests she creates her explosive energy spheres as he calls them now. ‚‘No kidding!‘ Tabby mutters, before unleashing her time bombs upon the approaching warriors.
On another asteroid, Rictor is all by himself. Two warriors approach him, and he boasts that is child‘s play, as all he has to do is shatter them, vibe them off this rock. But much to Rictor‘s surprise, he finds that these aliens are not flesh and blood, but they break into pieces, only to reform into another creature, and soon he is surrounded. Observing from the control booth, Cable notes that Rictor is surrounded, and that the more valiantly he fights, the more skillfully he shatters those creatures, the more of them emerge. Cable realizes that Julio doesn’t have a clue how to deal with these warriors and will soon be overwhelmed.
Rictor gasps as more warriors approach him and he thinks that this is like what happened to his father, what he saw happen to his father. ‘What I see over and over again in my dreams - and I can do nothing!‘ Julio thinks to himself, before collapsing to the ground, and trembling, he covers his face as he calls out to Cable, asking him to shut the program off. His teammates rush over to him, with Sunspot asking Rictor if he is all right. Wolfsbane exclaims ‘Thank Heaven Cable stopped the exercise‘ while Cannonball tells Rictor not to sweat it too much, as they are supposed to make mistakes in here. Wolfsbane agrees with Sam, and assures Rictor that over time, the Danger Room has frightened all of them.
Cable has come down from the control booth and remarks to Rictor ‘You aren‘t actually hurt?‘ Rictor replies ‘No thanks to you, Cable‘ before telling him that sequence he ran was to set him up, ‘Like you did my father‘ Julio thinks to himself, before declaring for all the Danger Room‘s ultra-realism, it was just a game, ‘And I hate playing games!‘ Julio announces. Rictor then thinks to himself that he will use his power to clear the Morlock tunnels of Masque and his followers, then his teammates will see how wrong they are to follow Cable, and to take the Danger Room so seriously.
As Rictor strides away, Cable watches his young charge and thinks to himself that Rictor is the most difficult of them all, a puzzle to him - proud, stubborn and fiercely independent. Cable decides that Rictor thinks he has failed here, and will not even admit it to himself. Cable supposes he could order Rictor back, but decides against it as this is not the army, so there is no point in getting into a battle of wills where they would both be losers. Cable reminds himself that the New Mutants risk their lives in battle because they choose to do so, which is their greatest strength. Cable decides that he will talk to Rictor later, quietly when they are alone, as Julio must accept him as his leader, as the others do. Cable knows that Rictor must chose to remain, for if he pushes Rictor too far, then he will lose him…‘As I once lost my son!‘ Cable thinks to himself.
Later, ‚‘Did Ship do a great job in constructing these costumes or what?‘ Boom-Boom asks as she examines herself in a mirror. Clad in a skimpy pink and white mini-dress, but still wearing her trade-mark sun glasses, this time a larger pair, she is pleased with her appearance. As is Sunspot who is checking her out. Cannonball is dressed in his new costume, purple and white, and Sunspot in his, red and white. All three comprise elements unique to the wearer, as Cable asked for, but also have a team look to them. Sam remarks that Ship had great designs to work from, before asking where Rictor and Wolfsbane are.
Boom-Boom replies that Rahne is looking for Rictor, and that she doesn’t know what got into him just collapsing like he did, as Rictor has fought guys worse than that. Sunspot agrees that it was odd and suggests maybe Rictor thought Cable did it on purpose, before pointing out that they will talk it out with Julio when Rahne finds him. As if on cue, Rahne rushes into the room. Sam informs Rahne that her uniform is here, but Rahne exclaims that it is not important right now. Sam asks her why not and what is wrong, to which an anguished Rahne exclaims that Rictor is gone, and that she is afraid he went into the Morlock tunnels!
In a panic, the New Mutants race down the hall after Rahne changes into her orange and white uniform. Cannonball cries out to Cable, but Wolfsbane points out that he cannot hear them, as he has the Cerebro helmet on, trying to get it operative so that they can use if to find the Mutant Liberation Front. Rahne goes right up to Cable and gets his attention, informing them that he must listen to them. ‘What is it, Rahne‘ Cable asks, seemingly unimpressed that he is being interrupted. Rahne replies that it is Rictor, and informs Cable that he has gone into the tunnels. ‘What?‘ Cable replies urgently, before taking off Cerebro and telling his team that there is no time to waste, that they must be at the tunnel entrance in five minutes, for they have to go after Rictor!
Meanwhile, the tunnels where Rictor treks are dark, damp and shadowed. Julio stalks through them, armed only with his power and a plan. Julio thinks to himself that it is ridiculous the New Mutants should cower in that wreck they call an X-Mansion, afraid of some bogeyman mutants in these tunnels. Rictor admits that he knows the stories of Masque and the massacre survivors who have joined him, ‘But how many can there be?‘ he wonders, before thinking that the New Mutants should confront them, except that Cable has turned his teammates into wimps!
Rictor mocks his teammates and how they address Cable: “‘Yes, sir!‘, ‘No, sir!‘“, but Rictor is most shocked at how when Cable bosses his teammates around, they actually like it, even Sunspot, and especially Wolfsbane.  Rictor declares that Cable, with his talk of new costumes and practice Danger Room sessions, has done a real number on the rest of the New Mutants. He wonders why his teammates don’t know this is just a game to Cable, just pretend. Rictor thinks that it is easy to mess things up when it isn‘t real, before seeing Samson‘s body up ahead in the water. Rictor realizes that something - or someone killed him, when suddenly a voice behind Rictor asks him what he is doing here.
Rictor sees a large figure before him, unaware that it is Caliban who declares ‘These are not your tunnels. They belong to the Morlocks‘. Rictor assumes this bulking figure before him to be the murderer, and exclaims ‘Maybe, murderer…maybe not!‘ as he unleashes his seismic powers on him. Caliban pushes forward, towards Rictor and tells him that it will take more than that to defeat him, the nigh-invulnerable Caliban! Rictor hesitates, ‘Caliban? It cant be - you‘re so different!‘ he exclaims, before declaring ‘It‘s me, Rictor…Caliban, don‘t you remember, we were friends!‘ Rictor exclaims.
‘That Caliban is dead, past redemption!‘ Caliban exclaims, when suddenly, Sabretooth lunges out at Rictor, while snarling ‘This Caliban will be dead, too!‘ Reaching out and trying to slash Rictor, Sabretooth warns him that firstly, he will finish him. Rictor falls to the water as Sabretooth shreds his clothing and looms over him. Caliban approaches Sabretooth, and remarks that he performs well against children, ‘Against the weak…the innocent…the unaware!‘
‘And you ain‘t none of those things, right? Good!‘ Sabretooth exclaims, remarking that he has been spoiling for a fight. Rictor watches the other two mutants and thinks to himself that Sunspot was right, they are crazy down here, before realizing that Sabretooth ripped his guts out, and now he cannot stand, let alone run away. He decides that at least now Sabretooth and Caliban are killing each other, while wondering how long it can be until one has defeated - and the other turns on him?
Back at their headquarters, the New Mutants inform Cable, who has gathered some grenades among other weapons, that they are ready. When Cable doesn’t answer, Boom-Boom asks him if he isn‘t going to tell them that they are too young and should stay here while he goes after Rictor alone. Cable readies a large weapon, and replies that the New Mutants are too young to experience what they might find in the tunnels, but that with all of them working together, Rictor has a better chance of survival.
Cable proceeds to tell his team that they should enter the tunnels at maximum strength, and orders Sunspot to power up. Rahne asks Cable if, with his permission, she can switch to a full wolf-form, and admit that she will not be as strong that way, but that she will be able to track Rictor more effectively that way. Cable replies that Rahne can do that if she wishes, before exclaiming ‘Into the tunnels, then…and may Lord have mercy on us
all…!‘


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

[Assistant]
Prey for the Living
In the Morlock Tunnels…the former Morlock Caliban, now the Horseman of Death, is at the mercy of the deadly and murderous Sabretooth, while the New Mutant Julio Richter a.k.a. Rictor lies, badly wounded several feet away. Rictor knows that his is bleeding, which is why he cannot run away, but he also knows that Caliban and Sabretooth are both crazy - so no matter who wins this fight, he will be their next.
Caliban uppercuts Sabretooth, knocking the villain back while telling him that he can rake all he wants with his claws and barbaric fervor, but that as he has weathered the agonies of physical reformation and the ravages of self-distress to find purpose in life, the mania is unto a gentle breeze against a granite cliff. Caliban informs Sabretooth that Rictor sought refuge in the tunnels from his own spiritual demons, so it was not necessary for Sabretooth to become physical with him as well.
Rictor sobs while thinking that it serves him right, as he ran away from the other New Mutants cause he cannot deal with Cable taking charge, nor could he hack it in the Danger Room. Julio thinks that the joke is on himself now, because if he couldn’t handle a practice battle, then how is he going to survive the real thing now?
