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

[Assistant]
1602 – Part Six: Alarums and Excursions
Stephen Strange crouches on the surface of the Moon. A voice informs him that he cannot help him to his feet but, if he imagines himself standing, then he will be standing. A moment later, Stephen is on his feet. Good, the stranger decides and informs Stephen that they are talking with their minds.
Strange demands to know where he is and who the stranger is. An angel? A demon? The stranger hesitates a moment before deciding that he can answer all three of these questions. He is neither angel nor demon. He is a Watcher and they are on the Moon.
What’s happening? Strange asks. The Watcher muses for a bit and then asks him to rephrase his question to make it more specific and thus answerable.
Well, the Watcher said he owed him an explanation, Strange replies. What is he doing on the moon? What manner of creature is the Watcher? Those were the wrong questions, the Watcher chides him, but he shall answer them. Strange is on the moon because he needed to talk with him. He is a Watcher, one of many Watchers. They observe events across the universe and they do not interfere. And he owes Strange an explanation. In the last month, he has pushed his mind. He has spoken through Strange’s mouth as though he were him.
Was he the one who made him certain that the world was ending? Stange asks as they walk across the moon, with only the Watcher leaving footprints. Is he helping him to save it? The survival of one world or even of one universe would not impel him to action, the Watcher replies. But it is true that this planet now has much less than half a year before the temporal stresses destroy it entirely. He has discussed matters extensively with the other Watchers. Originally, most of them were of the opinion that the para-temporal fault line would initially merely destroy that world. Obviously, it would then expand destructively in all directions at the speed of light, before consuming everything.
After his last report, however, they were forced to reinspect their fundamental principles. They concluded that the destruction of this universe, while still bounded by the speed of light, would occur within an expanding simultaneity which would, pretemporarily, have begun immediately, following the initial nanoseconds of this universe. And it would then expand outward from this universe – they call it 616 – to engulf all the others.
Strange doesn’t understand and asks the Watcher to explain it more simply. Simply? Very well. If Strange’s world dies now, it will take everything with it. Not only this universe, but all the other universes as well, Everything there is, will end. Or rather, to put it even more simply, everything will never have been.
What is making this happen? Strange demands. The Watcher explains his hypothesis. In a little more than four hundred years from now, somebody will build a chronal engine, powered by an unstable simultaneity, which will, on its translocation to this era become a microscopic simultaneity. The forerunner could be seen as an infection, which the universe must create antibodies for, which then destroy the host organism. If the universe can be perceived as an organism. Does he make himself clear?
No, Strange, apologizes, but he doesn’t understand the Watcher’s concepts. To him they are just words. The Watcher attempts to make it more simple. All other methods of time travelling the Watchers have observed until now make use of the various pliable properties of time. They treat time as a river. An event roughly four hundred years from now on the other hand, will simply punch a hole through time, a little more than a dozen years ago, and deposit something in our recent past. It is the arrival of this something which begins the current cycle of destruction.
What manner of something? Strange asks. Almost certainly a human being, the Watcher replies.  The Watchers believe that the damage to the fabric of time began with the arrival of this entity, whatever it is. He doesn’t know? Strange asks. The Watcher admits that he wasn’t watching. He blames himself although his colleagues tell him that his failure was inevitable. Something may have stopped him. Who would stop him watching?
The universe follows certain laws. And like Strange he is a creature of the universe. Some laws he understands. Some he does not. He is young as they reckon things. This is a young solar system and it is the only one he has watched. And here is something else he does not understand:
Everything has its season. In spring, the world brings forth blossoms, in cherry season you get cherries. But a season has dawned over three hundred years early: a season of heroes and marvels. His own conclusion – several of his colleagues laugh at him – is that the two are connected. That the universe fights to save itself. To save everything the heroes have come. The hypothesis his staider colleagues prefer is that the arrival of the entity they refer to as the forerunner is, in itself, the signal to the universe for the seasons of marvels to begin. And that entity’s arrival also created the simultaneity.
Strange asks that he said that he wasn’t permitted to interfere. Yes. But bringing Strange there and telling him all of this obviously is interfering. Why?
The Watcher replies that he has consulted with his fellows. The consensus is that if the totality of all universes came to an end, there would be nothing left for them to watch. And that would be… regrettable. Thus, the smallest amount of interference may be permitted. The simultaneity must be closed. The forerunner must be returned, or destroyed.
And how does he do that? Strange wonders. How does he find this forerunner? Where is this simultaneity he keeps talking about? The Watches decides to show him. He will see what he knows through his eyes. Strange will know everything, but he is still a Watcher. And he is still bound by the codes and oaths of his kind. There is only one injunction he must lay upon him. While he lives, he may say nothing of what he knows to any soul. He may not act in any way upon what he knows. Like him, he is only condemned to watch.
Lying in a back alley, Strange mutters the words… only to watch…
Elsewhere, Angel is taking to the air, musing that their ship is travelling fast, almost too fast. For the folk on the ship, as long as they stay out of the wind they are comfortable more or less, although some say they find it chilly. For him, he is at home there in the sky. And what is one-winged lad when compared to a whole flying ship? He would hazard that they are covering thirty, perhaps even forty miles in every hour, a speed that even he could not keep up for long. And every hour brings them closer to Latveria, and closer to Doom.
He lands, as he muses that now he thinks of the Witchbreed as his people, they are hopeful, but also scared. They go to release prisoners. They go to reclaim stolen weapons. They go to fight a just war. And perhaps they go to their deaths. But if they die, it will be a death of their choosing, a good death, if such a thing can be. They follow rivers and hills, small villages and farms. Sir Nicholas knows Europe like he knows his own face, and he is their navigator. Below them people are horrified to see the flying shot.
Douglan, his man, is loyal to Fury, although like all of them he is scared. They avoid cities and towns where they can. Master Grey says that, while he can keep the ship moving, he doubts that he could raise it again, so they travel without stopping, hour after hour towards the south and towards the east. Some of them have slept below deck but John Grey has not slept and neither has their leader, Carlos Javier, who sits besides the boy and feeds his power with his own.
Walter curiously watches John and Javier. Scotius rudely addresses him, demanding to know where he was. He was flying, Walter replies, to stretch his wings. Getting in his face, Scotius states that he isn’t meant to draw attention to himself. He thinks their flying ship is doing that perfectly well on its own, comes the reply. Scotius snaps at him to just get dressed. He is a disgrace, parading about, near naked like that.
Fury, steps between them, asking Scotius to tell Carlos that they need to get higher. The Austrian Alps are ahead of them. Latveria will be beyond them. With Scotius gone, Walter asks why the other boy hates him. Why? Fury replies. He’s scared and he’s jealous. He thinks she likes Angel, and that troubles him.
She? Walter asks, not understanding. Who is she? Fury looks at him flabbergasted, then changes the subject, stating that he needs to talk to all of them about fighting tactics. They’ll be in Latveria in hours. They know that Doom has cannons and explosives. They do not know what else he may have. Walter is to tell the others to meet Fury in the Captain’s cabin.
What about Master Grey and Master Javier? Angel asks. Fury tells him to leave them be. They are keeping them in the air. He doesn’t know how they do it, be he does not want them distracted. And, he orders him to put his shirt on.
