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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Barebones, part 1
‘Let me tell you of the Ska’r. Of all the myriad offshoots of humanity recorded by the Plodex Ship, long after you and I parted company, they are the most fascinating. They…breed aberration, and mania in humans, feeding off the baser emotions such freedom creates they grow fat on sin. Their city grew with them, a vast seething monument to human degradation, a magnet that drew the unwary like moths to a flame. Until, finally they were cast-out from this reality! Cut off from a fresh source of minds to corrupt, the Ska’r turned on the mortals unfortunate enough to share their exile - and ate them. Sated, the Ska’r slept, waiting for release…’.
High above the planet Earth, the Master of the World stares down at the blue globe, and declares that it has begun. He remarks that cosmic forces gather on the horizons of his enhanced perception, a brooding storm that moves to envelop Earth! He knows that unless he acts now, the Master of the World will be master of nothing. However the luxuries of choice and patience are denied to him, and plans that were not meant to flower for months, perhaps years, must be rushed to fruition. To keep alive his dream of sculpting a utopia from primordial rock, he must employ a blunt axe - where a finally honed chisel was intended!
The Master of the World knows that in Manhattan, Earth’s mightiest heroes - or as he calls them “Earth’s Mightiest Ants” - gather in a wasted attempt to stave the coming cataclysm. Like birds sucked into a passing jet, they cannot comprehend their fate, only accept it. Even the Master’s mind, re-created and expanded by the alien Plodex can only scrape the surface, but if he cannot avert the larger scale catastrophe, he can nevertheless take steps to ensure what is his stays his.
He walks over to a tank where a skeleton is held. ‘No comment, old friend?’ he asks, ‘No incisive observation from Mankind’s viewpoint?’ He remarks that his opening gambit is already played, that the die is cast, and besides, these days he has as little use for the views of humans as he has for their flesh…and bones!
Meanwhile, on Earth, Elizabeth Twoyoungmen, the phenomenally powerful Talisman, formerly of Alpha Flight now Beta Flight, holds in her hand a pair of skeleton earrings. The shop assistant comes up beside her and exclaims that they are very popular and suggests she puts them on, as she is sure they would suit her. ‘Miss?’ Elizabeth doesn’t seem to be listening, so the shop assistant clears her throat, and asks Elizabeth if she wants the earrings or not. Elizabeth puts them down and replies no thank you, remarking that they are too morbid for her taste.
Walking out of the shop, Elizabeth asks herself what she is doing here - did she really think that she could get away with something vacantly ordinary as a shopping trip? It’s something normal people do - sane, happy, normal people, and thanks to her father she is none of those - not since she became Talisman! Elizabeth admits that the power was already within her before she reached into her father’s medicine pouch and withdrew the Circlet of Enchantment from it, but Michael “Shaman” Twoyoungmen just had to make her aware of it, didn’t he? Elizabeth recalls that her father was so proud that his daughter was the Chosen One, the wielder of the Talisman, and wonders if he ever stopped to consider what that “honor” might cost her?
Elizabeth thinks that all the Talisman has done is hurt her time and again - her body, her mind, even her soul ravaged by the “gift”. She cannot shut it out - her mind is full of terrible images…a locked door, and behind it an ocean of bones - she senses an evil, dark and hungry. ‘I sense death…’
Up on the balcony of the mall, a group of mysterious beings are watching Elizabeth. ‘She is the one, Tech-Noir, if you please, get the woman’s attention’ one of them remarks. Tech-Noir complies, and fires explosives around Elizabeth, shattering several windows. Elizabeth dodges the attack, wondering what is going on. The mysterious beings drop down onto the same floor as Elizabeth, and the one known as Brain Drain who had fought Alpha Flight some time ago informs her that she has something they require. The woman Tech-Noir boasts that what the new Omega Flight wants….they take! ‘OMEGA FLIGHT? In a MALL? Talk about deja vu!’
Meanwhile, at Four Freedoms Plaza, the New York home of the Fantastic Four (and right now, just about every other super hero on the block). Alpha Flight’s leader Heather McNeil Hudson a.k.a. Guardian and her former teammate and lover Madison “Box” Jeffries are talking to Colin Ashworth Hume a.k.a. Windshear who is back in Canada. Colin asks if they have any idea what is going down yet, remarking that it must be major league. Heather replies that there is no word yet, but that Reed Richards has promised a full briefing just as soon as Spider-Man and a couple of the other stragglers show up, which can’t be too soon in her book.
‘Patience is hardly a forte hereabouts’ Heather adds. Windshear makes a snide comment as Heather turns to Iceman and Speedball who are acting like their immature selves chasing each other around the place. Heather turns back to Colin and asks him how things are going at Department H, to which he replies ‘Quiet, Guardian…quiet as a tomb’.
Back at the mall, a large green-clad fat woman smashes the ground around Talisman as she jumps on it, ‘Skin and bones!’ she yells, before asking Talisman if she hasn’t heard that these days it is large and lovely, and that there is no one lovelier than Miss Mass. A strange looking creature comes up to Talisman and mutters ‘Pity mouth! Lovely, too! Job. Do it - no chatter’ Talisman is confused at the creatures comments, so remains an easy target for the creature to use his claws to slice her arm.
Another of Omega Flight remarks ‘Dumb animal’ as he shoves the creature aside, telling it that you are supposed to introduce yourself, say “Hi, babe - I’m Sinew” or something. ‘Social niceties not your strong point are they?’ he remarks, before adding that Sinew’s personal hygiene is a case in point. Using his large arm to hold his body off the ground as he kicks Talisman over, he realizes that he almost forgot to introduce himself, and announces that he is called Strongarm.
Dazed and confused, Elizabeth looks up to see Tech-Noir standing over her. Tech-Noir remarks that now the pleasantries are over, they need to get down to business, and as she mentioned before, Elizabeth has something that they want. Tech-Noir tells Elizabeth that she can surrender it voluntarily or have it taken by force. When Talisman doesn’t react, Tech-Noir smiles and asks her why she delays, and noticing the security guards rushing to the scene, she asks if it is salvation in the form of shining white knights charging to rescue her.
Up on the balcony, the security guards call for back up, when suddenly a man in a trench coat and wearing a hat puts his hand over one of their mouths and some bile is wiped across the guards’ face. His colleague sees what happened, and the trench coat wearing man spits at the second guard, causing him to also fall to the ground.
Tech-Noir introduces the final member of Omega Flight as Bile, and explains that no one has been able to determine how many strains of deadly virus he carries in or on him, and no one cares to either. Talisman asks Tech-Noir who they are and what it is they want. Using his hypnotic suggestion powers, Brain Drain stares at Elizabeth and tells her that she simply has to open her labyrinthine mind to him, to let him turn a key, open a door and set them free. ‘What? I don’t - Yes. I do. And - No!’ Elizabeth exclaims.
Suddenly, power ebbs and flows around Elizabeth, and the Circlet of Enchantment appears on her brow. The standard blue and red Department H training uniform appears in place of her dress, and the fear and hurt fade from her - as are her enemies when she summons a storm to sweep them away. At least, that is the theory, for Miss Mass is not moved by the force. The grotesque woman smirks and tells Elizabeth that if she tried a little harder, her storm might have budged her, before informing her that they were briefed and they know she is hurting deep down, so this effort must be taking all she has got ‘And against me, it ain’t enough!’ with that, Miss Mass whacks Elizabeth in the face, knocking her to the ground. ‘Bunch’a scrawny, useless -’ Miss Mass begins to say until Tech-Noir tells her to shut up, before ordering Brain Drain to ‘Tear them screaming from her skull!’
Beyond the malls and the gleaming towers, in one of Toronto’s less salubrious waterfront neighborhoods. Whitman Knapp a.k.a. Manikin tells his female companions in Beta Flight, (who are currently called “Gamma Flight” due to being grounded and stuck in reserve status) that this is not what he thought they meant by a night on the town. Right now, they are not happy campers, and Kara “Persuasion” Kilgrave, Manikin’s former girlfriend asks him if he would rather be stuck at Department H doing more training, before exclaiming that Windshear has some nerve calling them amateurs and confining them to base. ‘Hasn’t been an Alphan five minutes and he thinks he can tell us what to do!’
Whit tries to calm the former Purple Girl down and addresses her as Kara, but Persuasion tells him to call her by her code name, for even out of uniform and demoted to Gamma Flight, they are still on duty. While Laura Dean comforts some woman, Witchfire and Goblyn deal with some less than respectable men. Witchfire exclaims that this is training - removing scum from the streets, honing their powers in the real world - not stuck in some classroom leaping through hoops for Windshear’s amusement. As an illusion of a demon attacks some man, Witchfire thinks that it is a pity it isn’t Windshear, for she doubts then that he would call her a kid now.
Whitman tries to get Witchfire to look at it from Windshear’s point of view, for all Windshear saw was a panicked retreat from an enemy made by the girls, of which Windshear managed to blow away the enemy with a blast of solid air - it didn’t look too professional. Persuasion turns away from the men she has mind-controlled into fighting one another and tells Whit that he would have to side with Windshear, and remarks that she didn’t realize they had gotten so pally while she and the others were away fighting for their lives in Liveworld. Whit tells Kara to look out, but it is too late, as she lost her concentration with the two men she was keeping busy fighting each other, and one of them punches her across the jaw.
Suddenly, Manikin declares that was no way to treat a lady, and summons his past and future selves - Highbrow, Apeman and Proto. Manikin’s other selves set about doing their tasks. Proto spreads himself around one man, while Apeman uses his physical strength against another. Holding one man in a magical fist, Witchfire smiles and tells Whit that it wasn’t so painful and to admit it - he enjoyed it. Whit agrees, before pointing out that Windshear - or any of the other core team - would still bust a gut if they knew he and the girls were out here without authorization. Witchfire grins and replies that she knows, but thinks it makes if all the better, for why should the core team have all the fun anyway?
But back at Four Freedoms Plaza, the core team are not having as much fun as Witchfire thinks. ‘Bored, bored, bored! When is something going to happen?’ mutters Jean-Paul “Northstar” Beaubier as he sits around with his fellow Alphans, including former member Wolverine. Logan reminds Jean-Paul of a recent event that occurred involving a gamma bomb blowing away the top couple of floors of the building, Reed Richards and Iron Man turning out to be evil doubles and Thanos being revealed to be behind this mess. ‘Kid, ya gotta lower your expectations threshold’.