Caliban lunges at Sabretooth, suggesting that he prepare to make peace with his past, ‘For you no longer have hope left for a future!’ Before Caliban can strike Sabretooth though, the Marauder picks up a slab of concrete and smacks it hard against Caliban while remarking ‘You talk and talk and talk about strength and the survival of the fittest…well here’s a bulletin for you…I wrote the book on survival!’
Rictor comes to Caliban’s defense by using his vibration powers on Sabretooth, striking the fierce mutant in the back. Sabretooth quickly turns though and smacks Rictor in the face, telling him that he is too weak and that his powers don’t do anything against him. Sabretooth looms over Rictor, ‘Now then, little boy meat - let’s finish what we started!’ he snarls, when suddenly Caliban comes up behind him, and referring to the massacre of the Morlocks in which Sabretooth took part, Caliban calls him a butcher of his own kind, and declares that they shall indeed finish what they started.
Meanwhile, over a mile away, the rest of the New Mutants, led by their mysterious new mentor Cable begin the search for Rictor. The well-armed Cable announces that he is picking up background noise all over the place, and remarks that the way sound in these tunnels reverberates, it is hard to tell what is a mile away, or an inch in front of your face. ‘Either way, this place is totally disgusting!’ Tabby “Boom-Boom” Smith mutters, to which Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta tells her to ease up, reminding her that she knew going into the Morlock tunnels would force her to make a daring fashion statement. ‘Yeah Roberto, like slime-on-pink is the rage this year!’ Tabby replies.
Cable tells Boom-Boom and Sunspot to be quiet, but it is too late, as several large Morlocks drop out from the shadows and surround Cable and the New Mutants in the dark and dank tunnels. ‘You were saying something about an inch in front of your face?’ Tabby asks, trying to make a joke. Sam “Cannonball” Guthrie tells Boom-Boom to quit joking and points out that these Morlock bruisers look pretty tough. Bobby boasts that the Morlocks don’t have anything the New Mutants can’t put out in kind, to which Cable agrees.
The Morlocks’ leader, the grotesque Masque, replies ‘Perhaps, shiny metal man…but for every Morlock I lose, another will stand in his steed’ and asks Cable if he can say the same. Cable replies that he cannot, to which Masque warns that if Cable loses, then he will have oodles of fun with him and his kids. Cable tells Masque that if he wants a fight, then they can give him one, before informing him that they did not trespass on his land with that intention, explaining that they are after one of their own who may be in trouble. Masque remarks that the tunnel is getting a little crowded, and allows Cable to proceed, and adding that if luck is with the Morlocks, they will all kill each other off. ‘Less mess for us to deal with, you know’.
The alien New Mutant known as Warlock excuses his colloquial slang, before asking Cable if Masque was a bit out of his gourd. Cable replies that he had a similar thought in mind, before pointing out that the main thing they avoided was a fruitless fight with them. Cable orders Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair to remain in her full wolf mode and keep tracking Rictor’s scent. Cable then orders Cannonball to fly ahead and scout around, but that he is not to engage anyone if he encounters resistance.
Ten minutes later, Cannonball has flown back to his teammates and informs Cable that it looked like there was a ruckus up ahead, like there was a whole lot of shaking going on. Cable agrees and announces that this is it, as Rahne has picked up Rictor’s scent. He tells everyone to be on their toes. ‘I didn’t mean literally, Warlock!’ he adds.
Arriving up ahead, the New Mutants see Rictor lying in the tunnel and Warlock exclaims ‘Self friend Rictor is damaged!’ Cannonball notices who he suspects to be Caliban, while Cable aims his weapon at Caliban and declares that they are here for Rictor. ‘Let us have him and we’ll go!’ he exclaims, when Rahne sees Rictor’s injuries, she lunges towards Sabretooth, boasting ‘It’s time to fight someone who can match you claw for claw!’, but as she tries to strike Sabretooth, he smacks her hard telling Wolfsbane that there is no way she can be a match for him, before announcing that he got off on seeing her little boyfriend bleeding and whimpering. Cannonball exclaims that the New Mutants may not enjoy hurting people and fighting like Sabretooth does, ‘But that don’t mean we can’t do it!’ Sam adds as he blasts towards Sabretooth, then smacks him into the side of the tunnels.
Cable watches as Sunspot engages Caliban and tells him not to, but seeing as Bobby isn’t listening, Cable just unleashes his weapon against Caliban, blasting him hard. Cable thinks to himself that it has been so long since the New Mutants have had qualified instruction, they no longer work well as a team. Cable knows he is going to have to correct that, or else it may cost them dearly in battle. Cable calls out to Boom-Boom, ‘The roof, now!’, which Tabby assumes that Cable wants a time bomb right over where Caliban is, and tosses a burst of plasma in the air, and very shortly after, some of the ceiling comes down on their over-sized foe. ‘No problema!’ Tabby exclaims, adding ‘That’s Spanish, ya know!’
‘You call that Spanish?’ Sunspot snaps back, to which Cable remarks that he would call it “effective” in any language, to which Boom-Boom exclaims ‘Finally! A bohunk of the species who recognizes talent when he sees it!’ Warlock announces that he has a query, and proceeds to ask if “former self friend Caliban” has been flattened to the consistency of ‘Floury breakfast dough sans syrup’. Wolfsbane exclaims that they should forget about Caliban, and asks where Rictor is. ‘And Sabretooth!’ Sunspot points out.
Sabretooth is currently rushing through a nearby tunnel, with Rictor tossed across his shoulder. Sabretooth declares that the New Mutants will never be death on two legs, as they don’t have the brains or the guts, and they are so busy seeing what they have done instead of looking at what they should be doing. The villain suggests that perhaps they just don’t care enough about Rictor. ’Seems like no one really cares much about you - your friends, your new teacher…well guess what, “shakin’ bake”?…I care about you!’ Sabretooth snarls as he tosses Rictor to the tunnel floor.
‘I care enough to kill you!’ Sabretooth roars as he looms over the injured Rictor. ‘NO!’ Julio screams, ‘Oh yeah!’ Sabretooth snarls as he remarks that Rictor got in the middle of his fight with Caliban, ‘You get between the hunter and its prey and you’re gonna pay!’ Sabretooth warns Rictor, before suggesting that he shreds Rictor’s skin clean off his bones and wears him like a scarf, or perhaps he might hang Rictor up in front of the tunnel entrance, and warn all the Morlocks what is in store for them. ‘I’ll be fair - you decide!’ Sabretooth offers.
‘No’ Rictor whispers, while he begins to vibrate. ‘The mouse that roared? More like a squeak, pip!’ Sabretooth laughs, while Rictor whispers that he will not give up - no matter how much it hurts! ‘Even if it kills me - I’m gonna take you with me!’ Julio declares, furiously staring at Sabretooth, who just roars with laughter, ‘Show me some teeth, you little wimp! Make me sweat for it!’ Sabretooth shouts, when suddenly Rictor manages to get to his feet, ‘DON’T LAUGH AT ME, YOU ANIMAL!’ he shouts as his powers cause major rumblings in the tunnels, while Rictor tells Sabretooth to go for it, that the only way he is going to get out of here alive is if he runs like the animal he is. ‘What’s it gonna be, pig - you gonna be a man - fight me and die - or run like a coward and live?’ Rictor asks as the ceiling begins to collapse.
The rumbling is heard nearby by Cable, who asks his charges if they also heard it. Warlock exclaims that it would appear that Rictor has repaired his internal damage, and asks if they should lend assistance. Sunspot asks about Caliban, to which Boom-Boom boasts that when she puts uglified meat-machines down for the count, they stay down! Cable replies that whether Boom-Boom is right or not, their main responsibility is to Rictor, and he adds that, if necessary, they can come back after Caliban another time, when they are better prepared.
The New Mutants and Cable rush to find Rictor as more rumbling is heard, and Cannonball exclaims that it sounds like the whole tunnel is going to come down around them. Boom-Boom mutters that she is sure her ears are bleeding here, before exclaiming that she thinks they are closer to finding Rictor than ‘Cute on Johnny Depp!’ Cable confirms that he has Rictor sighted on infra-red through his bionic eye, adding that he is half-buried under rubble, but awake.
Shortly, Rictor opens his eyes sees his teammates, while muttering ‘Hey guys…guess I blew my top for real this time, eh?’ Ten minutes later, the rubble has been cleared off Rictor, and Boom-Boom stands over him, muttering that they just had to save him again. Rictor asks her what she means “we”, as he doesn’t see any dirt under her fingernails. ‘Sure, because all of hers is under all of mine!’ Sunspot mumbles while continuing to move some rubble. Cannonball tells his friends to zip their lips and asks where Sabretooth is under all of this mess. ‘Why don’t you try…right behind you?’ Sabretooth snarls as he pops up behind the New Mutants.