Doomstadt, the deep cells. Benjamin Grimm is trapped inside a cell that barely deserves the name; it’s more like a hole, tall as a man. He can’t sit, only stand. He can’t properly move his arms. It’s been a week since Doom sent down food. But there are only two things he could do now. And one of them is to give up and die. And the other is to push himself as far as he can against the wall on his left and then throw himself, as hard as he can over to the right. He does so. Doom thinks he’s mad. That there’s rock below him and above him and on every side of him. And he is right. And in the years they’ve been imprisoned there, he has done this a thousand times and each time Doom punishes them all. He does it again. But there is a crack. In the rock face, there is a crack that was not there before.
Doomstadt. The high cells. The old man Donal asks agitated what is happening. Matthew tells him to hush, he is listening. He’ll tell him soon. How can he hear? the old man wonders. Again, Matthew tells him to hush and let him listen. Otto’s talking.
In the courtyard, Otto von Doom arrogantly asks the Inquisitor’s messenger Petros why he should believe him. Because he tells the truth, the young man replies. There is a flying ship coming here! It is manned with Witchbreed creatures and demons. They seek to make war on Otto.
There has never been any love lost between Latveria and the Inquisition, Otto reminds him. Did not his own Grand Inquisitor condemn the breeding studies of Otto’s father as heretical? If he did, then think of this as his olive branch, Petros suggests. If this business of flying witchbreed is true, then why has he not heard of it, Otto asks.
Their ship moves too fast, the young man explains. It is outpacing Doom’s fastest messenger.
A messenger pigeon lands on Doom’s arms. He reads the letter, remarking that he has some very fast messengers. And it seems that Petros is telling the truth. Now, he thinks it would be best for all of them if he were to remain here in safety until these pirates are dealt with, eh? He calls upon his guards which immediately try to arrest Petros… only to find him long gone. An interesting trick Doom muses.
One guard informs him that the thing in the dungeon has started again. When the boat creatures are dead they’ll deal with him permanently, Otto decides. Reed will be heartbroken… of course but, still, hearts can be mended. Now, they need cannons and archers and vulture fliers. He wants all the cannons they have primed and loaded. And he wants them aimed at the sky.
Again, Ben Grimm smashes against the walls.
Donal asks Matthew what he heard. It sounds like a miracle is on its way and will be blasted from the clear sky before it ever reaches them, he responds grimly. Donal asks if the cart that brought them to the castle is still here. It’s in the courtyard, Matthew replies. If they’d moved it, he would have heard. Can he get out there? Out of this cell? Can he get them down to the courtyard? He is asking the impossible, Matthew replies. So that’s a “no?” It’s more of an “I’ll try my best.” Matthew replies as he begins to stand up.
Seeing the flying ship, Doom orders his men to wait until they are closer. Then he gives the order to fire. The shot misses the ship – barely – and Hank cries in triumph. If that is all they have to contend with, the battle is already won. Fury warns him it’s not going to be that easy. Their first ask has to be to take out the cannons.
Javier informs Jean that he has to help the others through this. She must keep the ship aloft on her own. And it has to keep moving. He doesn’t know how much cannon-damage it can take and still stay whole. Weak but determined, Jean replies that she’ll do whatever she has to do.
Javier gathers the others. The first order of business is to get them all down there and destroy their foes’ weapons before they blow them from the sky. He orders Angel to carry Scotius. Once he’s got him down, he’ll come back for Sir Nicholas. But he’s only a… Walter begins. Only a human? Nicholas asks. Perhaps, but he’s dangerous enough in his own way.
Angel flies Scotius upward, telling him he thinks that Walter hates him. And he has given Walter no cause to love him. Bu he has no plans to drop him. Watch out! Scotius suddenly calls and fires an optic blast at something behind Walter – a vulture. Walter thanks him. Scotius curtly orders him to get him down safely.
Javier turns to Robbie Drake, asking him if he can create an ice-bridge from the ship to the castle top. Robbie is doubtful. It’s too far. He needs the air to be wetter. If only there was rain, he could do so much. He can still deflect cannonballs, Javier decides while he shall be in the minds of the cannoneers, showing them their ship as lower or higher than they believe. But some may still slip through, so for now Robbie and Henry shall stay here to defend the ship.
Against what? Hal asks doubtfully. Javier has not taught him to catch cannonballs. Against them, Nicholas shouts.
An army of vultures attacks from above with spears. Henry grabs one by his spear and throws him back at the others. This is living! he announces. What are they? Nicholas wonders aloud. Doom’s creatures, comes Javier’s reply. While they fight Jean struggles not to give up, repeating to herself mantra-like from those who have much to give much is demanded.
In the dungeons Ben Grimm finally tears off his chains.
In Doom’s bedchamber, Natasha begins plundering. It’s not that the most dangerous woman in Europe imagines for a moment that Otto von Doom will lose this battle but she doubts that such an opportunity will come again soon. And besides, he is beginning to bore her. Suddenly, the strange invisible column in the room shatters and Natasha is struck down by something unseen. Whore comes a voice from nowhere.
Elsewhere in the dungeon Matthew remarks that he doesn’t know what manner of monster Doom keeps in his basement, but they owe it their thanks for loosening the bolts that held their chains and for what it’s done to this wall. With the help of the chains, Matthew manages to tear out the window.
How will they get down to the courtyard? Donal wonders. With a broad grin, Matthew remarks that they have two options. They could call a guard, talk him into opening the cell door, overpower him, go down through the castle, hiding, fighting, all that, but it’s an awful lot of work. So let’s do it the easy way. He grabs Donal, wraps his chains around himself and orders the other man to hold on very tight as he jumps.
In another cell full of water, the invisible woman takes the hand if its prisoner, her brother John. “My poor brother,” she announces. “He is a monster to keep you so, and use you so.”
With uncanny acrobatic skill, Matthew jumps downward, somersaulting and using walls to slow his descent. Elegantly, he lands.
Within the castle, John Storm frees Richard Reed from his cell with a burst of flame.
Right, they are down, Matthew announces. So what exactly do they do now? He needs his stick, Donal states as he sees their cart. Is that all, Matthew asks. He could have got him another stick. No, no, he couldn’t, Donal replies as he grabs the stick. Not like this one. This is the treasure of the Templars. Brought to Jerusalem by the Norsemen eight hundred years back. It may not do anything. It may all be legend…
Doom’s guards choose that moment to appear, threatening the two that they are dead men. No, they’re not, Donal replies. In all probabilities, Doom’s guards are. They are dead while he shall be damned. He orders Matthew to close his eyes. Pointing to the bandage in front of his eyes, Matthew announces that there isn’t really much point in that. Then cover your ears, the old man orders, and may Lord Jesu have mercy on his soul. He smashes the stick to the ground.
Even with his ears covered, the crash of thunder is deafening; louder than the cannons, louder than the monster in the dungeon… it leaves him disoriented, thinking he can still smell the ozone lightning flash. That was close, he thinks as the rain begins to pour from a previously cloudless sky…
On the ship, Robby happily exclaims that there is rain, enabling him to now use his powers properly. Hal wryly remarks that Bobby can identify rain correctly. A miracle. Now if he may draw his attention back to matters at hand… Icing up, Robby asks Henry if he has ever seen an icestorm. When the rain is freezing, but still water. It doesn’t turn to ice until it touches the ground and then it ices all it touches. Uh, no comes the reply. Then watch, Iceman tells him as he begins to ice up the rain. With frozen wings the vultures fall.
