Issue Date: November 2009

Story Title: Homeschooling part four - Advanced History

Staff: Kathryn Immonen (writer), Sara Pichelli (artist), Christina Strain (colorist), Virtual Calligraphy’s Joe Caramagna (letterer), David Lafuente and Christina Strain (cover), Daniel Ketchum (associate editor), Nick Lowe (editor), Joe Quesada (editor in chief), Dan Buckley (publisher), Alan Fine (executive producer)

Runaways created by Vaughan & Alphona

Brief Description:
As Vic fits the old Leapfrog's heart into the new machine, Nico and Chase have a chat on the roof. Chase is feeling a little out of sorts and doesn't want to hang about. He takes off for Los Angeles, to get food, though Nico doesn't believe that he'll return anytime soon. Hunter Stein has emerged after his trip through the interdimensional box, a little worse for wear. He cleans himself up and informs his secretary, Violet, that he wants to find the kids in order to try help them. She finally gets hold of their number and Vic answers the phone. Hunter asks them to meet with him, but Nico for one is reluctant to go without Chase. Karolina points out that if Chase does go it'll just turn into a big fight. They decide to head to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Chase finds himself in Chinatown, and as he walks through a crowded street, he bumps into a girl. He looks at her and finds that she's the spitting image of Gertrude Yorkes. She gives him a little attitude and walks off with her earphones plugged in. Chase follows her but cannot keep up. When he finally gets her to hear his shouts, she turns, only to see him step out into the road. A van driver sees Chase too late and he hits him hard. He is taken to the hospital where he looks in a real bad way. Meanwhile, the others meet with Hunter who offers them cash and accomodation for as long as they like. Nico doesn't like the fact that they'll owe him a favor and declines his offer, much to Klara's disappointment. They head off to where they came from, not knowing that Chase won't be joining them anytime soon.

Full Synopsis:
They find themselves missing the weirdest things. They like English classes and really miss English. Of all the things their parents took away from them, King Lear is top of the list right now. Betrayal, eye-gouging, depressing but perfect in every way. They took that play away and replaced it with actual drama. Mostly, though, they loved Cordelia. The way that she refused to bend for anybody. She wouldn't lie just to make her father happy. "Mend your speech a little, lest it mar your fortunes," he said. But, they were wrong. Cordelia was a bitch. "I cannot heave my heart into my mouth," she said. Of course she can. Lear was a dying old man and all she could think about was the cost to her. She had her father actually telling her what he really needed to hear. How often does that happen? How often do the people you love make it that easy for you? Like, never...

As smoke drifts gently from the ruins of the runaways' Malibu house, all is quiet. Klara and Molly take a nap as Karolina fiddles with their hair. Victor sorts out the Leapfrog, installing the old Frog's heart into the new machine. Chase and Nico sit on the Frog's roof. Nico knows that the girls are going to wake up soon and they'll be hungry. Chase asks what she's gonna do about it. He's relying on Nico to make all the decisions; a fact that Nico disagrees with. She guesses that sending his uncle to some unknown alternate dimension has really taken it out of him. Chase is quite taciturn, so Nico tells him that she knows losing Old Lace is terrible. She was Chase's last connection to Gert, but they're all hurting. It's not just him. She wonders if they could return to the house to see if there's anything they could salvage. Chase replies that it's burnt to the ground. It's probably under investigation. He's never going back there and neither is she. "You can't just leave your feelings behind," she replies. Chase is being deliberately awkward, and he tells her that since she knows all about it, he'll leave whatever he's feeling with her. She can call him when she's sorted it out. In the meantime, he'll go.

Nico is surprised and says he can't. Chase adds, "For groceries. I'll go for groceries." He removes his shirt and stands up. Nico asks him how he plans to get anywhere. They can't just take the Frog to a drive-thru. Chase tells her that he never seems to have a problem getting a ride. It's weird, he reckons. He asks Nico to stay behind and look after everybody. He'll be back soon. "How soon?" she replies as he leaps from the Frog to the water below. He replies that he'll be back soon, but Nico doesn't believe him.