The New Mutants turn to face Sabretooth, and Rictor tells him to floss his teeth or keep them under wraps, adding ‘You don’t scare me anymore, mister!’ Cannonball informs Sabretooth that they are taking him in, while Sabretooth just mutters ‘Do tell’. ‘You hurt one of us and you answer to all!’ Cable exclaims, informing Sabretooth that they can take him down hard or easy, and offers him the choice. Boom-Boom backs Cable up, while suggesting Cable nudge Sabretooth towards the easy answer.
Suddenly, ‘NO, CABLE!’ bellows Masque and several of his followers lumber towards the New Mutants. Masque exclaims that the Morlocks owe Sabretooth, the savage butcher a lot more than a nick or cut to the New Mutants’ pretty face. ‘He’s ours!’ Masque exclaims. Cable asks the Morlock leader if it is very logical for them to fight over who gets the right to fight Sabretooth, while Cannonball informs Cable that he doesn’t think logic gets in the Morlocks’ way too often. Sunspot points out that Sabretooth has hurt Rictor now, and the rest of the New Mutants at some point in the past, so they are honor bound to stop him.
Masque calls Sunspot a pampered boy and tells him that he knows nothing about hurt, nothing about the kind of pain the Morlocks have gone through. Cannonball remarks that it is Cable’s call, but that it is his opinion they can walk away from this one. Boom-Boom suggests that they “amscray” and tell everyone else that the kicked the crud out of them all. Cable tells Boom-Boom to keep quiet and announces that he agrees with Cannonball, as the Morlocks will dispense their own brand of justice to Sabretooth, or Sabretooth to them. Cable adds that the New Mutants will always be around if the winner causes a fuss down the road. ‘But he -’ Sunspot begins to protest. ‘Right?’ Cable remarks. ‘- and they!’ Bobby continues. ‘Right?’ Cable asks. ‘Right’ Bobby mutters.
‘You win the jackpot, pizza-face!’ Sabretooth exclaims as he turns to Masque and the Morlocks. Masque points out that they still outnumber him, no matter how many of them he slays. But before the battle can begin, Caliban bursts onto the scene, ‘No!’ he shouts, ‘There will be no more Morlock blood shed by this demon!’ Masque is shocked, ‘Caliban? Is that you?’ he asks, while Cable snarls ‘Oh, let’s cook with fire now!’
Caliban exclaims that the weak must be culled from the strong, ‘The kill is mine!’ he cries. An angry Masque replies ‘Oh, it is, is it?’ before pointing out that he rules the Morlocks, and what he says goes. Caliban replies that only one weak mutant must be killed today, and reveals that he has chosen Sabretooth. ‘Give him to me, or I will choose another!’ he warns Masque. Frightened, Masque remarks that Caliban has changed, ‘An improvement as far as I’m concerned…go get him, big guy!’ With that, Sabretooth leaps towards Caliban, ‘Let’s do it!’ he snarls, while Caliban informs him that his madness ends tonight.
The New Mutants begin to take their leave, but Cable tells them to wait, as he wants to see how this plays out. Caliban grabs Sabretooth in his large arms, and tells the deadly villain that for all the pain he has caused in his lifetime, he hopes his soul suffers eternal damnation. There is a major KRAKK as Caliban bends Sabretooth’s body. Masque grins in pleasure, while the New Mutants gasp in shock. ‘I think I’m dealing in some major chucking on this end, here…’ Boom-Boom mutters, while Cable looks at Sabretooth’s motionless body, lying on the tunnel floor and remarks that Sabretooth has been tried and executed by those he wronged, which is acceptable as far as he is concerned.
Cable tells his charges that it is time to go home, while Caliban watches them, thinking that his task here is finished, for now at least. However, Caliban feels that the day is coming when this man Cable and his flock will participate in a trial by fire at his hands. ‘The day is coming soon…’.
Days later, ‘Dogging it for sure now!’ Cannonball tells Rictor as the New Mutants gather around their teammates bed while he recovers from his injuries. Rictor replies that he isn’t faking it, but his wounds really have not healed. Sam asks Julio if he is sure he just doesn’t want to do another Danger Room session with them, to which Rahne points out that the Danger Room was the very matter which got Rictor into this mess in the first place. Sunspot remarks that Wolfsbane is right, and tells Rictor to consider himself lucky that Cable wanted to come and get him in the first place. Rictor scowls and remarks that he would be happier knowing not owing Cable anything, before telling his teammates that he is glad they came to help him, but that nothing Cable did makes a difference to him.
Wolfsbane asks Rictor how he can say that, as Cable has been good and kind to them since they first met him. Rahne reminds Rictor that he has not told them what his problems with Cable are - or were - and asks him how, until he does, he can expect them to support his views towards Cable. ‘What she said - except maybe with half as many words!’ Boom-Boom exclaims in agreement. Rahne sees that Rictor looks upset with her, and tells him that they have said their piece, and that she didn’t mean to snap, before asking Rictor to give this a chance with Cable, but to most of all, give himself a chance.
Later, Rictor is up out of his bed and makes his way through the sub-basement headquarters of the New Mutants, thinking to himself that his teammates are right, he did quit on himself, and exclaims that he leaned in the tunnels you can never ever quit. Julio realizes that he has never used his powers like that before, but feels that he wasn’t really in control. He decides that there is only one way to learn to control it - practice! ‘And only one way to practice in this place…the Danger Room!’ Entering the control booth, Rictor decides that he has to practice now, while no one is around, so if he screws up, no one will know about it.
But gazing down into the Danger Room, Rictor is shocked to see Cable down below battling some kind of droids, with the Danger Room in full scale solo combat mode. Rictor thinks that it is too much for one man - even if he is half-bionic, and is amazed at how Cable is battling the droids - outnumbered and outgunned! Rictor watches as Cable doesn’t give up, doesn’t quit. ‘Even at his age - geez - he must be like a million years old or something - and he keeps at it!’ Rictor exclaims as Cable leaps above two droids and smashes them together with ease.
Rictor continues watch Cable, until the powerful Cable completes his training exercise. ‘He did it!’ Rictor thinks to himself, realizing that Cable doesn’t know he is watching him, so he wasn’t showing off or anything. ‘He did it because he knows you have to always practice in order to survive the kind of work we do!’ Rictor realizes that Cable wasn’t asking him to do anything he doesn’t do himself, and wonders if perhaps he had listened to Cable, he wouldn’t have gotten trashed by Sabretooth. ‘Then again, Sabretooth’s kind of tough!’.
Rictor frowns while admitting that Cable wins, and that, perhaps, this Danger Room stuff, working out of this grubby basement under Xavier’s mansion, maybe it will be cool. But that still doesn’t mean he likes Cable, or trusts him. ‘But maybe…just maybe…I’m beginning to respect you!’


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

[Assistant]
Days of Future Present, part 2: The Once and Future Mutants (1st story)  Tribute the Second (2nd story)
1st story:This is the site of Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, secretly founded by the telepath Charles Xavier for the training and education of mutants, that branch of humanity born with an anomaly in their genetic structure that gives them super human powers. The school was recently destroyed, and its mutant residents are now, supposedly, scattered to the four corners of the Earth. And yet, floating over the rubble, a mysterious mutant has arrived - a traveler out of time - a voyager with a purpose…. ‘Rubble! It’s all rubble now!’ the adult Franklin Richards gasps. Franklin recalls that he was happy here, that he learned so much. But such destruction - ‘It’ doesn’t have to be like this. It isn’t right’ he exclaims.
Franklin Richards has always had power aplenty, but for years it had been stifled, locked away - only now it is released. He looks at the here-and-now and remembers his adolescence - when mutants were hounded but not yet hunted to extinction. Those bad times came later. Back then he had the headlong optimism of youth. He believed that he would live forever, And, as memory overtakes this lonely young man, reality answers the pattern in his mind’s eye, and the school is restored - not as it was - but as it will be. Now, standing before the adult Franklin, the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. Anti-mutant graffiti lines the concrete fence which now sports a laser around the top of it. Turrets are attached to parts of the institute itself for defense, while the buildings look like they have sustained damage from battle.
Franklin walks up to the door, ‘There’ he decides, and in an instant, his jumpsuit is replaced by the present-day standard blue and gold X-Men uniform. ‘That’s better’ he remarks. But as he opens the front door, his costume changes once more - still blue and gold, but armed with all sorts of pouches and a utility belt - quite futuristic….
Elsewhere, from his secret complex at a nexus where the present and the future meet - Ahab, master of the Hounds, a mutant hunter sent from the future, surveys a projection map of lower New York state, as it was before the Sentinel robots wrested control of the United States from humanity, and brutally crushed all mutant resistance. He is the guardian, placed there by the master Sentinel, to prevent any mutant time travelers from escaping into the past. ‘Again, he has appeared. Little Franklin Richards…little no longer. This time he is in Westchester…at the late Professor Xavier’s mutant school house!” Ahab muses as he examines the map.