From the ground, Scotius observes that the ship is trembling, meaning Jean’s in trouble. He orders Walter to get him back up there. Walter refuses due to the frozen rain. They’d tumble from the sky like Doom’s men.
On the ship, Javier holds the falling Jean, while Fury cries in triumph that the cannonfire has stopped. They have won! Which will be very comforting if the ship crashes and kills them all, Dougan observes.
On the battlements, a furious von Doom orders his men to fire the cannons but they can’t in this storm. Most of the cannons have been destroyed, the rest are encased in ice. The vulture fliers are dead. What shall they do? Shall they hide? Shall they flee? Flee? Doom grabs the man who asked that question by his cowl. He should send him back to the birthing pens that spawned him. If the storm is their doing, he points at the ship, they have given him lightning which is all he needs to ensure victory.
Otto? It’s over, comes another voice. It is that of Richard Reed, now finally reunited with his three friends. A flying Jonathan Storm reminds him angrily about how Doom kept him under a waterfall. He imprisoned his friends in the darkness. He made his sister ornament his vile bed-chamber. Doom stutters that he doesn’t understand. She set them free the invisible Susan Storm explains. As he said, Reed repeats. It’s over.
Doom holds the golden globe and smirks. They don’t understand, he boasts. He has the weapon. He orders Reed to tell them. Tell them what he is holding. It’s from another world… or another time. All he needs is the lightning and the four shall die first. They shall die so sweetly…
Lightning strikes the ball and Doom’s eyes begin to widen in panic. There’s a flash of an explosion and a burnt Doom, holding the remains of the globe, lies on the ground. Susan cries out in horror at seeing his mutilated body. Reed holds her invisible form and tries to comfort her. Doom is dead or as good as. She should cry if she needs to.
Mayhap he should tread on him, stomp up and stomp down till there ain’t be nothing left of him, Ben grimly suggests. Reed suggests he save his feet. He warned him, poor deluded fellow. Did he say that ball-thing was from the future? Benjamin asks. He would have thought that was obvious, Reed muses. The only thing he doesn’t understand is the lightning storm. It violates everything he understands about weather. Either he needs to go back to first principles or there is an anomaly he has failed to allow for. Looking up, Jonathan exclaims what in the name of a hundred demons is that?
That referring to the mighty Thor flying in the air, holding the ship aloft with his strength.
That, Reed hypothesizes, in the absence of any other evidence is his anomaly.
Thor carries the ship to the castle. Spying Reed, Fury cries out that it’s good to see him. Reed instantly gets to the heart of the matter. They must talk. There are several things that are troubling him. To begin with, let them posit that Time is fluid but static… Climbing down, Fury tells him soon.
Matthew approaches Fury, telling him they never met by daylight before but he is…
He knows who he is, Sir Nicholas interrupts him, but who – referring to Thor – is he? He’s the treasure of the Templars , Matthew replies. And he’s also Fury’s secret weapon. Or perhaps he’s carrying it.
The stranger introduces himself as Thor of the Thunders --: Mighty, my Mjolnir: Fighter of Frost-Giants, Stronger than Storms. And the old man. Where would he be? Nicholas asks. That’d be him too, Matthew explains. It’s a bit complicated.
Hal climbs down the ship, carrying Javier who states that their pilot is unconscious and does not wake. Can Thor carry them back through the air to England? From what he’s told him, probably not, Matthew replies. He could get them through the sea though. If this hulk is still seaworthy it could work, Robby muses. Captain Grimm climbs aboard, announcing that he can make her seaworthy and sail her into hell, if he has to. Susan adds that he is the finest Captain alive. Who said that? Robby asks confused.
Matthew tells Fury that he has to fit a lot of fellers into that boat, so he will make his own way home. Has Fury got the diamond on him? He thought rescuing him from certain death would be payment enough… Fury points out. That’s all very well, but a man’s got to eat, Matthew replies. Not to worry. They’ll put it on his slate eh? He wishes the others good luck and tells Thor goodbye. Donal too, if he’s in there. He jumps off the battlement while Thor takes the ship to the air. Interesting, Sir Reed comments to Fury, but has he ever thought of doing things the easy way? For example warm water rises Why not fill a canvas with air and then heat it with a brazier?
With them gone Natasha stumbles upon the hurt Doom, a look of horror on her face as she beholds his formerly handsome countenance. Hide my face, Natasha he begs, hide my face.
Domdaniel, Spain, an exhausted Petros has come there, announcing that the Witchbreed have succeeded in their attack on Doom. He watched the castle fall. He continues that James has arrived in London. He has imprisoned the warlock Strange and all of Fury’s associates. Fury himself has been proclaimed a traitor. There is a price on his head. He must have run five times across Europe in the past few days…
Suddenly, a web is thrown over him as a voice announces that he is condemned from his own mouth. The newcomer commends the Toad and asks if there are any more of them. Just the three, the Toad assures him. Good, the stranger decides. Then Petros shall join his sister and the former grand inquisitor at the stake in the courtyard. And the Toad has bought his life. Burn him, burn him now, the Toad cries eagerly. Burn them all! And the look in the eyes of the inquisitor is unfathomable.


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

[Assistant]
1602 – Part Seven: In which Many Patterns May be Discerned, By Those With Eyes To See Them
Stephen Strange sits in his cell in the Tower of London. His look is manic, his mind is elsewhere. He knows such things. He knows such things that his mind seems likely to explode and fragment and dissolve. He walked on the moon with a Watcher and, at the last, he gave Strange one final vision. A vision of everything.
He knows that Fury and the Witchbreed have freed the Four from the Fantastick from the Castle of Otto von Doom, now no longer the handsome.
He knows that the Witchbreed’s ship is crossing the Mediterranean, and that one of their number is dying.
He knows that the treasure of the Templars was a stick, which is the hammer of the thunder god, brought long since to Jerusalem by a Viking pilgrimage.
He knows that the Grand Inquisitor is tied to a stake at Dom Daniel and that, if he dies, so will the world.
He knows that James of Scotland, soon to be crowned king of England, is wondering whether to have Strange beheaded, or hung, drawn and quartered. He will elect to have him beheaded.
He knows that everything is out of time and out of joint since the forerunner arrived here fifteen years ago. He is not certain what the Forerunner is. Perhaps it, too, is Virginia.
He knows that the world has months at the most, before the darkness comes and spreads across everything there ever was, or is, or will be, rendering it down to pure nothingness. No heavens or hell, no world between. He knows such things. And he cannot speak of them. While he lives, his lips are sealed.
At Dom Daniel, the former Inquisitor bound to a stake faces his accusers. His crimes are enumerated. He’s a heretic. He’s betrayed the Church, the Inquisition and the Holy Father. He’s harboured monsters and negotiated with the Church’s enemies. Has he left anything out? the priest asks. Apart from the disappearance of poor brother Thomas, of course. He takes it the inquisitor killed him.
Of course, he killed him, comes the reply. He is all they have said. But before he dies, he begs a boon from them. He has books and papers and several… magical objects. In a compartment in his study. In the floor, beneath the desk. They are well hidden. They can burn him if they must, but they are the sum of his knowledge. Send them to the Vatican, to the Holy Father. Keep them safe, for future generations. Let no harm come to them.