Northstar’s sister tells Wolverine that what her brother means is if they are truly facing the end of everything, then why aren’t they doing something about it? Logan replies ‘What we gotta figure out first Auro -  Jeanne-Marie, is what we can do about it! Till then, we sit tight’. Puck, who is for some reason not wearing the team costume, but back in his old black and orange one, points out that while they are sitting tight here, Alpha Flight may be needed back home. Judd adds that he trusts Windshear, but points out that he hasn’t had much active combat experience and the only real back up he has are Beta Flight.
From within his Box armor, Madison tells Judd that he worries too much, as they will manage back home, but he believes right here is where Alpha Flight is needed. However Madison reminds himself that his opinion is not shared by his new wife, for as far as Lillian Crawley-Jeffries a.k.a. Diamond Lil is concerned, it is just and excuse to break off their honeymoon and for him to get back in the Box armor.
Wolverine declares that if they lose this one, whatever else happens in the world right now, is not going to make a blind bit of difference. Judd disagrees, and remarks that in his opinion, when you start thinking things cannot get any worse, they do! Heather is annoyed at Judd’s comment, for just as she is finally convinced that Alpha Flight can really cut it as a team, stand tall with the others against just about any threat, he goes and makes her start doubting again. But Heather realizes perhaps that wasn’t a fair though, and turning to Michael “Shaman” Twoyoungmen who hovers in the corner, she realizes that it is he who has her worried, for he was missing for so long, only to turn up here with no explanation, no nothing. She and Shaman used to be so close, now he is like a stranger. Heather wonders what happened to him.
The X-Men’s leader Cyclops approaches the Alphans and informs them that they are sending an expeditionary force after Thanos, and that Guardian, Sasquatch and Wolverine are on it, while Shaman is needed with the other mystics. Before they leave, Wolverine turns to Weapon Omega and gives him a word of warning, telling him that there isn’t a mask in the world that can hide a scent from him. Logan exclaims that he knows who and what Weapon Omega is, and if others trust him, that is fine, but he is going to be keeping a very close eye on him.
Back in Toronto, Manikin mutters ’Some Saturday night this is turning out to be’ and points out that it is like a ghost town. Laura Dean suddenly exclaims that something is very wrong here, and her twin sister Goblyn starts growling, sensing something. One of the others asks Laura what her sister senses, to which Laura replies that it smells like a freshly opened crypt.
Suddenly, a group of men tumble from a shopfront window in a fight. Fire erupts from the building, and a man with a white stripe in his hair appears in the flames, ‘What a lovely night for a barbeque!’ he grins. ‘What is that?’ asks Laura, as Manikin asks if he is just standing there burning, but Witchfire points out that the are his own flames.
Several cars race towards Beta Flight at furious speeds, so Persuasion gets everyone onto the footpath out of harms way. Witchfire asks her teammates if they saw the drivers as they were out of control, not looking where they were going. Suddenly, all the cars crash into each other and explode. The man inside the fire smiles, ‘Mmm. The city if hot tonight!’ he exclaims.
Kara wonders what is happening, as one moment it was deathly quiet, the next it is a madhouse. Noticing Goblyn’s hysterics, Laura points out that there is something more here, that it isn’t natural. Witchfire suggests that right now they deal with what they can see - like the “fire bug” before them. The strange man turns to the teens, ‘Moi?’ he asks. Witchfire thinks to herself that Laura is right, for behind this malevolence she can feel a presence, twisted - but what…or who…is it?
Nearby, Windshear drops to the ground thanking the paramedics for calling him in, he asks how Talisman is. The paramedic replies that physically, she has contusions, bruising and a few broken bones, but mentally…’Your guess is as good as mine’. Elizabeth sees Windshear, and whispers to him ‘Listen…they’re out…God help us all…THEY’RE OUT!’


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Barebones, part 3
‘Realities mesh, worlds merge. It begins…in earnest. Unless the process is reversed, Earth will be lost, replaced by a twisted facsimile of the Magus’s creation. Worldwide, the human ants watch, enthralled, a frozen audience to a demi-god’s power play. They cannot save Earth. I can. I am the Master, and this world I have claimed as my own to with as I see fit. Through a pocket of madness strong enough even to resist your influence I will fight you for it, Magus.’
The self-proclaimed Master of the World gazes up at the merging moons of the merging Earth’s, and knows that other minds, strong minds like Jean Grey, Charles Xavier, Moondragon and Sersi are also trying to stop Magus, creating a psychic resonance among the population, a wall of resistance. The Master knows that with a blot-hole of unaffected reality they are destined to fail, but believes that they should keep the assimilation at bay long enough for him to deal with a small but potentially disastrous irritation.
Kara “Persuasion” Kilgrave the former Purple Girl orders Colin “Windshear” Hume who is in her possession to use his powers against the obese Omega Flight member Miss Mass. But Windshear’s solid air has no affect and Miss Mass tells them “skinnies” that they are wasting their time, for although it may take a while, she always gets there in the end. She informs them that a friend of theirs tried to blow her away recently, and for doing so she broke her neck, warning them that she will teat their bony bodies apart and make a wish. Kara orders Windshear to pay Mass no heed, to just keep on hitting her with solid air.
Windshear doesn’t reply, he couldn’t if he wanted to, for he belongs totally to the cerebral power of Persuasion, which is a direct contrast to the past self of Whitman “Manikin” Knapp - Apeman - who just hits things. But as Apeman leaps at Strongarm, who is strangling Manikin, Strongarm uses his massive arm to swat him backwards, telling Whit that his “friend” lacks something in the stealth department.
Witchfire blocks Sinew from attacking her with a powerful mystical shield, while realizing that Whit is in trouble, she knows that if he blacks out, then his other selves will disappear and he will be completely helpless. The Master of the World admits that he erroneously assumed that it would be a formality for his new Omega Flight to remove the youngsters from the picture - ‘But the pups have teeth’.
Watching the battle from the safety of an alleyway, he claims that actual combat is for lesser beings, which is why Omega Flight exists. However the Master knows that should the battle drag on any longer, then he must intervene, or lose everything. The Master observes Witchfire and remarks that she has unplumbed depths, a heritage steeped in arcane might, for she has already unconsciously shielded herself and her teammates from the Ska’r, therefore if she disturbs them further, then he may be left powerless to defeat the Magus. The Master decides that Witchfire has such potential, and knows that if circumstances were different, then he would consider recruiting her, bending her to his will. But as it is, she is just a stumbling block to be removed.
Miss Mass is still slowly walking up to Kara, pushing through Windshear’s solid air, and asking Kara if she hasn’t got the message yet. ‘All you’re doing is ticking me off!’ she shouts. Persuasion knows this is true, but wonders what else she can do, for she doesn’t understand enough about Windshear’s mutant ability to order him to do anything more than start - and ‘Stop!’ she yells, which causes the startled Miss Mass to fall to the concrete, breaking it apart as he massive form hit’s the ground. ‘Now you’ve really done it!’ she exclaims, teeth gritted.
Persuasion stands over Miss Mass, explaining that she was having trouble zeroing in before, there was too much psychic static, but now she belongs to her! But nearby, Miss Mass’ teammate Bile sees Persuasion and realizes that not only if he removes her from the battle one of the most powerful opponents is eliminated, but Windshear will be left vulnerable and exposed. He approaches her, his disease-carrying hand outstretched, ready to take her life, when suddenly, two drunken louts come up beside Bile and take his hat.
Bile reacts by offering him a death-touch instead and clasping his hand to one of the men’s face, ‘For that is all Bile has to give’ he exclaims. Kara turns around to see what has just happened, and she is about to shout ‘STOP!’ - but the command doesn’t make it through her throat, tightened by fear, her mouth suddenly dry as Bile extends his hand to Kara’s mouth.
Lucky for Kara, her former boyfriend Manikin sees what is happening, and though he can barely speak after being strangled, he motions his future self Highbrow to where Kara is in danger. While Proto spreads himself over Strongarm, Highbrow acts at the speed of though, and teleports Persuasion behind Bile so he doesn’t touch her.
Kara now has sufficient time to use her power on him, and orders him to go and play with his teammates. Bile turns towards Miss Mass, ‘No! No! Get away!’ she mutters as she clumsily gets to her feet and begins running away from her teammate who begins the chase.
Elsewhere, considerably, the already convoluted life of Elizabeth Twoyoungmen a.k.a. the Binder of Spirits known as Talisman takes another considerable turn. Standing in the ocean of bone, she calls to her father, Shaman, asking him to talk to her - ‘Are you telling me this…this terrible place is within my own mind?’ she asks. With no response, Elizabeth assumes that Shaman was merely the guide, so once she is here, she is on her own. She wonders what Shaman meant by the sentence “You must understand what has been unleashed”.
Talisman is still confused, when suddenly images thousands of years old appear before her, crystal clear. She now stands in a city festering like a bloated corpse in its own sea of vice and sin. Above it all, feeding like maggots on the corruption they themselves have bred - they are the Ska’r! It is like a movie, one you think you haven’t seen. You get so far with just a nagging familiarity before you realize you already sat through it, a long time ago - and you know how it ends.
The Ska’r city grew, with malign forces within growing stronger…a dark stain threatening to spread through the whole of the civilized world, until other forces fathered strength - and removed it from the face of the Earth! The Ska’r screamed, struggled and fought. But their prison was a strong one and it held. Realizing their pantry of blackened souls would grow old and stale, no new blood to swell their bellies, the looked at the meat locked away with them and - ‘Oh! God! No…NO!’ cries Talisman as she witnesses what the Ska’r did to those imprisoned with them.
Screams fill Elizabeth’s mind, a swelling orchestra of terror and torment - a hundred thousand lost souls crying in unison. Talisman exclaims that the Ska’r ate them, hundreds and thousands - all food for some sort of hibernation. Suddenly she realizes that it was the Talisman, the power of the Talisman that banished the Ska’r, locked them away in this empty dimension, and as the holder of the Circlet of Enchantment, she was their jailor!
Elizabeth realizes that she had been so busy feeling sorry for herself, so often asking “Why me?”, that she never took time to look inward, discover the many reasons why there must be a Talisman. ‘I was given a job to do and I failed! Lord help me…I LET THEM OUT!’ Elizabeth tells herself that it isn’t too late, for what has been done can be undone - what has been released, can be shut away again!