Ahab turns to a muscular Hound, armed with weapons, and several missile drones, and declares ‘How is he doing it? When I ran him to ground, he had no powers to set him aside from normal humanity. Only a vast unrealized potential…certainly he was no time traveler, and my masters were certain they had killed him. And yet he is alive…with all his enormous potential fulfilled!’ Ahab shouts. ‘Why here? Why now? What has happened to release his power…now he’s too dangerous to be allowed to live!’ Ahab exclaims, ordering his Hound to go after Franklin, to take the scouts and go to Westchester, to Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. ‘Hunt down young Franklin Richards…and destroy him!’
At that moment, in the sub-sub-basement of Professor Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, is the Danger Room, where the students of this strange academy, the New Mutants, hone their more-than-human powers in mock battles against creatures seemingly from another world. ‘Self is zapped. Robot has drained Self’s life-force. He must shrink to conserve energy’ the mutant alien Warlock exclaims, adding that it works for friend-Mario. Rictor turns to his teammate, who shrinks down and asks ’Mario…as in Brothers? That’s Nintendo, Warlock. You’re talking about a stupid game!’, to which Warlock reminds Rictor that he himself has said that the Danger Room is merely a stupid game.
‘If it is, Warlock, nobody’s told this robot…and he’s gunning for your butt!’ Bobby “Sunspot” DaCosta exclaims as he uses his strength to stop a round projectile from one of the robots they are battling. Sunspot calls out that it is stronger than it looks and is giving him some trouble. ‘That’s my cue. One time-bomb coming up’ Tabitha “Boom-Boom” Smith shouts as she throws a plasma blast at the projectile Sunspot is struggling against, causing it to shatter. But suddenly, Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair alerts Boom-Boom to the steam-roller which is fast approaching her. Rictor gets Wolfsbane out of the way, and stands alongside Boom-Boom as he uses his vibra-power to stop the steam-roller - only it crashes into the robot behind it, and they both begin to topple towards Rictor and Boom-Boom. ‘I have you!’ Sam “Cannonball” Guthrie exclaims as he blasts down, destroying the two robots as he collects his teammates and pulls them to safety, adding that it looks like that was the last of them.
The New Mutants gather together ‘Dig it, guys! We trashed every mechanical monster in sight!’ Sunspot announces, smiling, while Boom-Boom points out that everything is fading. She remarks that she doesn’t think she will ever get used to the way the environments are so real when they are involved in them, and then, just evaporate when the exercise is over. Wolfsbane explains to Boom-Boom that the Danger Room is built with alien technology. Rahne adds that it is almost like witchcraft, so it doesn’t bear thinking about too closely. Sunspot calls out to the control room: ‘You, Cable! Are we New Mutants the best…or what?’ he asks.
Cable replies that they succeeded admirably, but that borrowing from Warlock the language of Nintendo, ‘…that was only level one of the “first world”!’ Cable replies, telling his charges that although it worked out this time, Rictor might want to consider his surroundings before using his newly augmented power so forcefully. ‘Care to give level two a try?’ Cable asks. Rictor shakes a fist at Cable and boasts that they can take anything he and this overgrown playroom can throw at them, one-legged with their hands tied behind their backs. ‘No way’ Boom-Boom mutters, to which Cannonball tells Rictor that Cable is not out to get them, it is just practice, nothing personal. ‘It is with me’ Rictor thinks to himself.
But before tensions can rise any further, a blinding flash of light and stench of brimstone fills the room and suddenly, six mysterious strangers appear - one of whom is the adult Franklin Richards, still in a futuristic X-Men outfit, as are the others. ‘Who are you? What are you doing here?’ a large dark-skinned man with some sort of staff asks. A blue-skinned woman with long dark hair exclaims ‘Look at them! Some look like the New Mutants from the old photos…but the costumes are wrong…and some of them are dead’. A man armed with a sword and riding some sort of robotic steed calls his teammate Blue and tells her that they must be ghosts or shape shifters assuming their predecessors’ likeness. ‘Whatever they are, they don’t belong!’ Franklin declares.
The present-day New Mutants look concerned, and Boom-Boom calls out to Cable: ‘Hey, Cable, no fair! You should have warned us before initiating the next sequence!’, while Warlock gets Wolfsbane’s attention towards the blond boy that materialized in the room. ‘Do Self’s eyes deceive self…or is it -’ Warlock begins, while Rahne exclaims ‘It is, Lock! It’s Doug!’ and rushes over to him, ‘Doug, can it really be you? Alive…not really dead, at all?’ Rahne asks. ‘Good Lord, it is Doug!’ Sunspot exclaims, while Sam tells his best friend to chill out, reminding him that they saw Doug die, that it must be part of the program, and if so it is cruel and mean spirited. ‘What is this, Cable? Some kind of sick joke?’ Sam calls up to the control room. Cable replies that it is not a Danger Room scenario, ‘Whatever they are, they’re real!’ he warns them. Cable bangs a fist against the control room door as he tries to get down to aid his charges, but the door has been fused shut, despite the Danger Room’s safety systems. ‘Who could be powerful enough to have done this?’ Cable wonders.
Warlock smiles and exclaims that if Cable says that Self-Friend-Doug is real, then he is indeed alive. ‘I am alive, Warlock. But the name is Magus!’ comes the reply, as this strange version of Doug Ramsey displays his own techno-organic attributes. ‘Doug!’ Wolfsbane calls out. ‘Silence! You make me sick with your silly whimpering!’ Magus announces, smacking Wolfsbane to the ground. Rahne look horrified. ‘No! This canna be happening! Doug, why are you doing this? You loved me once…you were my friend!’
Rictor rushes over and picks Rahne up off the ground, telling her to snap out of it. ‘Whatever he is, he’s not the kid you knew!’ Rictor points out, while telling himself that he knew the team used to have a kid named Doug, and he knew he died, but he did not know Rahne was involved with him. Rahne drops out of Rictor’s arms, falling to the ground again, while Rictor tells himself that Rahne is so gentle and kind. ‘How can anyone who knows her…who loved her…ever try to hurt her?’ Suddenly, ‘Keep away from her, MONSTER!’ Rictor shouts as he unleashes his power on Magus, despite Wolfsbane’s plea not to. The vibrations emanating from Rictor’s clenched fists can topple buildings and shatter trees. The Magus is blown apart.
Rahne shifts into a wolfen form, and rushes over to the fallen Magus. Switching back to human, she crouches beside him, while Rictor tells her to get real, reminding her that he just tried to kill her. ‘I wasn’t able to protect you before, and now you can’t be the Magus. You can’t! Oh, Doug, please don’t die again!’ Rahne begs. Rictor is shocked and realizes that Rahne used to love Doug and has not gotten over him. ‘She blames herself for his death…now she’ll blame me. Except…that isn’t Doug. It can’t be’ Rictor thinks to himself, when suddenly, ‘Rictor! Behind you!’ Sunspot calls out, but too late, as the large dark-skinned man with the staff comes up behind Rictor and smashes it against the floor, knocking Rictor to the ground.
In an instant, Sunspot darts towards the enemy, ‘I don’t know who you are or where you come from, but the basic laws of physic still apply!’ Sunspot reasons as he punches the mysterious visitor. ‘The bigger you are…the harder you fall!’ Bobby declares as he smacks his foe over. Franklin turns to the red-haired girl with him and calls her Rachel as he tells her to use her telekinetic power to slam them against the wall. ‘HEY!’ Boom-Boom shouts as an instant later she and the other New Mutants are slammed into the wall.
‘Good girl! Hold them there!’ Franklin exclaims, but Rachel replies that they are heavy and she doesn’t know if she can. ‘Just do it’ Franklin orders, before turning to his teammate on the hovering device, addressing him as Blaze, he tells him that these intruders do not belong here, and asks him to take them out. ‘No way!’ Boom-Boom shouts. She remarks that the “Rachel kid” may have them at a disadvantage, but all she has to do is knock her out of commission - and that is exactly what Boom-Boom does as she throws a plasma time-bomb at her. Warlock thanks Boom-Boom, and with everyone free, they regroup, Blaze draws what seems to be a sword - which suddenly becomes a bow. However what he nocks is no ordinary arrow, but living energy.
‘No!’ Sam exclaims as he quickly begins blasting, making him invulnerable, the energy from Blaze ricochets against him, defecting the energy towards the control booth, which opens, and Cable is freed. ‘New Mutants! This way! Move!’ Cable shouts. Cannonball blasts upwards carrying Wolfsbane and Rictor, while Warlock transforms himself into a device that manages to bring Sunspot and Boom-Boom up with him. ‘Who are those jerks?’ Rictor asks, while Sunspot tells him that they don’t know, but they are going to find out. Boom-Boom tells Sam to be careful above, as there might be more of them.