The priest asks for everything to be brought there. Addressing the former inquisitor as Enrique, he remarks that, before he came there, he read everything he could find in the Vatican’s files on him.  They should have known better than to ever trust him. He was born a Jew in the ghetto of Venice. When he was five years old, he strayed from the ghetto. He was… detained and baptized by an over-enthusiastic priest who took a liking to him.
He holds his torch to Enrique’s beard and burns it off. He must have been a pretty child for a Jew. When the Jews begged for his return, the Holy Father explained that, while he was sorry, he would not imperil the boy’s immortal soul. He explained that it was unfortunate, but returning a baptized child to the Christ-killers would doom him to hell.
Unfortunate, Enrique repeats softly. He was raised as a child of the Church. He was shown God’s mercy and he has rejected it.
Pointing to the Toad crouching at his side, the priest reveals that this creature has told them many things in exchange for its life. It claims Enrique’s orders were that only those Witchbreed whose differences from humanity were visible were to be burned. Those who could pass for human were to be sent to him unharmed. That was how he found those gypsy creatures – referring to Wanda and Petros - But what did he do with the others? Where are they hidden?
That moment, Enrique’s things are brought. Would it hurt him very much to see them burn? the priest asks. Yes, he admits quietly. The priest begins to set fire to the scrolls. And what is this? he asks as he turns his attention to another object. A helmet, Enrique replies. It was a gift, many years ago from a friend. It means a lot to him. The priest places it at Enrique’s feet. Then, he may watch it burn as he burns.
Enrique begins to smile nastily. He was taught all he needed to know about the priest’s kind when he was a weeping child, pleading to be allowed back to his family and people. The helmet begins to rise and settles on Enrique’s head. They were hard lessons, but he shall never forget them… after all, they made him what he is today.
At that moment, his chains as well as those of Wanda and Petros shatter at his command. The two young mutants take care of the priest and the guards while Enrique strides towards the Toad. Without his help, they would never have got so far, he accuses the Toad. Treachery. It’s such a nasty word, isn’t it?  Toad agrees before pointing out that they said they’d kill him. What could he do? Enrique tells him to shush as Petros brings him a robe. He orders the two youngsters to gather up their possessions. This stage of their lives is over. Perhaps, he muses, this is how the butterfly feels when it crawls out from its chrysalis shell and contemplates the waiting world…
He orders Petros to light the fuses in the catacombs once they have reached the boat. The destruction of the citadel will be seen as a natural disaster. Or perhaps as a Witchbreed-created atrocity. Either suits him perfectly. Now, he muses as he begins to choke the Toad with the iron chain round his neck, he knows what will happen to them and to the others, referring to the guards. The remaining question is what shall happen to the Toad?
On the Eagle’s Shadow, after the battle against Doom, the strange crew and the newly released Four of the Fantastick are discussing matters. Captain Grimm announces they should all cheer up. They’ve got a ship, of sorts, and they’ve a crew, of sorts, for all they’re the scurviest, strangest crew he’s ever clapped eyes upon. And he’s the strangest captain the ocean’s ever seen, Jonathan Storm who is shaving retorts. The reply is a simple quiet whelp! before Captain Grimm asks if any of the others have ever crewed a ship. Robbie Drake reminds the others that he’s the nephew of Francis Drake and sailed as his cabin boy when he was young. Scotius can sail, too.
Scotius agrees. He can, but to where - Back to England, to throw themselves upon James’s mercy? To Spain, to be burned as a monster? Susan Storm, still invisible and sitting next to her love, Richard Reed, is dismayed to hear they may not be going home. She’s dreamed of England. For years she’s dreamed of England’s meadows and hills. Putting his pliable arm around his lady, Reed promises her they shall go to England one day, but not yet.
Benjamin states that they need supplies. Food and fresh water, enough for a six weeks voyage if the winds be with them. Thor assures them that the wild winds and the cold currents shall see them safe and speedily to shore.
Where are they going? Robbie asks: The New World obviously, Reed replies. There’s precious little that’s obvious about it, Robbie retorts. They might be setting out for the fabled Australian continent, which wise men have claimed exists to the South of the Indies, providing balance for the globe. They do say that the Americas are home to Thunder lizards and huge leatherwings and dragonish monsters. Captain Grimm agrees. There are such monstrosities there and daggermouthed lions and hairy oliphaunts and more.
John reminds Reed that they were lucky to cross America with their lives last time. Reed retorts that they won’t have to cross it this time. The centre of the strange weather is, by his calculations, on the Eastern shores, probably near Roanoke. And what do they do once they get there? Scotius wonders. Save the world, of course, or die trying, Reed replies simply, before asking the opinion of Fury, who has been unusually quiet.
Bitterly, Fury replies that they can do as they will. He has betrayed his country. James will already have taken his house and lands. He will imprison and kill the people who worked for him, whatever he does, his life is over. Trying to comfort him, Reed reminds him that he did what he thought was right. He did it because they are friends, Fury replies. Because von Doom had killed the queen. And because Strange told him that unless he acted the world was going to end. Whether he did right or wrong, he will only learn when he meets his maker. As they all will.
Reed agrees before musing on Stephen Strange. A remarkable man, and a wise one. He would very much like to exchange ideas with him about the current situation. He wonders where Strange is right now…
At Hampton Court, King James is giving an audience to Virginia Dare, telling her bluntly that the treasury is in no position to support her father’s colony. He has two countries already to worry about. He’s not sending money across the ocean. So he wants her to go back and tell her father there is to be no help from England? Virginia asks disbelievingly. James’s advisor, Banner, instantly chastises her for talking like that to the King. James tells him to let her be, as she amuses him.
Actually, he informs Virginia that he thinks that she and her wild man make an excellent addition to the court. He is in no hurry to send her home. But they have to go back, Virginia insists. No, they have to do what he tells them, he corrects her. Appraising Rojhaz, he muses that perhaps they should find him a good Scottish wife to tame him.
Is that all for the day? he asks his advisor. Banner reads him a petition for stay of execution from Mistress Clea Strange. She claims her husband is no magician, merely a natural philosopher and withal will burn his books and break his wand if the King releases him into her care. Also he is extremely ill. What shall he say?
Tell her, he’s not going to be executed because he’s a magician, James decide. Virginia smiles hopefully and even Rojhaz allows himself a smile. He’s going to kill Strange because he’s a traitor, James decides while sipping his wine, thus dashing their hopes.
Outside the castle, Virginia and Rojhaz meet Clea. Virginia wants to talk with her under four eyes. She asks how Stephen is. Very ill, Clea replies. He made her swear to many strange things. He claims that he knows what has brought about this perilous state of affairs and yet is forbidden to tell a soul, or act upon his knowledge.
Virginia reveals that she and Rojhaz think they can save him from the Tower. When she gets angry or sad, she can change into things, what if she made it happen? She could turn herself into a great bat and Rojhaz could ride her into the Tower. Together, they could free Stephen and Peter and escape.
Clea forbids it. If Stephen were rescued by supernatural means, then James would murder every suspected witch, magician, cunning-man and wisewoman in Britain. The king’s fears must be allowed to die away, not be fanned into hatred and war. They can’t just let it happen, Virginia pleads. Perhaps King James will be merciful. He won’t, Clea replies.