Suddenly, in her hospital bed she wakes up. Elizabeth wishes that she could stand up again, but knows Omega Flight hurt her badly, so she is in no shape to do anything - let alone face the Ska’r! But Elizabeth Twoyoungmen is a super hero and she knows that she cannot fail now, for so much depends on her being strong…on being the Talisman.
Back in Toronto, Miss Mass is still running from Bile, screaming for one of her teammates to help her, as Bile repeatedly exclaims that he must touch her. Seeing the possessed Bile, Tech-Noir asks Brain Drain what happened to him, as Strongarm urges Tech-Noir to shoot Bile, or he will waste the little creep himself.
Beta Flight regroup and after being released from Persuasion’s hold, Windshear is asked by Manikin what he thinks of his “amateurs” now. Windshear still addresses the Betans as Gamma Flight and tells them that he still doesn’t think they are seasoned pros, before reminding them there is the matter of disobeying direct orders, and possessing him, before grudgingly admitting that they do have a certain style when it comes to handling themselves.
Witchfire reminds everyone that the real battle has only just begun, explaining that there is an intelligence behind all this chaos and madness, but to stop it, they first have to stop the Ska’r! Suddenly, someone declares ‘And that, my dear girl…is something I cannot allow!’ The Master of the World steps into view, telling the teens that it is a shame, for ones he dismissed as children, they have given a noble account of themselves, but if he is to save this planet…’You all must DIE!’
‘That so? Well excuse us if we beg to differ!’ declares Windshear as he takes to the air and flies towards the Master, with Beta Flight running behind him. Persuasion points out to Windshear that this is the Master they are dealing with and is about to offer a suggestion, when the Master releases some fire from his hands, explaining that this entity is the one they called the Firebug and that he found his somewhat volatile molecules drifting on the winds. ’How untidy of you!’ But the Master reveals that he has absorbed the Firebug into his armor’s systems - the potential of that petty arsonist is now fully realized!
The Master unleashes a huge blast of flame, engulfing Windshear and the Betans. However, Witchfire uses her mystical abilities to put up a shield to protect everyone just in time, just as the Master anticipated, though he did not believe that it would actually hold. He decides that in terms of power, Witchfire is every bit her father’s daughter!
Seeing that everyone is unconscious, the Master wonders if that will suffice, before exclaiming ‘I think not’ and telling himself that being compassionate is too human, thinking that all of those degrading foibles where removed millenia ago when the Plodex reconstructed his mind and body. The Master decides that it is good to know that their deaths now have purpose.
Tech-Noir flies down towards the Master with some information, but the Master isn’t interested in what the techno-wonder has to say, declaring that this is a critical moment, as the human psis are buckling under the strain of keeping the world’s from merging, so from this moment on, he must focus all his enhanced might and lock mental horns with Magus.
Nervously glancing over her shoulder, Tech-Noir tells the Master that he doesn’t understand, which infuriates him, asking Tech-Noir how she dare say that, when he too turns around and sees the Ska’r racing after the fleeing Omega Flight.
‘HUNGRY!’ shout the Ska’r, one of them remarking that the minds of Omega Flight are closed to them so will not sate them, however their bodies are vibrant with aura, so they will feed on them nevertheless. ‘Yeah? Feed on this!’ exclaims Tech-Noir as she unleashes several missiles from her wrist, all which rip through the deadly Ska’r.
Beta Flight and Windshear still lie unconscious on the ground, but they begin to stir as a powerful and commanding voice enters their minds, telling them that they must awaken and rise, for this day they have undergone a brutal baptism of fire, endured a proving ground of terrible severity - but the ordeal is not yet over, for everyone must dig deep and find reserves of strength as yet untapped.
Sitting on the edge of her hospital bed, Talisman uses her powers to cast her words into the minds of her teammates, telling them that she will guide them, but they must be of one body, of one mind. For as individuals, there are flaws, weaknesses, but as a team, there is strength…and purpose. ‘We must do together what cannot be done alone’. Talisman thinks that it is clear to her now, so right, just accepting her nature has made wielding the Circlet of Enchantment less forced and more natural, she can see a pattern, an intricate web of fate, woven among them all, and she knows what they must do.
Back in the city, the Master knocks Tech-Noir out and calls her foolish and explains that this is exactly what he wished to prevent “Gamma” Flight from doing, realizing that his hold on Earth is weakening. The Ska’r suddenly surround the Master, and the Master proclaims that he is giving the country of Canada to them, so they can feed and grow fat on the millions of ripe souls.
The Master is astonished when one of the Ska’r grab his wrist and exclaims ‘You…right in power. We will take what you offer…after we pick your bones clean!’ The Master kills the Ska’r that touched him, an instinctive reaction, the punishment for such an almost inconceivable transgression is swift and final. Yet in that instant, the Master’s psychic hold on the Magus…is broken.
Suddenly he wonders what he has done, and the answer is a mad God’s laugh, a mocking epitaph to humankinds last stand. The Master declares that he hasn’t been beaten, and engages his teleport sequence, for with Omega Flight and himself gone, the Ska’r can feed on “Gamma Flight”. Suddenly, a dimensional interface, a portal to the Ska’r city appears.
Windshear begins using his hard-air power to push the Ska’r through the portal back to their world, as the Master warns them that if they do it Earth is doomed, everyone will become thralls of the Magus, unthinking and ungrowing. He promises them a utopia, asking only unquestionable obedience in return. ‘Is that not preferable to the living death the Magus inte -’ the Master doesn’t finish his sentence before his teleportation takes place.
Windshear wonders if the Master if right, if they are the spanner in some cosmic works - ‘Are we saving Earth, or dooming it?’ Laura Dean doesn’t know the answer, but exclaims that she does know that there are powers greater than they to look after the Universe. But right here, right now, the people of Canada are dying for a madman’s warped dream, and as part of Alpha Flight, their first responsibility must always be to them. A storm of solid-air particles sweeps the Ska’r through the portal, and it all stops.
Time now passes, the nightmare fading into the realms of the subconscious - but for Weapon Omega, the nightmare is just beginning. He faced and battled the dark side of his soul, the twisted beast called Wildchild. But now, he is not sure who one.
Later, Guardian, Sasquatch, Northstar, Jeanne-Marie and Puck meet with Windshear, who freely admits that he was wrong in calling the kids the barebones of a team, and that they showed him a cohesive unit, strong and resolute. He admits he is wrong for calling them children when they are wise beyond their years. And for calling them Gamma Flight, when in truth, they are Beta Flight. Talisman! Persuasion! Manikin (and his other selves)! Laura Dean! Goblyn! And Witchfire! Beta Flight stand before Alpha Flight, each of them now decked out in their own red and grey team uniforms, ready for a new chapter in their lives.


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

[Assistant]
Bloodline!
(Flashback)
He is Wild Child. His life is the hunt. His world…is the kill! Two men are watching the young mutant as he attacks another human, one of them remarks that thirty six point zero seconds is the fastest time yet, so he believes it is time they moved on, for these hapless vagrants plucked from the streets hardly test Wild Child at all. The first man points out that Wild Child senses them, as he looks over at them. Even through the water fall and the plexi-steel screen, he is still aware. Magnificent, thinks the first man.
The bulky second man tells the first that he is wrong, for the artificial environment is secure, so if he is unable to smell Wild Child, then Wild Child cannot smell them. ‘But magnificent? He should be. Like father, like son…’.
(Present)
Kyle Gibney a.k.a. Weapon Omega of Alpha Flight leaps through the forest, for the beast once known as Wild Child is now contained, locked away in a dark corner of his mind…most of the time. Suddenly Weapon Omega sees some blood on his hands and wonders where it came from. He hopes that it is animal blood, but he thinks back hard to how he got to where he is now, and remembers a heated conversation with Puck, so he drove away. Then there was a scent, something old, yet terribly familiar…then nothing.
Kyle wonders what is happening to him, and recalls that the doctors said he was cured, that Wild Child was gone - except that is when he came face to face with his old self, it unleashed something and he could feel his control slipping away. He felt a hunger. Kyle tells himself to think about that battle - to think about anything except the blood on his hands. He reminds himself that he has always been so good at that - running, hiding from the truth, to afraid to take a long hard look at himself. ‘Just do it,’ he thinks, before sniffing the blood on his hands. Luckily for him, it is animal blood - this time.
Nearby, someone hidden in the shrubbery grins, ‘Been a long time,’ he thinks to himself as he watches Weapon Omega.
Elsewhere, at Department H, the home and headquarters of Canada’s premiere super hero team, Alpha Flight, and the junior team, Beta Flight. Heather McNeil Hudson, “Guardian” in both name and nature, descends onto the rooftop landing pad. She is Guardian because not only does she wear a powerful electro-magnetic battle suit, but she is leader of Alpha Flight - and guardian of her late husbands dream.
Heather thinks to herself that going for a flight on her own felt good, for it has been too long since she was really able to cut loose without feeling like she is carrying everyone’s excess emotional baggage around with her. She knows that memories of their recent battle are somewhat hazy, but the general feeling she gets is that they did good, all of them together as a team…or rather, teams, for since their undeniably impressive performance against no less than the Master, it seems vaguely redundant to keep Beta Flight in training.
Heather realizes that Beta Flight has grown up and proved that they can cut it without supervision, so it is time they moved on - question is, to where? Heather walks over to Colin Ashworth Hume a.k.a. Windshear, who is surprised that she is back already, and asks if it isn’t the life and death situation that they were led to believe. Heather informs Hume that it was every bit the life and death situation that they were led to believe, but it is being dealt with.
‘By who?’ Colin asks, pointing out that the core Alphans are right here at Department H, before suddenly realizing that Heather is talking about Beta Flight. Wide-eyed, Hume asks Heather what happens if one of them needs help, or if they get hurt. Opening the roof-top door to enter the large building, Heather reminds Hume that he spoke so eloquently on their behalf the other day, so she has decided to let them handle it, adding that she thought he would be proud.
‘Proud? What do you mean proud?’ Colin asks. Heather points out that it has struck her like he has almost adopted the Betans, and tells him to relax, as they will do just fine…’Dad’, she adds mockingly.