But as the New Mutants burst into the control room, another surprise awaits. ‘What in Heaven -?’ an elderly red-haired man with a patch over his left eye asks. ‘This isn’t the way it was! The room’s filled with computers - real high tech stuff!’ one of the New Mutants exclaims as they notice their changed surroundings, before asking ‘And who’s the old geezer?’ when they see the mysterious man. The man looks equally shocked to see them: ‘Sam, lad! Berto! Rahne! What’re ye doing here - alive?’ he asks, before calling himself Sean. He remarks that they must be ghosts, the conjuring of an old man’s wistful dreams in these sorrowful days.
‘Sam, look at him. It canna be. But…Banshee -? Is that you?’ Rahne wonders. ’What’s happened to you, Sir?’ Sam asks, while Rictor asks his teammates if they know this guy, and suggest that maybe he can explain what is going on. ’Laddie, I’m as confused as -’ the older version of Banshee a.k.a. Sean Cassidy remarks, when suddenly, Franklin, Rachel, Blue, Magus, Blaze and the other member of the team teleport into the control booth. ‘There they are! Have they hurt you, Sir?’ Blue asks. ‘We’re here now, Banshee’ Franklin exclaims, while Magus asks if he shall kill these invaders for him.
Wolfsbane switches to her wolfen form as she prepares to go over to Magus, but Warlock warns her not to. ‘Self friend Doug must have caught Transmode Virus from Self…and transformed, till he is a horror like Self’s father!’ Warlock declares. Wolfsbane is in disbelief, and states that it must be some horrid joke. The older Banshee tells Magus to control himself, and declares that these “folks” must not be harmed. He informs Rahne that it is no joke, but the simple, tragic truth. ‘Poor Doug is not the same as in your time’ he remarks. Sean explains that he is dangerous and a bit mad, not to mention nigh-uncontrollable when the rage is upon him. ‘Like as not, lassie, he doesn’t remember ye at all’ Sean explains, while Franklin asks Banshee why he is protecting them. ‘They’re dangerous!’ he points out.
Suddenly, the adult Franklin splits himself into several beings. ‘That’s your mutant power? You’re a split personality? Doesn’t add much to your team when all of your duplicates are as big a jerk as the original!’ Rictor remarks, as the many Franklins begin attacking the New Mutants. ‘He’s duplicated himself all over the place at different ages…and he’s a lot stronger than he looks!’ Cannonball calls out, when suddenly, ‘New Mutants! For pity’s sake, stop this madness!’ Cable calls out. The older Banshee turns and exclaims ‘Eh-? Cable? What’re ye doing here man, I thought ye were in Madripoor!’ Cable tells Banshee to look again. ‘I’m not the Cable you think I am…I’m part of this little time-shift problem. As you probably realize now’.
Looking at various Fanklins in the room, Cable remarks that it is obvious they all need to work together as a team to sort this out. ‘Work what out…?’ one of the Franklins asks. ‘It’s our school!’ another exclaims. ‘You don’t belong here!’ a third tells the New Mutants. Wolfsbane announces that this does not make any sense ‘The way you act and talk and…split into other selves…it reminds me of…can it be…? You’re Franklin Richards, aren’t you’ Rahne realizes. ‘All these…people…are your dream-selves!’ ‘We’re no dreams…!’ one of the Franklins exclaim as they all merge back together. ‘We’re real. We’re me!’ ‘It’s you who are the dreams…the nightmares…’ Franklin shouts, while the older Banshee calls out to him, telling him that he has got to calm down.
‘Oh, snap! This is too much for me! What does he mean we don’t belong here? Why has everything changed?’ Boom-Boom demands. The older Banshee turns to Blue and asks her to teleport everyone upstairs. The young mutant does as asked, and everyone finds themselves in some sort of dormitory. ‘Hey - where are we? What is this?’ one of the New Mutants asks. ‘There shouldn’t be anything here…the school was destroyed!’ another exclaims, while Rictor remarks that this is not the X-Mansion, but some sort of barracks. ‘Nothing is changed, fools! All is as it should be, save your presence!’ Magus exclaims. Franklin agrees, and points out the window to a smog-covered landscape with nuclear power plants in the background. ‘Is that your world?’ Franklin asks. ‘Or is it mine? Now who is the dream self, and who the reality?’
Warlock calls out to his teammates, informing them that the future still has television. ‘Bigger…brighter than ever!’ he declares as he switches it on: ‘Jimmy Carter, one of the observers on last moth’s historic election in which strong man, Daniel Ortega was defeated, suggests that…’ is heard from the TV. ‘Self-friends - how is that what is shown on news in future…is what is happening on Earth right now?’ Warlock asks. Rictor exclaims that Warlock is right, and declares that this future garbage must be an illusion or trick. ‘Get yourselves some other chumps, bucko, ‘cause us New Mutants aren’t falling for it!’ Rictor declares. He adds that he thinks they are the illusions. ‘You and your buddies are the flesh and blood fragments of your own imaginations!’ he adds.
Franklin gasps, ‘No! You…you’re wrong! Banshee and the others are real…we are real. I know we are!’ Franklin exclaims, before turning to Banshee and telling him that he will make them go away forever. ‘We’ll be safe then’ he adds. But the older Banshee tells Franklin that he must do no such thing, as they are friends and he must not harm them. Rachel tells Franklin that Banshee is right. ‘You know how tour father would feel if you used your power like that. He might even make you leave here…go home…away from all of us’ she adds.
Suddenly, the older Banshee and the strange beings begin to vanish. ‘No! I won’t go! We’re happy here! You’re my real family! Please…stay with me…come back…!’ Franklin pleads - but they have all vanished, and he cowers in the rubble of the Institute, which resumes its true present-day state. Suddenly, Franklin gets to his feet, ‘Now see what you’ve done! Everything was right! I was home…with my friends…and you’ve driven them all away!’ he shouts, as he begins to glow. Rictor pulls Sam down to safety, ‘He’s glowing white hot! He’s gonna blow!’ Rictor warns.
After Franklin vanishes, the New Mutants look at the smouldering area left in his wake. ‘Wow! That was the strangest thing that ever happened to me. It’s as if we were talking to a ghost who wouldn’t accept dying’ Sunspot exclaims. Wolfsbane agrees, adding that it was as if they stumbled into someone else’s dream - or memory, where Doug was alive, and they were dead. ‘Rictor points out that the ground is still glowing where Franklin appeared. ‘Something very strange is going on here’ he declares.
Suddenly, from out of the sky, a hovercraft appears. At the helm of the Fantasti-car is Susan Storm Richards a.k.a. the Invisible Woman, while her husband Mr Fantastic a.k.a. Reed Richards monitors an energy tracking device of his own invention, as he holds his young son, Franklin in his arms. ‘We’ve lost him! The adult Franklin was here…seconds ago. But now…he’s gone!’ Reed announces.
They are accompanied by the present-day Sean “Banshee” Cassidy, of the X-Men, who had an encounter with the time-traveler sometime earlier. ‘Look, darling, down below! The New Mutants and - who?’ Sue asks, referring to Cable. The Fantasti-car lands, and Reed introduces himself to Cable, explaining that they have come tracking a being with incredible power. ‘They call me Cable, Dr Richards. I lead the New Mutants now’ Cable replies, explaining that they had an altercation with a very powerful time traveler, who was angry and confused, and painted a disturbing portrait of the future. Looking at young Franklin, Cable informs Reed that one of the New Mutants recognized the time-traveler as Reed’s son!
The New Mutants rush over to Banshee. ‘Self-friend Banshee!’ Warlock exclaims. ‘How wonderful to see you!’ Rahne declares as she wraps her arms around Sean. ‘Young again’ Bobby adds. ‘And in one piece!’ Sam exclaims. ‘Will be me adventures as an X-Man that’s got ye concerned? Exciting they are, laddiebuck, but I remain sound - at least so far’ Sean replies, before remarking that it is interesting that Cable is in charge of them now. Sean turns to Reed and suggests he should be telling him what is going on. Reed agrees, and holding his son, informs Cable and the New Mutants that what they encountered is apparently an adult manifestation of hi son, Franklin, who has somehow come back in time.
Mr Fantastic explains that apparently the adult Franklin has but to think a thing and it becomes reality. ‘Such terrible power…so ill-directed’ Reed adds, before explaining that Forge and the rest of the Fantastic Four are continuing their search for Franklin elsewhere. ‘That creep from the future was really Reed Richards’ son? Who’d believe such a sweet kid would turn into a nut like that?’ Rictor wonders. Bobby thinks to himself that Rictor doesn’t understand, as during the New Mutants’ adventures, he had seen futures where he himself turn out to be evil as well, just like his father. ‘I hated it. And if it was hard on me, how much worse for a little child?’ Bobby wonders. Bobby looks at young Franklin and realizes that even if the boy is Reed Richards’ son, he might not understand that there are many possible futures - possibilities, even probabilities, that are subject to change. ‘That is the only thing that has kept me sane!’