Back on the ship. Scotius is just stepping adeck. Walter addresses him, asking how Master Grey is. For God’s sake, stop it. Just stop it, Scotius snaps. Stop what? Walter asks surprised. All this Master Grey nonsense. “How is Master Grey?” Master Grey is not. Master Grey was a convenient fiction. Master Grey is a joke that’s no longer funny. Still Walter doesn’t understand. He thought Master Grey was ill…
Scotius lowers his head. Mistress Grey is unconscious. She is bleeding inside. Master Javier is attending her. He does not believe she will last the night. Mistress Grey? Walter repeats in a small voice and Scotius realizes for the first time that Walter truly had no idea.
Inside Jean’s cabin, Javier guards her. He asked too much of her, he tells her telepathically. He fears he asks too much of all of them. Jean can feel she is dying and tells Carlos he is lying when he assures her she will get better. She tells him his last wishes. To tell Master Somerisle that she is sorry now that she would not give him what he most wanted. She asks him to tell them not to despair and her last wish is to let her die as a woman and not give her body to the sea. With that, she dies and he closes her eyes.
Peter Parquah sits in a cell in the Tower of London. Glumly, he stares at a spider spinning its web between the bars. Banner enters, remarking that Peter’s made a friend already. They say that, when the Bruce was escaping from the English, he destroyed a spider’s web. From inside that hole, he watched the spider spin herself another. And he resolved to be like her, and to keep fighting forever. The web across the hole-mouth saved his life when the English came by.
He leads Peter outside to the yard, explaining that the king says there’s something he very much wants him to see. He should think of it as a chance to stretch his legs and get a little air.
Outside, many people are already gathered, as the execution of Stephen Strange is to take place. James yawns bored, while Peter looks in horror, as Strange bows down his head. Clea cries and Virginia Dare glares in fury at James, held back by Rojhaz as they witness the execution.
Later, beneath the Tower where the heads are exhibited, one guard remarks that the sky never looked like that at night when he was a boy. Writhing and sparkling in the dark like to a hundred comets. His companion advises him not to look. It’s evil. They hear some noise. He heard something moving one of them says. Aye, the other replies. Tis he – his father’s ghost come to send him repent of his whoremongering ways… A pox on him, the first one tells him.
Above them Clea floats, cradling her dead husband’s head. Hello Stephen, she greets him mentally. It seems like he has waited for her for a hundred years, he tells her. It happened but this morning, she replies. And James watched it, and smiled and sipped his wine, and belched, and when it was done he said that he was a merciful man, for Stephen was not hung, drawn and quartered first. She wanted to kill him. If he had not made her swear his oath she would have torn out his throat before he harmed a hair on Stephen’s head. She would have bathed all of them in their own blood before ever they spilled a single drop of his. And instead, she stood by and watched as they murdered him. She did right, he tells her.
Clea is floating above the Tower where the heads of the executed are displayed. He made her swear and she swore as she swore she would be his when he freed her far beyond the veils of this world. But it hurt her more than anything had ever hurt her. And she would follow him into darkness now. She does not wish to stay. He tells here there is just a little time before the darkness takes him. There was a compulsion placed upon his lips that he could not speak of what he learned while he lived.
The Forerunner came here from the future. His arrival made other things happen: things that should not have happened for hundreds of years happened because the Forerunner was here. As a stone dropped into a pond, creates ripples that spread, so the Forerunner’s presence cast its influence into the past and future. The Forerunner is the first. They all follow it. Even she. Even he. She must send the Forerunner back.
Gingerly, she removes his head from the pike and places it into a bag. When she was a queen far from here, her people said the dead would speak only in riddles. He is speaking as clearly as he can. It came here from another time. The machine that brought it has already been destroyed. It must be returned by the same gate it came through. She must take it back to America.
On the ship, the Witchbreed and their comrades have gathered. Jean had asked not to be cast into the ocean. Walter was asked if he could be part of the funeral pyre and he said he could not. He felt as if he had not lost one friend, but two. The girl that everyone else saw and the boy that he had wanted to believe in. He imagines them laughing at him. He wondered if they understood his shame.
In his place, John Storm took her corpse and burning flew with her so high that the others could barely see them. Then he let her fall and Somerisle took the rubies from his eyes and he stared at the heavens. There were tears in his eyes and Walter wondered how those eyes which burn like suns could cry. She smoked and glowed. Then she erupted into light, burned so brightly he wanted to look away, but he did not look away. He could not. He imagined that, in the light of the dead girl burning, something spread its wings. Something huge. Something strange. Something beautiful. And then there was nothing left. Nothing but ashes.
Clea returns to her home. She quietly alerts Rohjaz, keeping guard and they carefully bring the still sleeping Virginia aboard the ship Virginia Maid and set sails in the middle of the night.
As they watch the funeral, Susan asks Reed what he is thinking of. Fundamental particles, he replies. About atomies and such like, John inquires. Not at all, comes the reply. Those he thought about while he was in Doom’s cellars. Were it not for the misery he caused his friends, Reed would owe him thanks for the time to think with no distractions.
He was able to reduce many things to their fundamental principles, at least to his own satisfaction. He discovered how to transmute lead into gold then? Ben asks. Given a powersource and time, it would not be impossible, Reed muses.
So what are those fundamental principles if not atoms, Susan returns him to the topic. Stories, comes the reply, and they give him hope. They are a boatful of monsters and miracles, hoping that somehow they survive a world in which all hands are against them. A world, which by all evidence, will end extremely soon. Yet, he believes, they are in a universe which favours stories. A universe in which no story can ever truly end; in which there can be only continuances. If they are in such a universe, as he hopes, then they may have a chance.
He’s talking rot, Johnnie snorts. Poor Jean Grey’s story’s over. Von Doom’s story’s done. All tales end. And their world will end likewise. Ben interjects that he spoke of transmutations. Can he restore his humanity?
In truth he doesn’t know, Reed admits. The natural sciences say it’s possible. But the law of story would suggest that no cure can last for very long. For in the end, alas, he is so much more interesting and satisfying as he is.
Peter Parquah dreams. In his dream, he can see perfectly. In his dream, he is in a forest of trees as tall as mountains, swinging from tree to tree … is more free and alive than any man has ever been. And then he wakes to the clunking of keys and rattle of chain.
He’s brought to King James, who warns him he will ask a question. If he likes the answers, Peter lives. If he doesn’t, he dies. The question is: where is his loyalty? He was Fury’s boy. Can he still be loyal to the crown of England and Scotland?
He’s no traitor, Peter protests. But his master was, comes the reply. There are too many traitors. Stephen Strange’s wife has vanished. So has the girl from the colonies and her Indian. Traitors all. Someone stole Strange’s traitorous head. It’s all plots and plants and treacheries. If this goes on soon enough, they’ll be cutting off the heads of kings. They don’t see it. A king is God’s anointed! They’re fighting God’s will!
He prayed all night and then he saw it. Does he know what he wants most of all? Fury. He wants Fury. He wants to see him hung, drawn and quartered. He wants him to confess his sins and crimes, and hear his entrails crackle in the bonfire while he still lives to scream his guilt, before the executioner pulls out his heart and ends his treacherous life. And if he can’t have that… he wants to know that he’s dead.
Peter worked for Fury. He knows that monster as well as any man. And he’d trust Peter, wouldn’t he? Perhaps, Peter admits. James orders him to work for Banner and him as faithfully as he worked for Fury and the queen. To learn he’d died a traitor’s death would break his Aunt’s and Uncle’s hearts. Peter agrees. Banner will pick the fastest ship and the men he wants. They’re going to the New World.