Meanwhile, ‘WHO THE HECK ARE YOU? I wanted Alpha Flight, not the god darned B-team!’ shouts the Chief of Police at the Houghton Chemical Research Facility in Sudbury. The past self, Apeman, of Whitman Knapp a.k.a. Manikin snarls, to which Witchfire suggests to Manikin that Apeman may not be the best spokesperson for the team. Whit replies that he thinks Apeman and the Chief of Police are communicating on the same level. ‘Grunt’ ‘Grunt’.
The Chief of Police turns to Whit, remarking that he heard that, he tells Beta Flight to listen up good, he has a costumed nut with two corpses to his name and four hostages, one to be killed every minute beyond the deadline - a deadline which is coming up fast. ‘I ask for specialist help and they send me kids!’ he complains. Annoyed, Witchfire thinks to herself that they will always be in the shadow of the core team - so how can they show their worth, when no one will give them the chance?
Manikin tells the Chief of Police that they are not the “B-team” and that they are certainly not kids, but that they are here to - the Chief interrupts, pointing at Whit he asks him if he is deaf, declaring ‘I want you -’ suddenly, the Chief turns purple and in a forced voice says ‘To free the hostages please’. ‘Oh great, that’s just great!’ Whit exclaims covering his face with his hands, while Kara Kilgrave a.k.a. Persuasion looks very smug with herself.
Manikin turns to his former girlfriend and reminds her that not long ago she used her power on Windshear, and now she is using it on a Chief of Police. Whit asks Kara if she is going to use her power on everyone that disagrees with them. Hands on her hips, the former Purple Girl declares that Guardian gave them a job to do, and points out that the idiot Police Chief is just delaying them, meaning the longer they stand around her debating, the more chance there is that someone will die.
‘Maybe…’ Whit remarks, while thinking to himself that this is happening a little too often for comfort. A police officer walks up and asks what is going on here, asking the Chief if he is okay, ‘You look a bit off-color’. Witchfire smiles as she watches the situation while Manikin turns to Laura Dean, correcting himself and calling her by her new codename, “Pathway”, and asks her if she can teleport them inside, preferably near where their opponent is holed up.
Pathway replies that she thinks so, but explains that her power only works inter-dimensionally, but theoretically she should be able to take them all briefly in and out of a randomly selected dimension, making the “exit” within the research complex. ‘Theoretically, huh?’ asks Whit, before remarking ‘Ah well…life dangerously!’ and with that, Laura Dean opens her portal.
Back at Department H, Aurora stands naked in the laboratory of her teammate and former boyfriend, the handsome Doctor Walter “Sasquatch” Langkowski. With wires attached to her body for recording purposes, Aurora tells Walt that she is beginning to question his professional detachment. Walt clears his throat before informing Aurora that it is clear from recent battles that when she switches persona, her powers change also, so they need to know why, or at least how, this happens.
Walt explains to Aurora that he has given her a full bio-scan, so next time Jeanne-Marie is dominant he will need to give her one too. ‘Work, work, work!’ exclaims Aurora, asking Walt if there is anything else he can think of. She presses her body up against his and wraps her arms around his chest, exclaiming that she, for one, can think of many thing she would rather be doing, and asks Walt if he can too.
‘Look, Aurora…I…ah…’ Walt’s voice trails off, when suddenly, ‘AH! What I am I doing with you? Like this?!’ exclaims Jeanne-Marie. Jeanne-Marie turns away from Walt in an attempt to cover herself. Walt hands her a coat, explaining that Aurora didn’t seem to want to wear it. ‘That figures! The less she has on the happier Aurora seems to be…especially if there is a man about!’ Jeanne-Marie exclaims. Walt and Jeanne-Marie both glance at each other out of the corner of their eyes, and Walt thinks to himself how much this chance still unnerves him, even though he and Aurora had something between them long ago - a relationship that he wouldn’t have been averse to rekindling. But now, it would be like dating two completely different women, never knowing when one would “pop out” and the other “drop in”.
Suddenly, Jeanne-Marie’s brother Jean-Paul Beaubier a.k.a. Northstar enters the room, asking if he is late. Jeanne-Marie looks blank, to which Jean-Paul exclaims ‘Do not tell me you have forgotten, dead sister’ remarking that it has been too long since they had a chance to really talk, and he is looking forward to lunching - ‘ALONE’ Jeanne-Marie exclaims coldly as she storms past Walt and Jean-Paul.
A look almost of sadness spreads across Northstar’s face, and after a moment, Walt tells him to give his sister time, for while Aurora finds his recent announcement not only acceptable, but admirable, Jeanne-Marie is having problems dealing with it. Walt suggests she will come around and is about to say something else when Northstar turns away from him and angrily tells him to spare him the patronizing bedside manner, adding that this is probably Walt’s doing anyway, for if he didn’t mess with his sisters powers in the first place, then this would never have happened. ‘In the future - stay away from my sister!’ Walt watches Northstar leave, ‘Sheesh!’ he thinks to himself.
Back in Sudbury, Beta Flight emerge from Pathway’s portal into the research facility, with Manikin muttering ‘That was certainly different’. Witchfire tells everyone to move fast, for freed from Persuasion’s hold, it won’t be long before Police Chief Conrad makes his presence felt. Persuasion informs Witchfire that she still has a lock on the Chief of Police, to which Witchfire, surprised, replies ‘From this distance?’
Kara detects the tone of surprise in her teammates voice, and knows she cannot blame her, for she is surprised herself! Kara thinks to herself that as of late, it has been too easy, almost disturbingly straight forward, and though she could never admit it to the others…it is quite a seductively enjoyable feeling. Kara wonders if this how her father, the Purple Man, felt when he controlled people - is this the road to crime and insanity? ‘Am I on that road too, destined to follow in his footsteps?’ she asks herself.
Leaning against a wall beneath a window, Whit tells everyone that he hears voices, so he peers through the glass, when suddenly, a green man with extremely large ears shoves his hand through, shattering the glass and his sharp claws scratch across Whit’s chest. Whit screams, before passing out, with his teammates calling out to him in horror.
Back at Department H, Heather sits in her quarters, staring at a photograph of James “Mac” MacDonald Hudson, her dead husband. She whispers his name, before telling herself that it serves her right, as she is so busy making wise cracks at Windshear that she forgot there are still open wounds. Heather recalls that Mac always wanted a family, but that she was just too busy to be “tied down” with kids. ‘What I wouldn’t give to have a son, a daughter, a tangible reminder of you to hold at times like this’ Heather exclaims, admitting she knows it is selfish, but that she misses him so much.
A tear begins to roll down Heather’s face as she kisses the photograph of Mac and exclaims ‘Tsk. Listen to me! I have a family, one that’s as much a part of you as any flesh and blood’, with that, she promises to do her best to look after them, when suddenly, the doorbell to her quarters rings.
Heather opens the door and is somewhat surprised to see her teammate Eugene Milton Judd a.k.a. Puck. Judd informs Heather that they have to talk  - and that it is about Weapon Omega. Heather allows the long-serving Alphan into her quarters and Judd explains that he is worried about Kyle’s state of mind, for every time he tries and talk to him, Kyle blows up at him and leaves, such as has happened now.
Heather tells Judd that he is overreacting and that Weapon Omega just lost his temper, pointing out that everyone has bad days. ‘Not like Kyle. His bad days…are killers!’ Judd reminds Heather that they never questioned his miraculous cure, just accepted that Nemesis took him to a hospital where the doctors were able to bury his wild side. Judd reveals that he has checked and there are no records of any one answering Kyle’s description being admitted to any State institution in Canada or the U.S.A.
Heather agrees that it is a little mysterious, but points out that Kyle is cured, to which Judd asks ‘Is he?’ and points out that Kyle blew up at him, screamed at him, and it wasn’t Weapon Omega that Judd saw, but Wild Child.
Back in Sudbury, the mute Betan known as Goblyn, whose appearance is contradictory to her nature - she looks savage, but she isn’t - leaps through the glass, shattering it everywhere, claws outstretched, she growls. For sometimes, like right now, having just witnessed a friend and teammate struck down, she is happy to play the part of the savage. The green man introduces himself as the Jackal and holding his deadly claws up to the throat of a security guard, boasts that he will kill again if he has to.
The Jackal declares that he will not be caged, nor will he go to prison. He orders Beta Flight to grant him a safe passage out of here, otherwise more blood will be spilled. Goblyn’s sister, enters the room and tells her to do as the Jackal says, for his claws are poisoned. The Jackal remarks that his father taught him well, taught him all the tricks of the trade - except how to live with himself.
Back in the corridor, Persuasion nervously checks for a pulse on her former lover, exclaiming that she cannot find one, that Whit is so cold. She exclaims that Whit was the doctor, not her, when suddenly Witchfire declares that if it is poison inside their teammate, then there is a cure, and whatever it takes…’I will get it!’
Power ebbs and flows around the furious young woman, who enters the room where Laura is telling the Jackal that she can feel his pain, his actions hurt and confusion. But Pathway’s speech is interrupted by Witchfire, who screams ‘YOU! Give me the antidote - NOW!’ The Jackal remarks that he thought she might actually understand what it was like, what his father expected of him, but no, instead, the force his hand and by doing so, force him to be like his father.
Claws flex and begin slashing - but to Witchfire, it is like slow motion, for the mystic might she has always feared, its origins lost in a past she knows nothing of…is a song within her, suddenly clear and keen, Witchfire unleashes a powerful blast without hesitation and compunction - without mercy.
The Jackal lets go of the guard as he grabs his own throat, screaming. Pathway tells Witchfire to stop it, and asks what she is doing to him, before asking her why she didn’t wait, give her a chance as she was reaching him, for the Jackal trusted her and told her about his father, Miles Warren - the original Jackal. Laura asks Witchfire if she knows what the Jackal’s father did to him, and reveals that after his mother died, Warren kept him locked away from the world, a prisoner - his whole childhood, his whole life was sculpted for him, fashioned by a madman’s hands into his own twisted image. ‘His sins…the sins of the father!’ The new Jackal throws up, then turns to Witchfire, and stares intensely at her.