Suddenly, the Invisible Woman announces that she is getting an energy reading from right above them. ‘Is it Franklin?’ Reed asks. But Susan replies that it is something else, something mechanical and that there are hundreds of them. ‘Good Lord! What are they?’ Cable gasps as a portal opens, and the Hound appears, accompanied by the missile drones. ‘Don’t ask me, big guy! I’ve never seen anything like them before’ Boom-Boom exclaims, while Warlock announces that he perceives they are hostile. ‘Assume aggressive stance. Self suggests that others follow Self’s example!’ he orders, while Reed wraps his son in his stretched form and announces that they are similar to the robots that attacked the Fantastic Four earlier, only there are many more of them.
‘Not all of them are robots, Dr Richards! Look - they have a human master!’ Sean points out as he motions to the Hound, who declares that the once-and-future mutant is no longer here, but there are others, his defenders. ‘The history books tell of them…and their futile war against my masters’ the Hound exclaims, before ordering his drones to destroy them. ‘As you serve our great master Ahab - death to them all!’ he shouts. The robot missiles swarm like mechanical hornets with stings that bring death - and Earth’s heroes react instantly. Banshee soars into the sky, propelled by the force of his sonic scream which shatters all in its path, while at a thought, explosive energy spheres appear from Boom-Boom’s hand, and she throws them at the drones.
Warlock has transformed himself into a large machine gun, and Boom-Boom tells him to take out the ones farthest off, while she deals to the ones close up. The Invisible Woman deflects some of the drones with her invisible force shield, while Mr Fantastic snares others in his elastic flesh, while still keeping his son safe. Susan tells Reed that these droids are too easily destroyed, that they are more of an annoyance or a distraction. ‘But why?’ she asks. ‘Fool you are, woman, that you should ask!’ the Hound declares as he swoops down and collects young Franklin. He explains that the trackers seek what they wish to find. ‘Like you, we have arrived too late to seize the adult…but now we have the child - your son! This Hound at last will bring his quarry home!’ the Hound declares.
Franklin calls out to his daddy, ‘Help me!’ he cries, while Rahne exclaims ‘No! He’s but a wee boy!’ before lunging at the Hound, telling him that what he does is evil, that he must release Franklin now. ‘Gene joke of a mutant - by my electric shock you will die!’ the Hound exclaims, releasing a blast which frees him from Rahne’s grasp, though Wolfsbane begins to fall to the ground. ‘Rahne! Franklin!’ shouts Rictor, who orders the Hound to drop Franklin, ‘NOW’ he booms as he releases a seismic shock up into the air, which slams into the Hound, who drops Franklin. Susan catches her son in an invisible force field, while thanking Rictor for saving her son.
Cannonball is blasting around, destroying the missiles with his blast-field and announces that he thinks he has the last of them, before asking Rictor if Rahne is okay. Rahne has reverted to her human form and Rictor goes over to her, telling Sam that he doesn’t know, he calls out to Rahne, when suddenly, the Hound grabs Rictor by the arm: ‘Hear me, mutant - and understand’ he begins. The Hound announces that the adult they hunt has become a being of destructive power and the seed of the adult is the child. ‘We have been sent back in time to stop him - any way we can - before he changed history beyond repair’ the Hound explains, before warning the heroes that they are fools to oppose his master, Ahab. ‘He was bred to stop your kind. You don’t know his power…to capture…and to transform…so that you are his alone and serve him body and soul’.
The Hound warns the heroes that they will soon learn to their sorrow, just as he has learned. ‘Ahab will take whom he chooses…and you will die, for in my time you are already dead!’ the Hound declares. Susan hugs her son, who asks ‘What does it mean, we’re dead, Mommy? Did my grown-up self kill everybody?’ the boy asks. ‘Of course not, darling. He didn’t mean -’ Susan replies, to which Franklin asks why the Hound said his power is destructive and bad. ‘That’s what Daddy thinks, isn’t it?’ the boy exclaims. ‘That my power’s bad…and I’m bad, too!’ he declares.
‘Suddenly, ‘Dog of a Hound!’ a voice booms. ‘Everyone looks upwards, as Ahab has materialized and hovers above them. ‘You have revealed to much!’ the mysterious Ahab shouts as he throws his razor-sharp spear at the Hound. ‘Be silent now - and forever!’ Ahab declares. ‘Ahab - master - I have served you - Noooo!’ the Hound exclaims as the spear strikes him, energy pours from him, and he crumbles, while at the same time, Ahab vanishes as quickly as he came. Rictor notices this, and thinks to himself ‘I can’t believe I’m actually thinking this, but the poor Hound, he was only a captive - transformed somehow by that monster. I brought him down. He was dying, anyway, it’s my fault. Ahab…only finished the job. I thought he was the enemy, I hit him full blast’ Rictor tells himself that he should have realized, that he could have tried to save him, and now the Hound is dead.
Cable approaches Rictor, who pulls away, and exclaims ‘You don’t have to say it, Cable. It’s just like the Danger Room, isn’t it? I should have acted less impulsively!’ Rictor exclaims, declaring that if he had the poor guy would still be alive. Cable points out that he would still be Ahab’s slave as well, and little Franklin his captive. ‘You didn’t kill him, Rictor - remember that! His death was his master Ahab’s doing. But your attack freed him of his conditioning…if only for a moment. Because of you, he died free!’ Cable exclaims. Reed points out that to stop his Hound, Ahab revealed himself and displayed a small degree of power. ‘We know how is our enemy! We’ve got to find Ahab. Not only for the sake of my son…but to save the future itself!’ Rictor hangs his head and realizes that Cable was trying to make him feel better, but he thinks Cable is wrong, as he was involved, and to feel nothing about that makes him no better than Ahab.
Soon, Reed and Cable are examining all the missiles which have been gathered up. Reed remarks that they did them little damage, and points out that their real target seems to have been the Fantasti-car. Cable remarks that this is not his field, but that he thinks Franklin’s energy manipulations seem theoretically impossible. But Reed replies that they are real enough, and is what he always feared might happen. Franklin remembers that his father tried to block his power once, only now it is coming back, a little at a time. ‘I have a dream power now…and a dream-self power, too. And Daddy can’t stop them. I didn’t want him to stop them. But now I know…some day I’ll have lots of power and be bad and hurt people…and everything bad will be my fault!’ the boy tells himself.
At Ahab’s fortress, the enigmatic villain materializes, ‘Curse that Hound! The child is protected now! But the fugitive from my time is not! So it is the adult I must destroy!’ he tells himself. Ahab looks at a map and sees a burst of energy, just as he suspected, Franklin has appeared again, this time in Manhattan. Ahab tells himself that the Fantastic Four’s car has been damaged, which is excellent, so they cannot help the time traveler this time. ‘While his father struggles with repairs, I will send my army to destroy his son!’ Ahab booms.
However, Ahab has not counted on the genius that is Reed Richards, who informs everyone that they have another reading, this time Franklin is back in the city. Rahne announces that she is going to go with Reed, but the scientist points out that she is injured. Wolfsbane assures him it is merely a cracked rib or two, to which Cable orders Rahne to avoid direct combat where possible, as broken ribs have been known to puncture lungs. ‘Cable, is that wise?’ Reed asks. Cable replies that they can no sooner leave Rahne behind than Reed can young Franklin. ‘Your son’s…adult persona…or Ahab…could be back at any moment. No. Whatever danger we face we face together’ Cable exclaims, before Warlock shifts his form into a hovercraft to transport the New Mutants, while the others depart in the repaired Fantasti-car, speeding towards Manhattan - and their appointment with destiny.
At that moment, at the American Museum of Natural History, one of Manhattan’s most loved museums, where wondrous pieces of the far-flung world are brought close, in exhibits which promote learning, dreaming, understanding, and perhaps the best loved section of all houses the dinosaurs. ‘I’m the one who’s a fossil!’ the adult Franklin decides as he materializes. But not bones…no! No…not dead! Alive. Out of my time!’ he tells himself, before deciding that he must not think that way, that it is better to remember, to live again. ‘I was barely thirteen then’ he recalls, reminding himself that he was so happy here. The transformation is accomplished in a heartbeat. The thought is the deed, as Franklin creates his thirteen year-old self.
An instant later, Franklin calls out ‘Rachel…Rachel…where are you? You were hiding from me, weren’t you? I was worried!’ as a young Rachel Summers appears before him. Rachel replies that it was a just a game, and that he found her, that he always finds her. She tells Franklin that he doesn’t ever have to worry, as she will always be safe so long as he is around. ‘Mom says there’s a new skeleton here somewhere. A Para…Parasaf -’ Rachel begins, ‘Parasauropolophus! It’s right…behind you!’ Franklin teases, while his thirteen year old self taps Rachel on the shoulder, before vanishing .’What -?’ Rachel gasps, before smiling: ‘Oh, Scrapper! That’s how you find me so fast, isn’t it? You send your dream-selves out looking for me?’ she asks. ‘Maybe…or maybe I have powers you don’t even know about’ Franklin replies.
