Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, upon the group's return from the now captured Sanctum Sanctorum, Caretaker had some choice words, and even more choice looks, for the trio of Doctor Strange, Blade, and Cynder. Needless to say, Cynder and Caretaker didn't end on the best of terms, as Cynder just left and ended up crying herself to sleep. The next morning, Caretaker actually came to her, accompanied by The Hunter's dog, and the two sort of made up. But there's no time for good vibes now, as there's business to tend to at the Forge. So, what awaits? Read on to discover...
(The scene opens up with not much going on, just Cynder walking up to the Forge, only to see Doctor Strange and Iron Man there, working with it, revealing the Forge to just be a giant hole in the wall filled with fire and surrounded by mystic runes.)
Doctor Strange: How is it now?
Iron Man: Think you can tell your buddy in there to turn it up a couple hundred degrees Kelvin?
Doctor Strange: I could, but that would significantly increase the risk of destroying the enchantment that's preventing him from incinerating this facility.
(Apparently, whatever is in the Forge agrees, as evidenced by an increased output of fire)
Iron Man: (Realizing that's not something you want to piss off) That should work fine.
Cynder: This certainly isn't anything like any Forge I've ever worked in.
Iron Man: What creepy gothic castle would be complete without a Babylonian demon powered furnace?
Doctor Strange: Sumerian Fire Demon. He goes by Babs actually.
Iron Man: Why not? Well, once you get past the esoteric horror of this entire situation, I've managed to find this thing has a lot more uses than sculpting swords. Molecular bonding, breaking down harmful gamma serums, fashion accessorizing...
Doctor Strange: (Cutting him off) Yes. Speaking of...
Iron Man: (Seeing what Doctor Strange is pulling from the Forge) Oh good, it's ready.
(And now we see exactly what Doctor Strange and Iron Man have been working on, fixing the armor Cynder was granted after their encounter with Fallen Venom.)
Doctor Strange: The Hunter's armor seemed to offer minimal protection against Venom.
Iron Man: So, we decided we'd do Caretaker a favor, and update it.
Cynder: (Examines the armor) Well forged, well hammered. Take it from a blacksmith's fiancée, this is pretty good for a pair of rookies.
Iron Man: Guess I should start calling myself Iron Smithy then.
Doctor Strange: Why don't you try it on and see how it feels?
(And within a minute or so, Cynder has donned the new Hunter's Armor, the white armor plating working nicely against her ebon scales all the while somehow not clashing with her usual look.)
Doctor Strange: I still think it could have used a cloak.
Iron Man: What is it with you and cloaks?
Cynder: It's a weird fit, but I think I'll get used to it.
Iron Man: Good to know, because there's more in store. Carol's upstairs with news from Bruce.
(And with that, Cynder heads upstairs to see what Captain Marvel is up to, with Iron Man close behind her, and sees a projection of Bruce Banner back in New York City)
Iron Man: So how's this thing working?
Captain Marvel: Transmission's stable so far.
Bruce Banner: The gamma signature is completely inverted, the daughter nuclei are being reabsorbed into the parent nuclei. That's... impossible!
Captain Marvel: Bruce, if the gamma signature around the Sanctum is that unique, couldn't we just...
(But before Captain Marvel can finish that sentence, the transmission is interrupted.)
Iron Man: Must still be a gremlin or two to work out.
Cynder: (Seeing a golden opportunity) Sunlight should help, and probably keep it away from water.
Iron Man: (Realizing exactly what she just did) Hey, leave the film jokes to the professional.
(Getting kind of tired of this, Captain Marvel just kicks the machine, and the transmission stabilizes)
Captain Marvel: As I was saying, we should just be able to track the signature to the source, right? I'd go myself, but it seems we're having a little IT trouble today.
Iron Man: Hey, ol' C.E.N.T.R.A.L. here can cut through that data like a hot knife through butter.
Bruce Banner: Either way, I'm sending the data through now. Hope the gremlins enjoy gamma spectroscopy.
Iron Man: Don't mind Bruce, he's been kind of moody ever since Jolly Green turned chicken.
(At that moment, Caretaker and Blade decide to enter the room)
Caretaker: So Bruce Banner can't turn into the Hulk? Not sure if to be frightened or relieved.
Bruce Banner: That makes two of us.
Iron Man: Look, you've had Hulking out hiccups before, Bruce. What makes this one any different?
Captain Marvel: (Seeing there's a result) Nice work Bruce. (Flips over to a hologram) We've got the location
Blade: I know that place. Creepy abandoned warehouse in the not so nice side of town.
Captain Marvel: Sounds like our kind of place. Who's up to pay them a visit?
Cynder and Blade: I'm in.
Captain Marvel: Would you look at that? Teamwork goosebumps. Then I guess I'm three.
Cynder: So long as you can follow directions. We don't want another Xandar Crisis.
Captain Marvel: I thought we agreed never to talk about that.
Caretaker: You know what? I don't even want to know. Portal's outside when you're ready to go.
(And with that, Caretaker leaves the room, followed immediately by Cynder, Blade, and Captain Marvel as our scene ends for today)
And that looks like a good place to wrap up for now. So, another mission awaits, and it looks like Cynder and Captain Marvel have some unresolved issues. What the heck happened in the "Xandar Crisis"? Chances are, we won't find out any time soon. But one thing we will get an answer to, what the heck is going on in that warehouse? Tune in next time to find out that much! Same time... same channel!