Weapon Omega races through the forest. Back when he was known as Wild Child, his life was the hunt. His world…was the kill. But now, known was Weapon Omega, he has become the hunted - as someone is chasing after him through the dense forest. An explosive weapon fires, knocking Kyle off balance and causing him to land off a small ledge. A man wearing army pants and carrying a very large weapon looms over Weapon Omega, greeting him and declaring that the touching family reunion will have to be cut short. ‘My blood line ends here and now…with the death of Wild Child!’


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Extreme Prejudice, part 1
The bulky man known only as Wyre thinks to himself that there is blood on his hands, and as he leaps down upon one of the pale reflections of himself, he sees bodies, faces twisted into agonized masks of death. He sees his sins…and knows that they must be expunged. He blasts the reflection of himself, the Alphan known as Weapon Omega, formerly Wild Child, who is thrust across the forest floor. Wyre tells himself that for he to be finally at peace, all of his “children” must die, and grabs Weapon Omega by the head.
Weapon Omega struggles, to which Wyre asks him why he bothers, reminding him of the beast deep within his gut that cannot be tamed. ‘You must die before others around you die!’ Wyre exclaims. Weapon Omega feels that Wyre is trying to break his neck, and wonders if he should even try to stop him. As Wyre leans his heavy muscular body onto the struggling Wildchild, Kyle recalls that he was attacked without warning or provocation, by someone he doesn’t now, someone who wants him dead.
Kyle thinks that Wyre may have a good reason for wanting him dead, for even though he isn’t Wild Child anymore, he has recently felt his control slipping, the bloodlust rising, like it is now, with this fight, the pain…. With his teeth gritted, Wyre tells Weapon Omega (though calling him Wild Child) that he takes no pleasure in this, in fact the opposite, and claims that it is like killing a piece of himself.
Wyre declares that he must remain strong and resolute, when suddenly, Weapon Omega manages to wrest free from Wyre’s hold and he reaches around and scratches his claws into Wyre’s face. Wyre leaps off Kyle, clutching his face as Weapon Omega declares ‘You want the animal so much…have him!’ Kyle follows Wyre and scratches him across the back. Wyre mutters that he had forgotten how well he made Wild Child, how well he trained him - like a truly wild animal. He realizes that it was stupid of him and tells Kyle that he in turn should not forget who his elders and betters are, nor why he is called Wyre!
From Wyre’s large chest, hundreds of tendrils suddenly sprout and extend towards Kyle, where the latch onto him and enter his body. Kyle screams, before snarling ‘I’ll rip through these, then rip through your entrails…’ before quickly turning away, realizing that it is happening again, this battle is bringing out the animal in him. He breaks free of Wyre’s grasp and runs off back into the dense forest. Wyre readies his gun, exclaiming that the wounded beast turns and flees, though he knows that it changes nothing, for they all ran, all the others - ‘THEY ALL DIED’ he shouts, unleashing a mighty blast after Weapon Omega.
Meanwhile, some miles to the East, three of Weapon Omega’s teammates have just discovered his abandoned car. Alpha Flight’s leader Heather McNeil Hudson a.k.a. Guardian, Colin “Windshear” Hume and Aurora. Guardian uses the communication device attached to her ear to talk to Puck to inform her diminutive teammate of their findings, and gives him the location of the car.
Eugene “Puck” Judd, informs Heather that he, Walter “Sasquatch” Langkowski and Beta Flight’s Elizabeth Twoyoungmen a.k.a. Talisman, are heading in that direction, and while Talisman cannot pin point Weapon Omega’s location, she has them roughly on course. Judd suggests to Heather that her squad move in from the East, while his will try and get Weapon Omega from here.
Talisman apologizes that she cannot be more specific, explaining that her link with the forest spirits is hazy, and now she senses two Weapon Omega’s - one almost a shadow of the other. Judd tells Elizabeth that he wasn’t criticizing her, and points out that with all the stuff she has been through recently, it is no wonder she is struggling. He explains that he wouldn’t have asked her to come along on this mission, but that they need to find their missing teammate, and her father is currently unapproachable, so they didn’t want to ask for his help.
Talisman thinks to herself that her father being “unapproachable” is an understatement, for since he has returned from…wherever…he suddenly went distant, he has been so remote. Elizabeth recalls that when she went to see him, hoping that they could talk about whatever it was that was so evidently wrong, he was gone - his quarters were so cold, dankly oppressive…like the grave!
Back to the East, Aurora complains that this task could go on forever, and declares that if they must search for Weapon Omega, then they should just do it! With that, the super fast mutant speeds off into the forest, despite Heather’s protests. Heather exclaims that she wanted everyone to stick together, for if Puck is right, and Weapon Omega is really reverting to Wild Child, then Aurora is in terrible danger!
Deep in the woods, Wyre emerges from a thicket, claw marks running down his face, he holds his gun high and sniffs the air, realizing that Weapon Omega’s trail ends here, he thinks that there is no way Kyle could have covered his tracks, not from him! Wyre backs up against a tree and fires his weapon up into it, causing a small explosion as he shouts ‘Thought I taught you better, kid. If you’re gonna ambush someone…never do the obvious!’ But at that moment, Kyle leaps out at Wyre from the shrubs below, shouting that he has had enough, he runs his claws along Wyre’ stomach, and Wyre falls to the ground, surprised that Kyle came from below, and regretting that he had no time to get out of the way.
Blood dripping from his claws, Weapon Omega points out that it was only his gun and some surface skin that he got, but that he could have easily opened his guts. Kyle exclaims that he just wants to talk, that Wyre seems to know him, but he is a stranger to him. ‘You speak of a past…and I have no recollection of any!’ Wyre tells himself not to listen, and decides that even though this beast has found a tongue, it changes nothing, it is still a monster and it must be destroyed.
The tendrils once again sprout from Wyre’s muscular body, moving so fast that the surprised Weapon Omega doesn’t have time to move out of the way, and as remains bound in the tendrils, he exclaims that perhaps his double from the Infinity War was right, that he was only fooling himself with the notions of miracle cures, drugs that would take the beast away…forever. Kyle wonders that if he cannot trust himself in a fight, then what use is he to his fellow Alphans…to anyone? He asks Wyre why he hesitates in killing him…’Do it!’ he shouts, but  Wyre just stares at him.
Meanwhile, in Sudbury, at the site of the Houghton Chemical Research Facility, and perhaps more significantly, Beta Flight’s first…and quite possibly last…outing as a team. Inside a copter, the fiery redhead known as Witchfire is trying to communicate back to Department H, but after ten minutes, she has no reply. She thinks to herself that there is always supposed to be someone on monitor duty, if not Windshear, then one of the others. ‘Situation is critical! Repeat, critical!’ she shouts into the radio.
Exiting the copter, Witchfire decides that she cannot wait on Alpha Flight any longer, for even though Beta Flight got the hostage situation under control…at what cost was it to Manikin? Witchfire goes over to where her teammate Whitman Knapp a.k.a. Manikin lies motionless on a stretcher, with Kara “Persuasion” Kilgrave and Laura “Pathway” Dean at his side. Witchfire asks the girls if there is any change, but a teary-eyed Kara replies that there is nothing, and she cannot even tell if Whit, who is her former boyfriend, is alive. With an accusatory tone, Laura reminds Witchfire that with the Jackal’s brains fried to a crisp, they cannot even get him to tell them exactly what poison his claws her laced with.
A paramedic comes up to the girls and tells them that he may not be a big-brain scientist like they want, but he does know that the longer they stand around here, the less chance they have of saving their friend’s life. Tears pouring down her face, Kara pleads with Witchfire to look at Whitman - and Witchfire sees that indeed, something terrible is happening to him, his body is somehow changing.
Witchfire turns away from everyone, remembering how she practically begged Guardian to let Beta Flight handle this mission, for she was so sure that she could deal with whatever comes up…yeah right she realizes, for she stuck Manikin, powerless without his otherselves, right in the firing line, then she loses control of her own powers and cannot even get them back home, for Manikin was their pilot. She turns back to the paramedic and tells him to take Manikin, ‘And the Devil take whoever was supposed to be on monitor duty’ she thinks to herself.
Back at Department H, in the monitoring room, Witchfire’s image appears on the monitors, ‘Critical…urgent request…need Langkowski…Manikin down…does anyone…’
Elsewhere, Jean-Paul Beaubier a.k.a. Northstar has left his post at the monitoring station, he is running - just because. A stern look on his face, he recalls that it began with the mail, sack loads of it, ever since he announced that he is gay, some of the mail was praise and thanks, other mail was condemnation. He shouldn’t care - the Northstar of old would have laughed at the criticism, told them what to do with their opinions, perhaps even reveled in the attention. Btu as Jean-Paul is rapidly discovering, he is not the Northstar of old…and he cares!
Deep in the woods, Wyre holds Weapon Omega high up in the air by his tendrils, telling himself that he must not care, must not feel remorse or pity. Weapon Omega tells him to let there be and end to all of it, to take the pain away. He exclaims that he has fought all his life, struggled against a monster he does not know or understand, and now he is tired. Wyre glares at Weapon Omega, realizing that this is not how he remembers him.
Suddenly, Alpha Flight arrive on scene, Guardian calls to Aurora who flies into Wyre, knocking him out of the way and freeing Weapon Omega from his thrall. But it is not Aurora who answers, instead it is Jeanne-Marie, who tells Heather that she will do nothing rash. ‘Whereas I…just might!’ shouts Sasquatch as he leaps out of the forest into the clearing, surprising Wyre. As Sasquatch punches Wyre with his super strong fists, he tells the mysterious assailant that when you threaten one Alphan, you get a whole bunch. Wyre decides that they are too strong for him and there are too many of them. He scolds himself for weakening, that he should not have let indecision cloud his judgement. ‘The beast will die…later’ he decides as he rushes off back into the forest.
‘No!’ shouts Weapon Omega, exclaiming that Wyre knew about his past, that he had answers which could help him cage the beast within! Heather tells Kyle that it is time they talked about Wild Child.
But back at Department H, that talk is put on the back-burner, as Heather is communicating with Witchfire, telling her they can apportion blame later, but that right now they need to concentrate on getting Manikin back to Department H where Walter and Shaman (if they can find him, she thinks), can help Whit. Standing next to Heather, Windshear exclaims that they have to move fast on this, for Whitman’s injuries aside, if the press gets a hold of this they will have a field day, ‘And they just love us, don’t they?’ mutters Heather. Suddenly, Northstar enters the room, exclaiming that he heard alarms, he asks what is going on. ‘You…are in BIG trouble!’ Heather exclaims sternly.