(Los Angeles Track Integrated executive washroom)
Hunter Stein hurls into the basin and looks at his reflection. "Tough night, boss?" asks his secretary, Violet. She tells him he looks awful. Should she be worried? Hunter says he could blame it on a couple of Norwegian twins and their highly individual needs, but it was more like ten hours in a Chuck E. Cheese in West Covina. Not including the walking back. Violet tells him that scheduling says he's been through decontamination. Does he want to tell her what for? Hunter replies that he tripped and fell into an interdimensional box. He's lucky he didn't end up in Miami... or traction. "Who tripped you?" she asks. Hunter explains that it was his nephew. He thinks Chase is confused.

Violet informs him that the Malibu house has been burned to the ground. She thinks they should be concerned. Hunter thinks not. Deering's smuggling on the government's dime and must have known the kids had gone. He's not a murderer, though sometimes it's hard to tell with those helmet-heads. He tells her that they need to find them, but Violet wonders why. Unless he's going to offer them something tangible, she thinks he should leave them alone. Hunter slumps to the desk, still feeling seasick. He says he can't, not anymore. Could she just do it please?

Violet asks if he has any idea how to find them. Hunter hasn't a clue. Violet reckons she'll figure it out on her own then. She advises Hunter to have a shower. He smells like shoe polish. Hunter then asks her to wait. He has an idea. He asks if she can get him the last block of cell numbers his brother ever secured. Violet asks if he really thinks it's going to be as easy as "310-Hi-Chase?" Chase says she's right, so she should get him the 1-900 numbers too.

Back in the middle of nowhere, Karolina joins Victor who has just finished replacing the Frog's heart. He hopes it won't end up with some personality disorder and start barking. He saw a show once where this guy didn't own his own leg. He hated it, and froze it off with liquid nitrogen. Weird! He tosses the old heart into the water but Karolina tells him he can't do that. Vic asks why not. He's for peace, not the environment. You can't do it all. Nico appears and asks him to watch where he throws things. She asks him to make like a suicide toaster and dive in to retrieve his garbage. Vic replies that he's a cyborg, not a kitchen appliance. He does bathe.

Karolina asks where Chase is. Before Nico can respond, Molly tells them that Klara is gonna hurl. She's seasick. Nico guesses they've been there long enough. They should get the Frog into dry dock. She asks Molly to get Klara a bag and some fresh air. Molly asks if they have any dramaquine. "Dramamine, no," replies Nico. Karolina once again asks where Chase is. Nico replies that he went for a swim. "Really?" asks Karolina. Molly reckons that if Chase isn't there they can't move an inch. He won't be able to find them again, and then he'll get eaten by sharks. She always wanted to punch a shark. She bets it works. Nico looks at Karolina. "Yes, really," so as not to alarm the girls. Karolina understands.

Vic hears a phone ring and answers it. "Victor's Olde Tyme Ukelele and Handgun Emporium. How can I help you?" he grins. Hunter thinks he's got the wrong number, but Vic recognizes his voice and says it's him. Hunter tells him it's nice to hear his voice and asks if everyone's safe. Sure, replies Vic. Hunter informs him that he's going to send him his location. He'd really like it if they'd consider coming to talk to him. He has something he'd like to get off his chest, and an offer that might make things easier for them. Nico, listening in, flatly says no, and Vic replies to hunter that he's not sure that's going to be possible. Hunter tells him he knows where he is, and he'll be there all day and night.

The call ends and Nico says no way. They aren't going to see Chase's uncle without Chase. It's not right. Vic disagrees and thinks they absolutely should go without Chase. Karolina agrees. She thinks if Chase goes it'll be nothing but a big fight. Nico asks Karolina why she even cares. She's the one who said they didn't need him. And they don't. Karolina smiles and calms her down. She tells Nico she's wrong and once again asks where he is. Nico admits that he went into the city for some grub. She doesn't think he'll be back. She lowers her head in disappointment, before adding, "Anytime soon." She guesses they could go see what Uncle Stein wants. Molly doesn't want to get separated, but Nico assures her that they won't. Chase will find them or they'll find Chase. He won't get away that easily.

(Los Angeles)
Chase finds it weird being by himself - being normal for a couple of hours. When you don't pay attention your feet can take you where they think you want to go. He admits that he doesn't really know what normal is anymore, though he has no idea what's normal about saying you'll get groceries with no money in your pocket. Why the hell is he in Chinatown? He sees a guy with purple hair which reminds him of Gert. She used to love the hot and sour soup at Hop Li. She used to call it, "A little taste of oppression." When you think about it, it's a miracle someone didn't cap her sooner.