Also on the way to the New World are the former Grand Inquisitor and his entourage of Wanda, Petros and the Toad whom he didn’t kill. Dressed in red and purple, Enrique tells Wanda that his title can now be forgotten. The inquisition was a tool. Now they are a Brotherhood. The Brotherhood of those who will inherit the Earth. Is she looking forward to meeting the rest of the Brotherhood?
Wanda stutters that the sailors are complaining about the winds and the currents. They are being carried south and west by them and cannot break away. Then, they shall go where the winds will carry them. Their brothers and sisters will wait for them.
On the Virginia Maiden, Virginia Dare asks Clea how long before they get there. They’ve been travelling westwards faster than she’d believe, comes the reply. If the winds and currents stay their friend, they will have her home in two weeks or less.
She wishes she had better new to give to her father. Will King James be very angry at them for going home? She thinks James has other things to be angry about, Clea remarks.
Could Virginia find the rift in space and time she touched once again? Something came through it about fifteen years ago. Stephen called it the Forerunner. Something that made everything else happen. It even made things happen a long time ago. Something that has to be sent away from there. Stephen suspected it was Virginia. But he was wrong. She isn’t the timetraveller. Is she, Rojhaz? Clea asks pointedly.
Rojhaz’ stoic face breaks into a smile as he replies in perfect English: Well, if you put it like that, Ms. Strange, I guess she’s not.


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

[Assistant]
1602 – Part Eight: In Which We Discover the Way of the World
1602:
On board the Virginia Maid, sailing to Roanoke. Rojhaz speaks:
His name… he was born… will be born… maybe he won’t be born… in the year 1920. Over three hundred yes from now. His name was Steven Rogers. Is… Steve Rogers. He apologizes. So much of this is like a dream.
Flashback:
There’s a war coming, he describes. They called it World War Two. It started when he was about twenty. He was given a… serum… a physic. Stuff to make him big and strong and fast. And it did. He was a fighting machine and a good one, and more than that. He saved lives. He couldn’t save everyone. Then, end of the war. He lost a couple of decades. After they thawed him out. He was a hero. He remembers some of it. A lot of it is mixed up. He fought for America, his country. He protected America. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Democracy. Not something they have seen much of yet, but it’s worth fighting for. That’s what he does. Will do… Did…
He didn’t age. He’d tell people that it was enjoying his work that kept him young, but he guesses it was the serum. Decades passed and he just kept going and going. The dark times came slowly, but they came. The others heroes aged and died, or they left for… other places. Most of the rest were hunted down and killed.
And eventually he had to face facts. That America wasn’t his America any longer. So he joined the underground. The fight to restore his country that he had sworn to protect. Captain America fighting the president–for-life. It was the right thing to do, but the odds were against him. He was betrayed. They said they were going to get rid of him. They didn’t even want his ashes to be left behind as any kind of memorial to inspire others. He remembers the equipment he was strapped down to. Before they turned it on they shot him. In the head, not the chest. It felt like a hammer. He remembers that. And then he just remembers the pain.
Steve Rogers woke up in the American wilderness. Things got kind of foggy for a long time. He wasn’t certain where he was or who he was. He couldn’t understand the world. Or the Native people. He told them his name. They thought he was from another tribe… in a way they were right. They let him stay. They fed him. Nothing mattered and then the white people came across the great water and he found them starving and he fed them. And then there was Virginia. She was a baby then. But he knew what she was. What she represented. What she meant. His America. He knew he had to protect her. To guard her. To fight for her, if he had to. He wasn’t going to let her die.
Present:
He takes Virginia by the shoulder. He failed before. He wasn’t going to fail again.
The Eagle’s Shadow has reached America. Vine-Land his worshippers called it when they came to colonize, Thor recalls. He saw them safely here. Winds were with them, the waves watched over them. Now he leaves them.
Reed protests that there is so much he could tell tem about himself. So much he hasn’t explained. And they may need his help, Susan adds. He asks them to cover their eyes. Lightning flares around him and he has returned to the shape of the old man Donal, his hammer again a staff.
Holding the staff, Donal explains that pilgrims brought the staff to Jerusalem from the Northlands when the days of the old gods were done. 200 years later, Hugh de Payns discovered it beneath the temple. They were charged to keep it safe, and a mighty secret. For if there were other gods… if gods walked among them like men… The Church teaches that there are but saints and demons… if there was a Thor… It could bring down the Church, Reed finishes his sentence. Is that what he’s saying?
He summoned him, Donal recalls. He saw through his eyes. He thought his thoughts… They were two knights riding one horse. He has summoned the winds and ridden the storm. And he gloried in it. Jesu forgive him. He is damned!
In the colony Roanoke, Nicolas Fury brings the colony’s leader Ananias Dare up to date. He tells him his ship is filled with monsters? Ananias asks. Aye, Fury concedes. But some of the most monstrous on the outside are on the inside no more monstrous than the best of them. And perhaps the reverse is also true.
He has heard nothing but good of Fury, Ananias concedes. Is he asking for their help? After fifteen years on this continent, they still have little to offer, but they have provisions and tobacco. They shall welcome them as brother colonists if they wish to stay.
Fury warns him that then they will be colluding with the enemies of England and James will, one day, put Roanoke to the torch and have all their heads. It might look better if they consider this colony captured by monsters, traitors and Witchbreed rogues. Better still, he hereby declares the village of Roanoke and this continent independent of the English crown and declares himself governor. Over Dare’s protests, of course. When Ananias wants to interrupts Fury reminds him that James has his daughter, Virginia.
And so somewhat later, Ananias announces to the villagers that the colony has been captured by monster and rebels and asks them paradoxically to treat them with respect and with goodwill.
A little later again, Carlo Javier warns Fury that three ships are coming. Each brings unfinished business. The first ship contains someone dead, yet not dead. A friend. It also carries a witch, a changeling and… someone else. Someone whose mind is closed to him.
Another ship contains James’s agents. They are coming to kill Fury. That’s what he would have done in James’s stead, Fury remarks. Very sensible. One of them is the boy Peter, Carlos adds.
And the third ship? Fury asks. More unfinished business, Javier replies, referring to the former Grand Inquisitor and his charges. Javier’s unfinished business. An enemy who once long ago was a friend. The inquisitor, Fury asks. Perhaps they could arrange with Reed to destroy the ship before he ever reaches land. Burn it perhaps…
Javier forbids it. If they murder them, they would be no better. He will think on this. A solution will present itself.
And a little later, Walter flies up Robby Drake over Enrique’s ship. Javier mentally awakes Enrique and finds he has not destroyed the helmet Carlos once made him. He presumes that Enrique is coming to kill them. Or does he still dream of persuading Javier to help in his madness?
He did not come to kill him, Enrique replies. He was on his own voyage for his own purposes when the currents pulled him there. Carlos does not believe that. Mockingly, Enrique asks if the Mondani have embraced Carlos yet. Proclaimed him and his breed their superiors or do they hate them more than ever?
Carlos sighs. Enrique is like a lute player who only knows one tune and plays it over and over. Has his church yet realized that the man who they trust to seek out and burn their Witchbreed only burns those it suits him to burn?
He’s afraid the answer to that is yes. They found out. He orders Petros to wake his sister. Javier and his damned breed are trying something. It’s too late for that Carlos announces. The entire ship is frozen in an iceberg of Robby’s creating. Javier remarks that he could have killed them. Enrique should never forget that.