Soon, at the Bethune Memorial Hospital in Toronto, several reporters and camera men gather outside Manikin’s ward, all asking questions. A nurse closes the curtain on them, ‘Gentlemen, please! This is a hospital!’ she exclaims. Kara, Witchfire and Pathway sit next to the bed, where Manikin lies, only he is now encased in some sort of cocoon. A balding doctor explains that until they analyze it, they cannot risk removing it, and suggests that it might even be what is keeping Manikin alive. He offers some comfort to the girls by revealing that he has managed to draw some blood though.
Kara Kilgrave, the former Purple Girl, thinks to herself that the doctors and nurse hide it well, but knows that their words cannot hide their revulsion and their fear…’Of us’. Mutant! Paranormal! Freak! they come pre-tagged and judged - always a race apart. Kara thinks that sometimes she just wants to cry out ‘We are just like you! If you cut us, we bleed. If you strike us…we feel pain’. And that is what Kara is feeling at this very moment, watching her former boyfriend fighting for his life…if he is even alive at all.
Back at Department H, Judd is trying to get access into a secret computer file, but isn’t having a lot of luck. Northstar exclaims that he doesn’t understand why everyone is so upset, for he just needed a breather, some fresh air - how was he to know that there would be an emergency? Judd tells the handsome Alphan to go and gripe elsewhere, while thinking to himself that the Beta Flight situation has distracted everyone from the matter at hand, but he suspects not Weapon Omega, and certainly not him. He thinks that there has gotta be something somewhere that explains who this Wyre is and what his connection is to Weapon Omega. ‘And I am going to find it!’ but once again, the computer screen flashes Access Denied at him.
Elsewhere in Department H, Kyle realizes that he was prepared to die rather than to face himself. ‘Some hero you turned out to be. Some champion of the Canadian people’ he tells himself, thinking that it was a nice dream while it lasted, but it is time to face it - if you cannot fight your own demons, what right do you have to challenge those of other people? He wonders who he is - was he born this way? ‘Am I even human?’
These are questions which he has never sought the answers, preferring the soft womb of ignorance, the uncaring soul of the beast…or a bullet between the eyes. He decides that that must change if he is ever to be whole, to be his own man…he must first know himself. He decides that it is time to stop running, to start seeking answers - he must know the past of Wild Child, and the only place he can think of to start…is with his old Gamma Flight teammate - Nemesis!
But the mysterious woman known as Nemesis is currently being held captive beneath the streets of Montreal, in a hidden place, chained to the walls of the sewer, prodded with her own sword by a large Albino man in a black cape, who tells her that it is really good to have her back - a touching reunion, one which he intends to stretch out for as long as possible. He informs Nemesis that he doesn’t want her dead, in agony, yes, but not dead - not until their gathering is complete…’Not until we are joined…by your little Wild Child!’
Darkness has spread over Toronto, and standing on the grounds of Department H, staring up at the mighty building, a man thinks to himself that Wild Child and Wyre are names the conjure restless ghosts from his own past…strands of history that pull together, a reckoning long overdue approaches. ‘Wild Child, Wyre…and me - Weapon X!’


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Extreme Prejudice, part 2
Bethune Memorial Hospital, Toronto, where the mood is no less than ugly. Heather Hudson a.k.a. Guardian and Colin Hume a.k.a. Windshear, two of Alpha Flight, Canada’s premiere super hero team, exit the hospital, followed by a gurney on which lays the wounded Betan Whitman Knapp a.k.a. Manikin, and is pushed by Alpha Flight’s own Doctor Walter Langkowski, better known as Sasquatch. ‘Are you ready for this?’ asks Colin. ‘Like I’m ready for haemorrhoids’ Heather replies. ‘That’s the spirit!’
Reporters and camera operators suddenly swarm around the Alphans - ‘Guardian, over here!’ ‘It is true?’ ‘Can we expect?’ ‘Some Statement?’ Heather smiles and turns to Windshear, who sighs and mutters that this is what he is paid for. ‘Ladies and gentlemen of the press’ he says, beginning his speech, in which he informs the reports and journalists that they will be making a full statement in due course, but that right now they have a very sick teammate who needs urgent medical attention.
But the reporters begin shouting out their questions and comments anyway - ‘Is it AIDS?’ ‘Risk of contamination?’ ‘Why was he placed in a normal hospital? ‘Who is it?’ ‘Northstar?’ One reports grabs Guardian and exclaims that Alpha Flight is supposed to be serving the people of Canada - and the people of Canada want to know if there is a threat to their well-being. ‘No comment’ Heather declares. The reporter doesn’t give up though, and asks if there is a disease killing paranormals and if it is communicable.
Annoyed, Heather raises her voice and repeats ‘No comment!’ The reporter is mad and is about to say something else when the handsome Walter Langkowski remarks that the reporter obviously doesn’t hear too good, and transforming into Sasquatch, he roars ‘NO COMMENT!’ into the reporters ear.
Shortly, inside the ambulance, Heather exclaims ‘Nice one, Langkowski, that’s what I love about this team…its members give such good P.R.’ Windshear informs Heather that they have to organise a press conference straight away, and since she is their leader, he believes she should be there, adding that as of late there has been a growing feeling, which was probably created by the press in the first place, that Alpha Flight has grown apart from the citizens it is supposed to be protecting.
Windshear explains that they have to demystify themselves and nip this “super-disease” story in the bud before it alienates them all. ‘Great’ mutters Heather, annoyed that she is going to be stuck in a press conference while Manikin is probably dying, and Weapon Omega is reverting back to his old savage self - Wild Child.
Meanwhile, in Old Montreal, Weapon Omega walks along the darkened streets, remarking that this is where it begins - the search for a past he never wanted to know…until now. He thinks that it is strange, for as Wild Child, he couldn’t have cared less about who he was and where he came from, but as Weapon Omega, he plainly didn’t want to know - perhaps because he was afraid of what he would find.
But Kyle knows that stuck in this limbo between one and the other, in control but ever likely to slip back into his more unrestrained persona, he desperately needs answers. However, he believes that treading the fine line between man and animal is what is making him feel truly alive, a whole person. He realizes that he has always been a “created” person - either the crazed Wild Child, or the government approved Weapon Omega, pumped full of drugs. Kyle realizes that he doesn’t even know what drugs have been pumped through his body, but it is that drug that has pronounced him fit and safe for active service.
Weapon Omega decides that Kyle may not even be his real name, or just one that some faceless person decided to tag him with. He exclaims that he must find his identity - before someone else creates another one for him. He thinks of Nemesis, his old Gamma Flight teammate and the nearest thing he ever had to a friend. He recalls that she pretty much said once that she knew she could help him, that all he had to do was ask…’Well, I’m here, Nemesis…and I’m asking!’
After walking down a dirty alleyway, Kyle comes to a door, and enters it, taking off his jacket, he decides that there is no sense in taking chances, for friend or not, Nemesis has always valued and protected her privacy venomously. Therefore, she may view this as an unwarranted intrusion, and respond with force. Kyle appears to be in some sort of run down basement, with a mattress on the floor, but he decides that it is as much like he remembers it, for Nemesis only brought him here once, to mete out punishment to a fat slug of a man who had been looking to take Nemesis’ place as leader of the Children of the Night.
Walking through a large hole in the brick wall, sight suddenly fails Weapon Omega, the darkness envelops him, but instinctively, he taps older senses, ones little used outside of the animal kingdom, and immediately, he knows tow things…one: he is not alone. And two: the beast has been roused!
Back in the alleyway, someone has been following Weapon Omega. He thinks to himself that central office wants the impossible, that they want him stopped, which is fine - Wild Child, Omega - whatever he is calling himself, it is just a meal ticket. But he has to watch and follow, though sooner or later - like right now - he runs the risk of having to get up close and personal - which is what central office doesn’t want. It doesn’t want Department H to know that there is a Department K. ‘Letters! Meaningless ciphers for the desk jobs to get their hots over!’ He thinks that the way he sees it, this is an extreme situation, which calls for extreme sanction!
Meanwhile, at the “H” of the aforementioned Departments, where the long serving Alphan Eugene Milton Judd a.k.a. Puck is seeking answers. Stubbing out another cigar, he asks the computer, if after a whole night spent together, he could get something more meaningful than “Access Denied”. He mutters that there is nothing - no links, no clues that might be able to explain where Wild Child really came from - or why a guy called Wyre is suddenly trying to kill him.
Judd sips a cup of coffee and tells himself that he shouldn’t be so surprised, and thinks that this has “military” stamped all over it, and he knows just too well how tight-lipped they can be - especially if the subject is a highly volatile one that may just blow up in their faces. Judd thinks that he could General Clarke, but decides that compared to Clarke, the machine would seem positively eloquent, and decides that he needs another investigative plan - something of their own, and taps into the personal diary of James MacDonald Hudson and searches for subject matter “Wild Child“.
The search results bring up an entry from long ago, where Mac expressed his concern over the induction into the program (in his absence) of subject Wild Child, and the judgement in this matter…of Walter Langkowski! A wide-eyed Judd knows that he has discovered something very important now.
Back in Old Montreal, Weapon Omega leaps out of the way of his assailants, he knows they are good, fast and skilled in the ways of death - their eyes accustomed to the perpetual darkness. But he is better, he could keep this battle up for hours, take all they can give and return it - with interest. He knows that he could lose himself in this fight…but that isn’t why he came here. He came to find himself, and suddenly stops the battle.
Weapon Omega informs all of the children that have been attacking him that he will not fight them anymore and that he came here to talk to their leader, Nemesis. But the only response he gets is a low, subhuman growl that builds in intensity - an animal challenge. The beast within him rises to it - but the man checks it - and in doing so, dampens the enhanced senses which otherwise may have saved him, for someone comes up behind Weapon Omega and smacks him in the back of the head. ‘Now my children…take him down!’ the large man exclaims.
Back at Department H, in the laboratory of Doctor Walter Langkowski, Manikin lies encased in some sort of cocoon, while Walt continues his report, stating that the strange cocoon which has formed around Knapp is some sort of self-generating organic matter - and whatever is happening in there is anyone’s guess. Walt’s scans are inconclusive, sensors are registering multiples of just about everything - heartbeat, blood pressure and tissue matter - and neural activity is off the scale! Examining the scans, Walt thinks that by all rights, the poison in the Jackal’s claws should have killed Knapp outright - so he can only assume that the multi-persona aspect to his mutant physiology changes that - but he cannot be sure of this, or anything else, without removing him from the cocoon…and that might kill him.