As he walks aimlessly through Chinatown, he bumps into a girl and they both end up on their backsides. She tells him he should watch where he loiters. Chase looks at her. She's the spitting image of Gert and he says her name. "Gert, eh," she replies. "Gesundheit." She extends her hand and asks if he's gonna get up. Chase can't speak. This has caught him totally by surprise. She tells him to suit himself and stands up with a word to the wise. "The longer you lie there on the pavement, the less attractive you're gonna get." She turns, plugs her headphones into her ears and heads into the crowd. Chase stands and calls for her to wait, but she's off and can’t hear him.

Chase struggles to get through the busy streets, crashing into people as he tries to keep the girl in his sights. He crashes through a stall, apologizing has he runs. Seeing her disappear around a corner, he calls out for her to please wait and turn around. She hears him, turns and sees him about to step out into the road. She shouts for him to stop, but it's too late for Chase, and he looks around to see a white van screeching towards him at speed. It fails to stop in time, and Chase ends up lying on the road covered in blood.

Meanwhile, flying overhead into central LA are the rest of the runaways. Victor is having a little trouble getting to grips with the new controls and people are starting to feel a little seasick. Vic apologizes, but someone points out that it might be easier if he takes his hand out of his pocket. Karolina loves LA at night. It's so pretty. Vic spots their location and sees Hunter waiting for them. The Leapfrog descends and lands on the rooftop. Nico says she'll do the talking. Victor can keep one hand on the chicken switch. "No can do, fearless leader" Victor smiles, "I need both hands to operate the lasers."

Karolina notices that Nico's lip is bleeding, but Nico already knows. Karolina asks if that's really necessary. Nico replies that the Staff of One refers to a magical object, not the runaways' operational headcount. She'd like it to stay that way. Waiting for them are Hunter and Violet. Hunter asks why Chase isn't with them. Nico replies that it's his day off. What can they do for him? Hunter tells them that it's more like what can he do for them. Nico asks if he knows how when the cops call in the psychic and it makes the old-school cop really angry? They're like that with favors, and for his information, she's the cranky cop.

Hunter tells her that it's simple. He is offering them housing and a big uptick in their standard of living. Whatever they want for, as long as they want. He has money, and when it comes to his nephew, a guilty conscience. "So we'd be doing you a favor?" asks Nico. She doesn't think so. They're not interested in helping out a lonely old man.

Hunter asks her not to turn him down to save Chase's delicate feelings. He'll come around. Nico reckons he's underestimating Chase's ability to get past his personal demons. Hunter informs her that it's an open-ended ticket. He didn't expect her to say yes right away, but he's not going to change his mind about this. Klara runs over to them and pleads with Nico. She says they don't have a house, they don't have Old Lace, they don't have anything. "Please?" Nico tells her that's not true. "We have all of us." They turn to Vic, Molly and Karolina, all looking a little lost.

In Chinatown, an ambulance arrives at the scene and Chase is taken to a nearby hospital's emergency room. The runaways fly away in the Leapfrog, with Molly wondering how big Hunter's house is. "Big," reckons Victor. "As big as the X-Men's house?" asks Molly. Vic doesn't think the place she visited was actually the X-Men's house. Karolina wraps her arm around Nico's shoulder and thinks someone should go after Chase. Nico thinks they should give him a little longer. He knows the pack has to stick together and will come back to them. Karolina says she wasn't speaking metaphorically. They're all feeling a little lost, but she meant they should actually go find him. She assures Nico that he wouldn't leave them... not like this.

At the hospital, Chase lies on a bed being given oxygen by the doctors. His leg is in a splint and his shirt ripped away. It doesn't look good.

Characters:
Klara Prast, Karolina Dean, Molly Hayes, Victor Mancha, Nico Minoru and Chase Stein (all runaways)

Hunter Stein
Violet (Hunter's secretary)

Van Driver
Medics and cops
Onlookers
Gert lookalike

Notes:
This is the last issue of the series. Marvel EIC Joe Quesada has said the title will return after a little 're-tooling.'

When the Gert-a-like is shown in front of an alleyway, there is a drawing of a dinosaur that looks a little like Old Lace behind her.

Again, it isn't clear who is narrating at the beginning of the issue.

King Lear is a play by renowned English playwright William Shakespeare. It was published in the early 1600's.

Hop Li is a seafood restaurant on Alpine Street, Los Angeles.

Molly visited the X-Men in Runaways (3rd series) #10.