Aboard the Eagle’s Shadow, Reed is informing the Witchbreed what they are looking for. It’s a simple Borssian phenomenon. There will be a light coming from it, or it will be dark, drawing light into it. What will it look like, Walter asks. Reed has no idea. Like a nothingness perhaps? And where should they look? Hal asks. Where they will. He believes it should be within fifty miles of here. What must they do when they find it, Captain Grimm asks. Come back and tell him? Reed replies. And what will he do then? He has no idea at the moment, Reed admits. Good luck.
A little later in the village of Roanoke, Scotius addresses Walter formally, asking if he has a moment to talk. He believes he may have done Walter a great wrong, without intending it. Indeed? Walter asks, arms crossed. Scotius continues hesitatingly that Walter did not know Jean was… That is to say, he allowed her disguise to fool him… He thought her a man. Yes. Walter agrees curtly. More vulnerable, Scotius continues. If Jean was anyone’s, she was his. She would have been his… and he thought Walter was in love with her. So he was jealous. And all the time Walter thought of her as a man. So he was a fool. A jealous witless fool… and with all his heart he apologizes.
Walter asks him not to. Scotius is puzzled. He does not accept his apology? If Scotius wishes him to, he shall. But he has nothing to apologize for. He was truly deceived and thought that Jean Grey was a man. But he does believe he was in love with that young man. Now they have a job to do. Good Day. Walter leaves and Scotius is flabbergasted.
Ananias welcomes home his daughter who comes ashore with Clea and Rojhaz. Clea immediately states that she needs to talk to Reed, Fury and Javier and whoever else is in charge here. Now. And she needs a hammer and a chisel.
What’s in the barrel? Ananias asks as he leads them to the village. A man’s head preserved in brandy, Clea replies. It seemed a more reliable way to stop it rotting than salting or smoking it. A sailor broached the cask and drank some of the brandy one night, she adds. He went mad, of course.
They reach the village where Clea greets Fury and the second man whom she correctly identifies as Javier. Fury exclaims: Is her husband here? Partly yes, she replies as she begins opening the barrel. They know she comes a county a very long way from here…
From the New World? Fury asks. From this world entirely, Clea corrects him. And now that her husband is dead, she sees no reason not to return home. But her husband is of the opinion that, when this world dies, it will take everything else with it, her own demesne included. So she may as well stay here, and try to help unknot the mess they have made of things. She asks to speak to Reed who joins them.
Outside a house, Donal is drunk, talking to seemingly nothing. The master kept the staff safely, he rants. The king of France slaughtered them and said they worshipped devils. And even then they did not use the staff… they passed it on from master to master and kept it safe and secret.
Holding it was enough. Touching it gave them… it made their minds stronger. They could see things… things long away. Long way. He’s not boring her, is he? It hurts, he moans. In the morning when he wakes, every joint hurts. This was the secret of the Templars. It was the secret that could have brought down popes and kings. You shall have no gods but me for I am a jealous god… She is sure he’s not boring her?
She is certain, the invisible Susan Storm replies. And she’s till there? She’s still here, she calms him. He’s not drunk, he adds. It’s just beer. A man can’t get drunk on beer. She did not say he was drunk, Susan replies. Not drunk. Damned . Damned to hell and gone, he exclaims. He’s not boring her?
Some children watch the spectacle through a fence, wondering who he is. Virginia joins them and the kids inform her that the monster-folk from the ship are looking for the light out on the marshes. Have they found it yet? Virginia asks Don’t think so, the boy replies. Why don’t they tell them where it is? she asks. Why should they? comes the reply. Annoyed Virginia tells them it’s important and they are such … children. Just because she’s been to London she thinks she knows everything and is queen of the world, the boy retorts.
Clea takes out the pickled head of Stephen Strange. She assures them this isn’t pleasant for either of them. Now they must ask questions. Reed greets Strange and tells him it’s good to see him in rather trying circumstances. Strange greets him too and explains that he died that others may have their chance at life. He asks them not to ignore his words. Get on with it, Fury mutters uncomfortably. Is that a question? Strange asks. Nicholas asks: Is the world truly ending?
Strange begins that a person from the future came here fifteen years ago. This event damaged the nature of time itself; and, because time and space are one, it will soon destroy everything.
Reed interrupts. Obviously something is out with time. Just as obviously there is an increasing fragility to existence. To a natural philosopher, it is obvious that the phenomenon that drew them all here can be reduced to four fundamental problems.
As he sees it, their problems are, firstly locating the rip in the fabric of space and time. Not that difficult. Then manipulating and opening it, while not permitting it to destroy everything. Deeply problematic, given the resources at their disposal. Returning whatever came to the future. Extremely difficult. And then continuing to exist. Which by every method of calculation, he has at his disposal is unfortunately completely impossible.
Strange remarks admiringly that Reed is the magician, not he. He is too kind, Reed replies. He had the advantage of a great deal of time with no distractions to think. Having said that, he has a number of specific question…
They are interrupted by Virginia, who informs them she can show them where the thing they are looking for is.
And a little later, Virginia has led them to a rift in space, a lightshow with a small infinity symbol in it. Fascinating! Reed utters. A Peredural distortion, something he would have thought impossible from something so small.
Peredural? Javier asks. Reed explains his own arrangements of Natural Philosophy which uses the Knights of the Round Table to indicate that all disciplines are equal. Each knight describes a set of natural phenomena. Reed prods at the anomaly and draws down notes while explaining. One divides them into categories, in order to think with them, but still there is but one table that is God’s creation.
Peredural – initially, he took this as the force that caused an object to fall towards Earth, but he suspects that it refers to the force that bind the universe together… Lamorackian, into which he has classified all studies of animals, reptiles, birds and such… Borssian, which has to do with particles, atomies and the like, things to small to be seen, Galvanic, which is the pure force behind the lightning, and so on…
He shouts out for Ben to build the rockwall at a certain place and high, then continues that he assigns all things he cannot otherwise place the quality of Merlinic.
So each discipline like each knight is a way of reaching the Grail? Javier asks. Exactly, Reed agrees. Perfect knowledge. And does he not fear there are things God did not intend man to know? Frankly, no, comes the curt reply. He just wishes Rojhaz were able to tell them more about the sciences and alchemies of his day. Hal laughs. Had Sir Reed been in the Garden of Eden and forbidden to eat the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, by the time the Lord returned, Reed would be advising him on the finest preserved fruit recipes.
Well, as he once told Fury… Reed begins while measuring the rift… Where is Fury?
He said he was going to be gone for several days. Something about the ship, comes the reply. As he once told Fury, Reed continues, God gave them eyes to see and hands to grasp and minds to understand his creation. And perhaps, with God’s grace… to save it.
Elsewhere, Peter Parquah returns to the shore after catching some fish. He sings Greensleeves. He breaks off singing as he sees the men from Banner’s crew slaughtered.  Sitting next to them is Fury, cleaning his dagger. Yes, they are all quite dead, he informs Peter in a conversational tone and asks him to come over. He’ll not harm him. Come sit by him.
He’d rather stand, Peter replies, ready to run away. Fury tells him to suit himself and asks where Banner is. He’s taken care of everyone but Peter and him. Peter refuses to say. Fury smiles grimly. They crossed the Atlantic to kill him, didn’t they? It’s nothing to be ashamed of. He told Peter to go back to his uncle’s, but it was too late for that. Too late the day he came and took Peter to London. Why didn’t Fury kill him too? Peter demands. He heard him coming. Why?