Kara Kilgrave stands behind a window and looks in at her former boyfriend, wrapped in the cocoon. ‘Oh, God,’ she thinks to herself. ‘Please, Whit - please don’t die! Don’t…leave me!’
Elsewhere in Department H, Witchfire is in some sort of trance. She feels Persuasion’s grief cutting through her commune like a stiletto blade to the heart. She finds it strange that no one blames her, not even Kara, and believes that they should, for she was the one in charge and gave the order that sent Manikin to his doom, even though she knew that beyond his ability to summon past and future oh himself he was powerless and vulnerable. Witchfire admits that now she would give anything to save him…even if it would cost her immortal soul. And in a place far removed from what we understand as reality, cold laughter greets Witchfire’s thoughts….
Back in the sewer system beneath Montreal, Weapon Omega is chained in the dirty water, when Nemesis finally manages to wake him by calling to him. Kyle is surprised to see Nemesis chained up before him but before he can say much, Nemesis tells him to shush, and informs him that be coming here and allowing himself to be taken, he has surely doomed her. Kyle mutters that he doesn’t understand, when a large Albino man steps into view, ‘Then let me explain,’ he grins.
Scars line the man’s face and chest, and he reveals that it is revenge that is being dealt here - on both Nemesis and Weapon Omega - for these scars which cover his body. Addressing Kyle as Wild Child, he asks him if he doesn’t remember, though there was little in the ways of formal introduction when the last met, but he thought Kyle would recognize his own handiwork. Kyle doesn’t respond, so the large man shouts ‘Well?’ ‘I - no. Yes’ replies Kyle, to which the large man smashes him across the face and declaring that he would hate for him to die…not remembering Rok!
Kyle, still bound by the chains, claims that he remembers and declares that he is sorry - sorry that he didn’t do a better job of tearing Rok’s fat face off. ‘Animal!’ shouts Rok as he lunges at Kyle, and smashes him backwards. Rok looms over Kyle, claiming that he left him choking in his own blood, face torn by claws, teeth smashed to a pulp. Apparently, it was a “lesson”. Rok claims that he learned well, because the next time Wild Child went off, he didn’t hesitate and made the children his own - and now they have prospered and grown under his leadership. ‘Prospered?’ exclaims the disgusted Nemesis before she declares that the children were warriors fighting a divine war, but that now Rok has turned them into assassins for higher.
Weapon Omega realizes that once more, he is a pawn in someone else’s game - a bit-part player following his few lines - he doesn’t exist to them beyond a means to an end. ‘No more!’ He decides that Nemesis, Rok and the whole world must see that he is not Wild Child, not Weapon Omega…but just himself - and he will not be beaten, chained or ignored.
Rok places one of his super strong hands on Nemesis’ neck as she tells him that he has emptied the children’s lives - but Rok interrupts, exclaiming that he didn’t bring Nemesis here to debate…’I brought you here to die!’ Rok motions to Weapon Omega and tells Nemesis now that her pet is here he can begin. Rok has in his possession Nemesis’ sword of justice, and grabbing Kyle by the hair with the sword ready to strike his neck he shouts ‘Let justice be done!’
But suddenly, ‘Master - look ouwww!’ cries one of the children as he is hurled at Rok, causing him to stumble off balance. Standing nearby with several children hanging off of him is Garrison Kane - a.k.a. Weapon X! ‘Focus. Channel it. Make the will iron. Make the body diamond. Get into the groove!’ he thinks to himself, before apologizing to Rok for crashing his party, and warning him that if he wants Weapon Omega dead, then he is going to have to deal with him.
Back at Department H, where Guardian and Windshear are just returning following the press conference. Heather remarks that she would rather go ten rounds with the Master of the World than go through that again, adding that she can imagine more user-friendly lynchings. Heather points out that what is worse is that they don’t know whether they made any difference to tomorrow’s headlines. Colin says that they will see tomorrow, before motioning to Judd, Walt, Northstar and Aurora and exclaiming that he doesn’t remember organizing a welcoming committee.
Heather asks Judd what is going on, to which the diminutive Alphan explains that they have to move fast, for the Weapon Omega situation is far more serious than they realized. Heather asks Judd what he has discovered, to which Judd turns to a solemn Walt, and suggests that he explain to Heather what is going on.
At that moment, under the streets of Montreal, Weapon X pounds Rok in the face, as Rok claims that he doesn’t know who he is, but one thing is for sure - Weapon X has interfered in matters that do not concern him. Kane thinks to himself that Rok is wrong, and that job aside, this concerns him all the way down the line.
Kyle watches the battle between Kane and Rok, the beast is within him - it is anger, fury and power - but this time, it will work for him! With a mighty roar, Kyle pulls up the blocks that holds his chains to the concrete, while Kane disengages his left arm and aims it at Rok, while thinking to himself that Cable in so many ways shaped the man that he is today…’Yeah, right, pardon me if I don’t think him too much!’
Kane tells himself that there is so much pain, so much hurt - and he can still see the image of Wyre in the wreckage - crying like a baby - tears streaking the blood on his face and hands. Then all Wyre said was “Enough”. That is why Kane is really here - to say it to Wyre - “Enough” - before he hurts others the way Cable hurt him. Kane’s left hand returns to him while he punches Rok in the gut with his right arm.
‘That hurt!’ shouts Rok, grabbing Nemesis’ sword and running towards Weapon X, boasting that he will cut him in two and feed him his own liver. Kane thinks to himself that Rok might just be able to - for Nemesis’ sword can cut through anything - including him. He regrets reminiscing - because it left him vulnerable - except that a large block attached to a chain smacks Rok in the back of the head.
The fat man falls face down into the dirty water. Holding the block by the chain, Kyle declares that perhaps now he will be able to get some answers, and reminds Kane that “Weapon X” was Logan’s codename before he became known as Wolverine. ‘You Canadian government? His replacement?’ Kane doesn’t offer an answer, and realizing he isn’t going to get an answer, Kyle remarks that he is tired of this - tired of not knowing why certain people seem intent on keeping him alive, while others want him dead.
Kyle turns to the still-chained Nemesis, hoping that if Kane won’t tell him, perhaps she will. Cuts from her own sword covering her body, Nemesis doesn’t say anything either, but Kane informs Weapon Omega that there is more to it at stake than he realizes. Suddenly, a laser beam targets Weapon Omega’s head - and Wyre comes into view. ‘Bang! You’re dead!’ he exclaims.


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

[Assistant]
Extreme Prejudice, part 3
Beneath the streets of Montreal, the mysterious assassin known only as Wyre stands over the unmoving body of the Alpha Flight member known as Weapon Omega, a.k.a. Kyle and formerly Wild Child. Wyre declares that Wild Child was the best - the realization of someone’s sick and twisted dreams. ‘I looked at you, Wild Child…and I saw myself’. Wyre wonders how he could not, for in essence, Wild Child was his son.
Wyre recalls that his employers were pleased - he could almost see the predatory smiles broaden behind their cowls - for he had given them exactly what they wanted - killers without conscience. But Wyre knew even before then, before “it” happened, that he had helped create abominations, erred against God.
He reveals that one by one, he sought to undo what he had done and wash the blood from his hands. He tracked them down, all the breed - the wild things - all the children of Wyre, one by one - and now he thinks - it ends, here, beneath the streets of Montreal. ‘It ends…with the death of Wild Child!’
The bulky man wonders if now he will be able to shut his eyes and not see the blood - the broken, twisted limbs. Perhaps now the screaming will stop.
Suddenly, Weapon Omega sits up - ‘Shot. I was…dead?’ Staring up at Wyre, Kyle asks what happened, to which Wyre explains that it was a mercy bullet - but that the next one isn’t going to be. Angrily, Weapon Omega asks him why he bothers, for if he wanted him dead so much, why use tranquillizer darts…’Unless this is the way you get your kicks!’ Kyle accuses.
‘NO!’ shouts Wyre as he claims that each death - each creature he consigns to oblivion cuts a piece from his heart, adding that he seeks only to end Wild Child’s torment, to free him of the madness that must ultimately consume him and others.
Slightly groggy, Kyle thinks to himself that he needs more time, for he doesn’t quite have Wolverine’s healing factor, but he can feel some strength coming back to him, and decides that he has to keep Wyre talking about himself - and about him.
Nearby, Garrison Kane, a.k.a. Weapon X, emerges from a pile of rubble deep underground, and curses himself an amateur, he recalls the moments that passed shortly before - where he stood in awe like the rookie he once was, while the man he is supposed to be tracking - Wyre - puts a bullet through Weapon Omega, and then blasts the ceiling, bringing the tunnel down on him. He tells himself that he should have known - that he should have anticipated, but was so busy trying to keep Omega alive, to stop the fanatical Wyre from beheading him….
‘No. That’s not I,t’ Kane admits, realizing as he walks along the chamber that it was seeing Wyre in the flesh that made him hesitate. Kane recalls that he first saw an image of Wyre twelve years ago, but suddenly it felt like yesterday. So many times had he stared at that frozen image on the Department’s video log - the blood, the torn bodies - that look, its soul stripped to its core - agony / hate / self-loathing / anger…and purpose.
Kane doesn’t see the Ebon blade lying in the water as he walks past it, while he tells himself that it is a false war Wyre is fighting, he knows because he has seen it before - destructive obsession cloaked in noble purpose. He decides that Wyre can destroy himself if he must, but he isn’t going to allow him to take others down - not this time. And since Wyre went to the trouble of grabbing Weapon Omega rather than simply burying him, he supposes that it isn’t too late to stop him! Several feet away from the sword now, Kane doesn’t notice someone picking it up out of the water.
Meanwhile, not quite nearby - but getting there - a chopper flies towards Montreal, inside it sit the current members of Alpha Flight - Canada’s premiere super heroes. Right now, Heather McNeil Hudson a.k.a. Guardian, Alpha Flight’s leader, is very angry. With a stern look in her eyes, Heather tells her teammate Doctor Walter Langkowski a.k.a. Sasquatch to tell her that Mac wasn’t wrong to trust him, that he hasn’t made a mockery of all Mac stood for, lived for - and died for.