Overhead, the ceiling shatters, and a giant hand of a Sentinel reaches for the child-man called Franklin Richards. ‘Report to Ahab: We have found the quarry! Energy scans reveal massive mental manipulation consistent with the Franklin manifestation’ the Sentinel announces, boasting that Franklin will not escape, before remarking that it is strange, as Franklin does not seem to notice him. Indeed, down below, Rachel and Franklin continue to talk with each other. ‘Other powers, too? Darn, you got your powers when you were little and I’m already eight! I’ll probably never have powers’ Rachel sulks. Franklin tells Rachel that she will, as her Mom and Dad are mutants. ‘Most mutants don’t manifest their powers until their adolescence’ he reminds her.
‘That’s what Mom says, but you -’ Rachel begins, but she is interrupted by the Sentinel who unleashes a massive beam of energy at them - but neither are effected by it. ‘I’m a freak, Rach. Just as my Dad. He’s scared of me. He wishes my powers would just…go away’ Franklin exclaims. Several Hounds gather nearby: ‘Who is she? They both seem impervious to the Sentinel’s blast. If he shielding her - or she, him?’ one of them asks. Another explains that the girl is Franklin’s construct, that whoever she is, she acts as Franklin requires. ‘Forget her! It’s the boy who must be stopped!’ the Hound orders. Rachel tells Franklin to give her a break and exclaims that she knows about parents, informing him that sometimes she thinks her parents do not want her getting powers, either. ‘But, it’s just that it’s getting dangerous to be a mutant now, Frank. People are taught to be afraid of us…of what we can do!’Suddenly, there is a roar of engines and into the dust and rubble speed the Fantasti-car and Warlock, with the New Mutants as his passengers. ‘Self-friend New Mutants, do you see what I see?’ Warlock exclaims as they stare at two Sentinels up ahead. Sunspot exclaims that they look like Sentinels, but of a kind that they have never seen before. Sunspot asks if they are also from the future, or if these Sentinels are the adult Franklin’s creations. ‘Who knows?’ Sunspot replies, pointing out that Franklin is just standing below, talking to a little red haired kid, like he doesn’t see the New Mutants, or the Sentinels.
The Sentinel warns its fellow Sentinels and Hounds that Franklin Richard’s self-styled protectors again attempt to intervene on his behalf. One of the Hounds reports that an identity scan confirms that all attackers are known to them and will be eliminated in time. One of the Sentinels reminds the other that time itself can be altered. ‘We must protect our future - and the Sentinel’s ascendancy. It is our prime directive!’ the Sentinel declares, remarking that the mutants know too much and must be eliminated now. The Sentinels begin attacking the New Mutants. Cable, Banshee. Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. ‘D’ye hear that, Cable?’ Banshee calls out. Cable replies that he heard. ‘In their future, the Sentinels hold sway and mutants have been all be obliterated!’ he exclaims.
Reed points out that the Sentinels are afraid of Franklin, suggesting that something he might do or say will tip the balance in the heroes’ favor. ‘But what?’ Reed wonders. Sunspot exclaims that they will not find out till they stop and question them. ‘We’ve taken out Sentinels before!’ he boasts. ‘Maybe, Sunspot. But these are the new, improved variety!’ Tabitha exclaims. Suddenly, Rictor draws Boom-Boom’s attention to the Hounds. ‘More of those poor suckers, twisted by that monster Ahab!’ Rictor exclaims. Boom-Boom tells Rictor that the Hounds might not be themselves, but he needs to face facts: ‘They’re trying to kill us!’ Tabitha prepares to throw a time-bomb at one them, but Rictor tells her not to, as he can take the Hound out without blowing him over five counties.
Rictor releases a seismic shockwave, but this just angers the Hound. ‘Mutant scum! You miscalculate a Hound’s strength, and are weak in your misplaced and condescending mercy!’ he exclaims, declaring that their master Ahab is wiser, and has shown them the way to deal with all of mutant kind. Rictor clutches his head and cries out in pain as the Hound attacks him with an energy blast. ‘Rictor! No!’ Cable exclaims, before using one of his massive weapons to shoot the Hound. ‘Back devil-spawn! Die!’ Cable shouts.
Franklin is nearby with Rachel, still protected from the Sentinels, Rachel asks Franklin if when she gets big and has powers he will stay here with her and help her. ‘I…’ Franklin begins, when suddenly the Hound that Cable shot passes right through the both of them. ‘A Hound! It fell right through me…through us both…’ Franklin exclaims. ‘Help me…Frank…?’ Rachel asks, looking up at him. ‘Sentinels!’ Franklin shouts as he looks up and sees the New Mutants battling the Sentinels. ‘…help…me?’ Rachel utters. But with Franklin’s attention diverted, the Rachel construct fades quietly away.
‘My parents…the New Mutants…Hounds will track them down. Sentinels will destroy them!’ Franklin tells himself, before suddenly realizing that Rachel is gone. He calls out to her, asking her to come back, exclaiming that he needs her. ‘Need…it isn’t fair. I was happy. Why must I give up my dream…?’ Franklin asks himself, recalling that his father always said “don’t”, that his power is “dangerous”, his power is “bad”. ‘But, Father, don’t you see that they deserve to die?’ Franklin calls out, as he unleashes a massive wave of power that begin to tear through the Sentinels and Hounds. ‘What are trackers doing…here and now? Can’t you understand…it’s them…or us?’ Franklin asks everyone.
One of the Sentinels calls out to Ahab, alerting him to the fact they are being destroyed. ‘Sentinels…and Hounds? This isn’t your time! You should never have had a time!’ Franklin exclaims, calling them monsters, twisted mockeries of mutant flesh. ‘You should not have been!’ he declares, as the Hounds scream in agony. The young present day Franklin watches the events that transpire, ‘Mommy…those Hounds. He…he killed them! I…killed them!’ Franklin gasps. Susan assures her son that it is not him, that he is not responsible. ‘Can’t you feel it, Mommy…can’t you see?’ Franklin asks. ‘What they were before? How they were took and hurt and changed…till they didn’t know themselves anymore? He…I…my grown-up me knows…he can feel it, too’ the young Franklin exclaims.
Indeed, the adult Franklin sees images of the Hounds now, and in their former state. He realizes that they were people - ordinary mutants like the New Mutants, or like him, or Rachel. ‘Poor little Rachel…’ he exclaims ‘Twisted beings with innocent beginnings. As my sweet, my beautiful gentle Rachel’s beginnings were so innocent’. Franklin exclaims that Ahab stole their souls, like he stole Rachel’s, and wonders if he is any better. ‘I, who know what they have been…what they could be?’ Franklin tells himself. Franklin reminds himself that he came here searching for the innocence in himself, and instead has committed the ultimate betrayal - the destruction of the innocence he came here to find!
The adult Franklin approaches the young Franklin and exclaims that it cannot be this way. ‘You’re bad! You’re me! I’m bad!’ young Franklin shouts. Susan notes that the Sentinels and Hounds have all gone, but that the adult Franklin has thrown up some kind of barrier - he has, and no one can get to young Franklin. ‘Frank, son, you mustn’t hurt him. Listen to me’ Reed calls out. Adult Franklin grabs young Franklin by the shoulders and exclaims ‘Father says don’t…always don’t. Father, don’t you understand…even now…? You who knew it first? The evil I’ve done here…this horror I’ve wrought…?’ adult Franklin exclaims. He declares that he sees it now, through the child’s eyes, and he knows, it must never happen. ‘It must never have been this way!’ he exclaims, before calling out to his father, telling him that he was right all along. ‘My powers are bad!’ young Franklin exclaims. ‘Dangerous…evil…tainted’ the adult Franklin agrees.
Young Franklin tells adult Franklin to go on and take his powers, that he doesn’t want them. ‘I’ll never use my powers…again!’ he vows, before falling to the ground. ‘Franklin…son…what have you done?’ Reed calls out. ‘Worse…than you can imagine. What you wanted’ adult Franklin replies. ‘What you trained me to want. And it was my own horror…my impulsiveness that made me share in our undoing’ he announces grimly, before informing Reed that his son will never use their power in his future. ‘And all will come to pass as I’ve known it…and we will be destroyed!’ adult Franklin announces. Everyone looks on in horror, while Reed asks ‘You mean, Franklin’s powers could have saved us at some future juncture? And now they’ll never develop?’
‘But we saw you in the Danger Room…you led the New Mutants!’ Cannonball points out. Franklin replies that it was a dream, an illusion, a memory from a future that will never be. Reed begs Franklin to reverse what he has done. ‘Free the child…as I will do now, if I can’ Reed exclaims. ‘Would you…? Will you…?’ the adult Franklin asks. ‘Without his cooperation, without his belief in himself, I cannot change what we did together’ the adult Franklin explains. ‘The mind-locks were set, you see, by Franklin old and Franklin new. All our will has gone into setting them’ adult Franklin explains, announcing that young Franklin will never have powers now. ‘I never did have powers!’ he declares.
In the complex between time and space, the Hound master, Ahab, is observing what transpires in present time, and laughs.
