Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, once everybody got back from the disaster at the Quentin Carnival, the entire alliance almost fell apart again as Captain America, Magik, and Cynder started confronting Caretaker about the secrets she's been keeping, i.e. Johnny Blaze having been the guardian of the Parchment of Power all this time. Iron Man could understand the reasoning, but everybody else was pissed. So, will things be any better at dawn? Read on to discover...

(The scene opens up with Captain Marvel checking some data when Cynder walks up, eating a breakfast burrito, slinging another one to Captain Marvel, who catches it without looking)

Cynder: Nice reflexes.

Captain Marvel: (Realizing what she's holding) Where did you...?

Cynder: Just came from the kitchen. Magik makes the best breakfast burritos you've ever tasted.

Captain Marvel: (Doubtful) Really?

Cynder: There's very few things I won't lie about, and this is one of them. Apparently the secret ingredient is a dash of sour cream mixed into the eggs before cooking. Keeps everything rich and adds a nice sweetly sour twang to the whole thing.

Captain Marvel: I'll be the judge of that. (Takes a bite of the breakfast burrito, then, with a look of surprise) Damn. That is good.

Cynder: Honestly, one of the few things I miss about this place.

Captain Marvel: Wait, what exactly is your history with this place?

Cynder: To be honest, not much. Spyro really had the worst of it here, probably because that was back when Caretaker still didn't trust us. But me? I tried out for the Midnight Sons. Ultimately lost the spot to Nico.

Captain Marvel: Yet you two seem to get on fine.

Cynder: I was happy for her! Kid was a rookie in the hero business, a chance like this was exactly what she needed! And besides, she was the more competent magic user anyways. I still can't get the stuff down.

Captain Marvel: Huh. Good to know.

(As these two appear to bond for once, Iron Man and Caretaker walk in the room)

Iron Man: Cynder and Carol agreeing on something? Somebody tell Steve he owes me fifty bucks.

Cynder: Just delivering breakfast.

Captain Marvel: Thanks by the way. But before that, I was running a search for our new chum Blaze, when this happened.

(Captain Marvel tries to search again, but a giant error notice comes up, with some weird text explaining it)

Cynder: (Attempting to decipher this thing) Equo ne credite teucri.

Caretaker: Since when did you know Latin?

Cynder: I don't. Anybody have any idea what I just said?

Iron Man: "Do not trust the horse, Trojans." Or something like that.

Cynder: Since when did you know Latin?

Iron Man: It's a long story. (To Captain Marvel) What kind of search were you running? (Hits a button on the console) There we go. It's a message, more like a bad dad joke from beyond the grave.

Captain Marvel: Howard?

Iron Man: His research files at least. Whenever there's any unauthorized access, the trojan horse program kicks in. (Hits a few keystrokes, revealing a location in, yet again, New Mexico) Bingo. There's our little thief right there.

Caretaker: The southwest again? This cannot be a coincidence.

Cynder: Did Howard Stark do this to all his files?

Iron Man: No, just the good stuff. The really juicy ones.

Cynder: I think I see where this is going.

Iron Man: I'll give you two guesses.

Cynder: I only need one. A big, green one.

(Sure enough, Iron Man pulls up the image of the person trying to access the files. It's Bruce Banner alright.)

Cynder: Tony, get your suit. We're heading to New Mexico.

(And as Cynder walks off, finally finishing that breakfast burrito, our scene ends for today)

And that looks like a good spot to end for now. So, it looks like Bruce Banner is after Howard Stark's old files. But... why? What could Iron Man's dad have in his databanks that would help Lilith, Malefor, or both? He was a technology guy, wasn't he? I mean, his son is freaking Iron Man after all, so what would a bunch of magic baddies want with his stuff? Looks like there may be more secrets after all, and this could end up explaining why Tony was so willing to side with Caretaker over everybody else. So, what's going on here? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!