Heather asks Walt to tell her that he didn’t bury the psych reports on Wild Child - reports that without a doubt would have meant he’d never have been admitted into Department H in a million years. ‘At least tell me why, given our current situation, you didn’t think it prudent to say the least…to share some knowledge with us now!?’ Sitting in his little-worn team uniform, Walt hangs his head as he replies he isn’t proud of what he did, but points out it was way back then, and a decision made, and many times since regretted. He claims that he didn’t see how raking up the past could help, as Weapon Omega is sane, cured - no longer Wild Child.
Eugene “Puck” Judd tells Walt that he is wrong, and remarks that Weapon Omega is becoming progressively unstable, more like his old self. He suggests that whatever Walt’s reasons for originally suppressing the data…now is the time to tell all! Walt begins to protests once more, until Heather throws her arms up in the air in fury, so Walt mutters, before explaining that when doing the psych test on Wild Child many years ago he found two distinct personalities, a veneer of modern “civilization” covering something much more ancient. He explains that someone had tampered with Kyle’s brain system, tapping his storehouse of mankind’s earliest instincts and memories…from when mankind was little more than wild animals.
‘So basically, if he reverts to form…we can start counting the bodies?’ asks Heather, annoyed. Walt tells Heather that he was giving Kyle a chance the same way that she and Mac gave Logan a chance, when suddenly, Colin “Windshear” Hume who is piloting the chopper announces that he is getting a local police band message, and as it seems, a big hole has just opened up in Old Montreal with bodies sighted. He adds that Omega’s checkout destination was the Old town.
Colin reminds his teammates of the way the press felt about Alpha Flight after the melee over Manikin at the hospital and points out that if there is another incident, then the media will crucify Alpha. Heather mutters that she isn’t sure she’d blame them, before ordering Hume to punch in the location.
Back beneath Old Montreal, Wyre reveals that he destroyed everything - equipment, project notes and entire bases - but it wasn’t enough, for the taint ran too deep to be purged by flame alone. ‘Blood had been spilled. Angry gods demanded a trade: corpse for corpse - do you see, Wild Child?’ he asks, ‘Do you see why you must die?’ Kyle grits his teeth as he reminds Wyre, for the last time, that he is not Wild Child.
Kyle moves forward with his foot coming into contact with Wyre, kicking him hard, before punching him in the nose, two textbook strategies. But what follows however, is pure animal - but leaping towards Wyre, Kyle discovers too late that it is what Wyre wanted, for the muscular man turns swiftly and grabs Weapon Omega’s throat - then holds him high over his own body.
Elsewhere, newspapers with headlines like Who Protects Us?; Suspect; Super Disease; Alpha Flight Contagion Threat are spread over a large table, of which several men sit around. ‘Gentlemen…opinions’ asks the Canadian Prime Minister. An overweight man remarks that it is what Bill Hagon has been waiting for, and suspects that they can expect Hagon to push for an emergency reading of his new bill. He adds that with public opinion now firmly behind Hagon, it is going to be hard to resist - and retain any credibility with voters.
A handsome blond man exclaims that it isn’t acceptable, for what Hagon proposes is a little short of a police state. ‘We give the bill its hearing, make the right noises and then stall, lose it in red tape’ he suggests. Another man declares that he doesn’t think it will work, for though Hagon is ostensibly a progressive conservative, he has the support of some of the more radical parties, so right now, he is good copy - if they don’t back him then the media will make a celebrity out of him…and his cause.
The Prime Minister thanks the man, Larry, before turning to the bald General Clarke for his thoughts. Clarke reports that “Project Omega” is a failure, for both man and the situation grow more unstable by the day, and if it all hit’s the fan, then it would be advisable, Clarke suggests, to have already initiated some counter-measure. ‘Hagon’s bill may just save our necks’. The Prime Minister thanks everyone, ominously remarking that it appears they have no choice in the matter at all….
Back in Montreal, the six Alphans trudge around beneath the streets, and Windshear reports that they are arriving at the collapsed area, and begins scanning for life signs. Windshear pulls some rubble away from a large Albino man who is more-or-less muttering ‘Wild Child I will kill you’, though he is rather incomprehensible. Windshear turns to Jean-Paul “Northstar” Beaubier and remarks that although he is not fluent in gibberish, he thinks he is talking about Weapon Omega.
‘Please, Hume - as I would not presume to tell you how to balance a budget or compile a press release, do not attempt to tell me my job’ snaps Northstar, before adding that if Omega is down here, then he will find him. With that, the super fast mutant speeds down the tunnel. Aurora asks Hume to forgive her brother, exclaiming that if rudeness were ever considered an art form, then Jean-Paul would be a maestro. Hume tells Aurora to forget it, ‘My hides so tough sometimes I consider ditching the armor altogether’. Suddenly, Judd swings around, informing everyone that they have got company.
Elsewhere in the underground maze, Weapon X has discovered Wyre and Weapon Omega - and recalls that reason was tried on Wyre - people tried to make him see what he had been. The hate, the guilt - he had just become a husk . When they came to him for help, he was ready - he had been ready for years. ‘Forgive me old man…I wish there were another way’. Gun pointed at Wyre who is still strangling Weapon Omega, Kane fires - and misses - for Northstar speeds up to him and moves his arm, changing his direction.
‘What? Something moved my arm?!’ exclaims Kane. ‘Not something, mon ami - someone!’ Northstar drops Kane in the water then speeds back around, ‘If you know anything of me at all, you will no doubt wish to surrender’. Jean-Paul suggests to Kane, who points one of his fingers, fitted with special devices, and reveals that for starters, he knows that for all of Jean-Paul’s skill and speed - he isn’t insulated.
Northstar falls over into the water with a mighty splash, as Kane claims to know all about Northstar - including one or two things that he is sure Jean-Paul would rather never came to light. Kane then turns back to Wyre and Weapon Omega, only to see that this time, Weapon Omega has the upper hand, and smacks Wyre hard in the face with a powerful kick.
Suddenly, Nemesis slams into Kane, kicking him in the back. ‘There is a reckoning to be had here…for both men!’ she exclaims, telling Kane that Weapon Omega and Wyre must find death or peace and not at his hands. Kane blasts Nemesis who dodges him with ease. ‘Concern for an ex-colleague? That’s a first’ he remarks, about to remind Nemesis of a so-called teammate she once let - he doesn’t get to say anymore, for Nemesis shouts ‘Silence!’ and continuing to dodge his blasts, she remarks that a circle many years in the making closes, before claiming that she is fates angel, and that she will see its will done - even if it means killing all those who interfere.
Nearby, Alpha Flight are engaged in battle with the Children of the Night. ‘Kids! They’ve got us fighting kids now!’ mutters Sasquatch, to which Windshear jokes that they may be kids - but they aren’t exactly ones he would care to bounce on his knee. Puck remarks that there is no shortage of them, and notices Aurora standing on a ledge, not helping in the battle. He asks her if she would care to lend a hand, to which the sultry French-Canadian reveals that she is Jeanne-Marie, before pointing out that by the way the children stay away from her, she believes that all they need to do is shed a little light on the situation.
With that, Jeanne-Marie unleashes dazzling and blinding lights into the darkened tunnels, causing all of the children to stand in a daze. ‘Oooh, nice one…I think’ mumbles Judd as he tries to get rid of the effect Jeanne-Marie’s power had on him. Jeanne-Marie continues to shine a beam of light on the children, commenting that it appears the poor things have lived their whole lives down here in the dark. Walt remarks that he is beginning to feel that way himself. He urges everyone to find Omega, so they can get the hell out of here.
Nearby, Omega blocks Wyre’s punch, thinking that this is wrong - for the anger, fury and savage freedom, all the things Wyre associates with Wild Child - are at the forefront, and yet - he is in complete control, planning, executing, thinking - like a man! Omega flips Wyre over into the water and holds him under, declaring that he won’t fight him, at least not when he is perceived as a wild animal - a savage uncontrollable beast. He remarks that each time it happens, the beast is roused and it just makes him fight harder to bring back the man.
‘NO!’ shouts Wyre as he leaps out of the water, his tendrils attaching to Weapon Omega as he declares that Kyle is an animal, there is no humanity in him. ‘It was taken away by them…but me!’ he reveals. Omega understands now why Wyre doubted after all the killing and bloodshed - which is why he didn’t kill him when he first had the chance. Kyle realizes that Wyre had to be sure the beast could not be tamed - that the animal would always be dominant because if he was wrong….
Kyle remarks that he always assumed that he was a beast altered to think like a man - but now he knows he was a man made to think and act like an animal. Wyre replies ‘Yes’ and reveals that he watched as Kyle was taken many years ago, he watched as Kyle and others like him, anonymous and faceless people from the streets. He watched as his own genetically altered DNA was used to turn them into monsters - their innocence taken and corrupted. ‘Watched…and did nothing. God help me…I did nothing!’
Watching from across the tunnel, Nemesis announces that the circle is almost closed and tells Kane that he may do what he must, before asking him whether he is a soldier following orders or a man whose cause has become a vendetta. Nemesis uses her sword to pick Kane’s weapon out of the water, and hands it to him. Alpha Flight arrive on scene, and Guardian is shocked to see Nemesis. Nemesis tells Kane to go, so he does, as Jeanne-Marie tends to her brother, Heather asks her former antagonist what is going on, and who that man is that is leaving. Nemesis tells Heather to shush - to ask no questions, to simply observe, and everyone turns their attention to where Weapon Omega and Wyre are kneeled before each other across the tunnel.
Weapon Omega tells Wyre that he must let go of the anger and the rage that he knows only too well - for the path leads only to self-destruction. Wyre replies that it is difficult, for he sought to wash the blood from his hands with more blood - so much suffering, so much pain, ‘How can I ever forgive myself?’ he asks. Kyle tells him that there si blood on both their hands, and admits that he also wonders if he shall ever forgive himself for the pain and suffering he has caused.
He explains that as part of Alpha Flight, he tries to balance the scale, and tells Wyre that there is hope for him, for both of them. ‘You helped take my humanity, tried to kill me…but I forgive you!’ Kyle asks if in the end, isn’t that what separates the man from the beast? With that, Wyre begins to cry.