The adult Franklin vanishes, ‘Franklin…our adult son is gone…and out baby!’ Sue declares as she and Reed hold up the motionless present day Franklin. Reed assures Susan that Franklin is breathing, that he is alive, but they cannot get him to wake up. Cable goes over to Rictor and asks him if he is all right. Blood tricking from his nose, Rictor thinks to himself ‘Hurt…by the Hound’s blast. Yeah. Something inside of me is broken by hurt, more, in my soul’. Sunspot calls out to his teammate, asking him if something is wrong. Rictor replies ‘It’s just that…I know, now, how the adult Franklin feels…angry…so angry. I use my powers without thinking and I nearly kill. And when I’m careful…Cable does my killing for me. Is it all pre-ordained, after all? Can anything be changed?’ he exclaims, before asking his teammates if any of them have noticed how much Cable looks like Ahab.
Sunspot tells his teammates that he cannot think like that, like the future is mapped out, because of something you think you might have seen. ‘You did your best. So did Cable. So don’t hammer yourself over it’ Bobby exclaims, adding that he knows how easy it is to do, and what a bummer that can be. Sunspot declares that in his opinion that was Franklin’s problem, and points out the current state that Franklin is in…..
2nd story:In the dead of night, Douglas Ramsey a.k.a. Cypher sits in a cemetery - on his own gravestone! He looks lonely, lost, before a voice calls out to him. ‘Doug! Yo, Doug! You up for a game of cards? C’mon, Doug. Don’t be a stiff!’ someone calls out. Doug looks sideways, as the voice exclaims ‘C’mon, Doug. One hand. Old Maid, Blackjack, Gin, Rummy…anything to pass time’. Doug looks at the skinny man sitting on a nearby gravestone and calling him Teddy, he replies ‘Not now’. Teddy asks Doug what is the matter. ‘Don’t tell me being dead’s got you down?’ Teddy asks. ‘Well it does, okay?’ Doug retorts, announcing that no one thinks about him, no one comes to visit him - not anymore at any rate.
Doug exclaims that he never thought about death before it happened. ‘I figured I’d live forever, you know’ he declares, adding that the big problem is that somehow you never think about the fact that the world goes on without you. ‘World did fine before you were placed on it, Doug’ Teddy points out. ‘No reason it shouldn’t continue to spin long after you’re gone’ he remarks, while Doug just hangs his head. Another ghost appears, leaning against a gravestone, the elderly spirit agrees with Teddy, and tells Doug that thinking anything else is just plain ego. ‘People can’t keep thinking about the dead all the time. Isn’t right. They gotta think about living’ he exclaims. ‘Why, Winston? All I think about is living’ Doug replies.
Winston tells Doug that is not right either, remarking that it is okay when you first get here, but you should not keep that up, as the longer you mourn for yourself, the longer the living mourn for you. ‘I don’t get what you’re saying’ Doug replies. ‘You new kids know diddly. Look, when you die, you go into mourning for yourself. And that mourning affects the living, those close to you, and -’ Winston doesn’t finish his explanation as Teddy motions across the graveyard, ‘Hey, look. Someone’s getting a visitor. One of yours I think, Doug’ Teddy remarks. Doug looks across and sees Rahne “Wolfsbane” Sinclair, wearing a long white dress and carrying a potted plant. Doug replies that she is one of “his” and that she is the only one who still comes to see him with any regularity.
‘Hate the short haircut. What’s her name?’ Teddy asks. ‘Rahne’ Doug replies as Rahne stands in front of his graveyard. “Rain” Winston asks. ‘The names folks give their kids these days. She got a brother named Snow who sells cocaine?’ Winston jokes, while Doug tells them to knock it off. Teddy points out that Rahne does not have to come here to see Doug, that all that is here is a hunk of stone and some dirt. ‘Where she sees you is right here in the heart’ Teddy remarks, touching his chest. ‘He’s right’ Winston remarks as Rahne kneels at Doug’s grave and rests the potted flowers against the headstone. ‘Aw, you always agree with him’ Doug replies.
Rahne reaches out and touches the headstone, while Doug kneels down beside his former New Mutants teammate and exclaims ‘Rahne…I just want you to know…’ he begins, telling Rahne that he really loves her, and wished he had shown it more when he had the chance. ‘But I always loved you and I always will. I’ll always need you…’ Doug states, before Winston exclaims ‘Oh, spare me!’ Doug looks up at his fellow ghost and asks him what his problem is. Winston tells Doug that he cannot keep saying these things. ‘What we want and need has tremendous effect on the living like I was saying’ Winston remarks, explaining to Doug that he is putting this girl who he claims to love through too much, and points out that she is having real trouble putting Doug behind her. ‘Well, good’ Doug replies.
‘Not good. It’s not fair to her, Doug’ Teddy points out. Doug stares at Rahne and remarks that he cannot understand what she is saying, as he still has not got the knack of that. ‘Me, Mr language whiz’ Doug mutters, before asking Teddy and Winston if they can make out what Rahne is saying, as they have been dead longer than he has. Winston informs Doug that Rahne is talking about some guy she likes - Victor - or something like that. ‘Hey, Ted, get this. She’s asking Doug’s “permission” to pursue her interest in this Victor guy’ Winston announces. Cypher gets upset by this: ‘Oh, that’s just great! Blast it, Rahne! I love you! I died for you! And you just wanna toss me aside for some guy. Just because he’s -’ Doug stops himself, but Teddy finishes his sentence: ‘Alive?’
‘Why did I even care about you? Why - yeah! Alive! I can’t believe you would do this to me!’ Doug exclaims. Doug begins to cry, ‘Why did I…’ Doug utters, while Rahne is crying at the same time. Suddenly, ‘Idiot kids’ Winston remarks. ‘Do you mind, huh?’ Doug asks, looking up, but Winston points across the graveyard, ‘Not you. Them’ he remarks, where some punk kids are writing on headstones with paint. ‘No respect any more’ Winston remarks. ‘Come on you punks! Get outta here!’ Winston calls out, but of course the kids cannot hear him, and they come right up to him - and spray paint the gravestone he is standing in front of, the paint spraying right through him. ‘You keep away from my stone! Don’t you dare!’ Winston calls out. ‘Aw, man. This immaterial stuff really stinks sometimes’ Winston remarks, while the kids suddenly grab Rahne.
‘Hey! They’re hurting Rahne!’ Doug calls out as they throw her to the ground. ‘Get away from her!’ Doug calls out as he leaps up and punches one of the thugs - only his punch naturally goes straight through. ‘Winston! Tell me how to haunt them or something!’ Doug calls out. ‘That’s only in horror flicks, kid’ Winston replies, while at that moment, Rahne begins to shift into her wolfen form. ‘This is real life. Ain’t nothing we can do ‘cept watch it hap-’ Winston stops himself when he sees Rahne’s transformation. ‘Sweet Mary! She’s a werewolf!’ Winston gasps. Doug smirks, and tells Winston that is only in horror flicks. Rahne lunges at one of the boys, knocking him to the ground.
The boy looks frightened as the wolfen Rahne bears down upon him. ‘Rahne, no! Wait! Don’t kill him! Back off, Rahne! Let him go!’ Doug calls out. Oddly, the wolfen Rahne looks up at where Doug’s ghost stands. Doug looks puzzled, but an instant later, the boy is set free and rushes off. ‘She…she can see me’ Doug remarks. ‘No, but she knows you’re here. She senses you’ Teddy replies, explaining that animals, especially canines have always been good at that sort of thing. Doug drops to the ground, and Rahne’s canine form sniffs the area where his ghost form radiates. Doug tells Rahne that she must not stay in this form too long, otherwise she could get trapped this way.
Doug continues, ‘Just like…just like you can’t mourn me forever, or you’ll be trapped with that, too’ Doug remarks that Rahne always was so passionate, except she kept it bottled up, because she was taught that was bad, which made it that much fiercer when it came out. ‘Passionate about everything…including me’ Doug tells Rahne that he is sorry, that he didn’t mean to be selfish, and that he knows she cares about him and always will. ‘But I guess…I guess you’ve got to start caring about yourself more’. Rahne looks at Doug’s ghost, as he smiles and tells her to think of him now and again, even love him from a distance if it gives her a faint, pleasant ember in her heart. ‘But give the fire and flame of your heart to someone else. It’s okay. I want you to’.
Rahne continues to stare at Doug’s ghost, before she unleashes a massive howl, which is copied by other dogs in the area. ‘I…I heard that’ Doug remarks, and he and the wolfen Rahne almost seem to hug, with Doug thanking him. ‘And thank all your friends for me, too’ Doug adds, before telling her to go home to Victor, or whoever. Rahne turns and runs from the graveyard, with Doug waving to her. ‘So…Ted…I’m ready for that card game now’ Doug smiles. ‘That’s great, Doug. That’s really great to hear’ Teddy replies, before asking Doug if he happens to have a deck of cards on him.