Undeterred, Fury continues that he’ll never forget the first day he clapped eyes on Peter. While talking, he sees what Peter is doing mirrored in his blades. How the boy is holding up his sword, unsure what to do with it.
Fury continues that he thinks he saw himself in Peter. He was an orphan once. No family, no riches, no home. But he had skill on the battlefield and it was noticed. He found warfare easy. Open warfare and secret wars. One day, he looked around him and he had a fine house and beautiful garden. One day, he was knighted by the Queen. James’ll have given his house to one of his favorites by now. He puts away his knife.
The queen laughed at him because he had no interest in hunting or hawking or masques. What he did was what he  was. And now… nothing he does matters. Everything he did… there’s blood on his hands. Reed says God made a thousand thousand worlds each like this one, only different. He hopes there’s one of them where he chose to walk another path. But he fears that in any universe his path will be marked with blood. Reed seeks to save the world. He no longer cares if it lives or dies. Does Peter want to kill him? Then he can go on and slit his throat. Take his head back to James and he’ll pay him handsomely. Fury won’t fight.
He calls out for Peter and turns around. But the boy is gone. Fury begins to laugh.
England, King James’ private chambers. The newly crowned king looks at himself wearing his crown in a mirror. The coronation was a marvelous affair. James met many people and made many promises. He is the first man to rule over both England and Scotland. Given the English defeat of the Irish and the Spanish forces last Christmas, it is not inconceivable that he, or his son, might rule Ireland too.
Suddenly, the candle is snuffed out. A grinning Matthew Murdock crouches on the table. Irreverently calling the king “Jimmy,” he announces that he thought it was time he dropped by to have a word. Who’s there? the King calls out nervously. Just a devil in the dark, comes the reply. He often thinks it must be a terrible thing to be a king. Always having to be afraid of a knife in the back. Sure, and wouldn’t a man be anything else, if he could?
He jumps behind James and covers his mouth with his hand. He can’t hide if he is a king, Matthew threatens. Not if he wants to stay king. James should have kept Fury happy. He did not treat him well. He thinks that if he hears that anything has happened to Fury, he shall be back to discuss the matter and he will not be pleased. Not pleased at all.
Is he going to kill him? James asks. Now, what sort of devil would he be if he did that tonight of all night? Matthew’s reply comes as he heads out of the widow. Bur he could do. Any time he wants. And he ought to remember that. Better to be a beggar than a king, eh Jimmy? And one other thing: Keep you sticky fingers off Ireland. James looks after him, tears of fear in his eyes.
Scotius creates a tunnel in the ice around the frozen ship for Javier and Hal. Is he there to bargain? Enrique states. That’s why he needed them alive. He needs something. Javier asks him to remove his helmet. With a smile Enrique suggests it is better for their conversation to be held aloud and with no chance of Javier twisting the words that come from his mouth. Does he believe he could do that? Javier asks. Enrique scoffs and tells him to say what he wants.
He needs his help comes the reply. The world needs his help. Very good. It is his, comes the reply. Doesn’t he want to hear the terms? Javier asks. Not at all. He agrees to all his terms, as Javier shall one day agree to his. He can’t expect him to agree to his terms without knowing what they are, Javier protests. Do they need his help or not? Enrique asks simply. They do. Then his terms are acceptable to Javier, whatever they are. Because the alternative is worse.
Back ashore, Javier’s Witchbreed protest. Scotius calls it madness. Walter reminds him that Enrique killed their kind, tried to kill him. Javier agrees. He burned those who like Walter could not pass for human. What did he do with the others? Robby asks. A few of them have stayed in his employ. As for the rest nobody knows. Hal calls him an evil monster. There are not monsters, Javier tells him. Surely they have learned that by now. He trusts Enrique because the alternative is worse.
Reed explains to Enrique that there would have been a device to affect the temporal rip. A key as it were, before the Galvanic energies forced it open. The question is whether he can be their key. Can he move it, shape it hold it? Enrique tries and succeeds. But where will he find his Galvanic power to open it. How will he harness the lightning?
The solution is Thor, but Donal forcefully refuses to change back again. Though God himself demanded it, he will not! he shouts. They’ve damned him once. Then he’s damned already, Reed practically points out. Why not do it again? Because… because the first time he did it he did not know what would happen. And now he does! He did not understand the price!
His soul? Clea asks. The price is he spends every waking moment remembering what it was like to be him, Donal reveals. Or drinking to try to forget. Tears fall from his eyes. Do they think… do they think if he were to become him again, that he ever would let himself change back into this?
Is he wiser than Donal, Susan Storm suddenly asks. What? Is he wiser than him, Susan repeats. Aye, Donal admits. His mind is like a silver fish in a clear brook. Everything is simple for him. Then why doesn’t Donal let him decide? Sue suggests. She was listening to him, wasn’t she? Donal asks. Sue takes his hand. She told him she was. Damn them all, Donal whispers as he takes the staff.
Moments later, Thor takes his place, Susan is wiser than them all, he compliments her. No, she just listened when he spoke, she replies.
He asks them to tell him what he must do. Strange informs them via Clea that they are running out of time. They have two days at the most. Perhaps only hours.
A little later, all of the colonists, heroes and Witchbreed are gathered around Sir Reed, who informs them what the are to do. They’ll only bring these along who are essential across the river to the marshes. He wants everyone else to stay in the village. Indoora. There are … energies… that may be released in what they are going to do that will be dangerous. Several of them will be with him and Rojhaz will need to be… Suddenly, he breaks off. He notices Rojhaz is missing. Where in Hades is Rojhaz? Fury demands. Even Javier doesn’t know.
Fury stalks outside and finds Virginia with some other children. He kneels down to her eye level and asks if she knows where Rojhaz is. Probably across the river where the Indians used to be, she ventures. Can she find him? Not if he doesn’t want to be found. He knows the countryside better than any of them. Fury stresses that they need him. Without him, the colony is dead. So is her father. And the world. They have to find him. Does he promise not to hurt him? she asks. Fury swears in England’s name. He gives her his word. The word of a gentleman. Will she help him find Rojhaz? After a moment’s silence Virginia agrees.
Changing into a dog, she follows Rojhaz’ trail, with Fury running after her. Suddenly, she stops. Has she lost his scent? Fury asks the white dog.
Someone throws a pebble at Fury’s head. He looks up to see Rojhaz standing on the rocks above him. He has painted his face in an approximation of his Captain America mask. He’s not going back, he informs Fury. This is his country. They need him! He can’t leave them. They don’t have to make the same mistakes again. They’re here at the birth of a nation… of a dream. Nobody has to die. They can work together to protect them. His people.
One girl currently in the form of a hound, and a handful of settlers? Fury asks. His People?
They’re America, Rojhaz stresses. One day they’ll be America. And he… he’ll make them proud to be Americans. If he doesn’t return to his own time there won’t be anything, Fury retorts. Doesn’t he understand?
Rojhaz replies that he knows Fury and all those people who have come to Roanoke. He knew them all a long time ago. He remembers Reed and Sue and Javier and all of them… He remembers… He’s known them for a long time…
Fury interrupts his rambling, asking him to come down so they can talk about this. He won’t hurt him. Rojhaz warns him not to come closer. Fury points out: Rojhaz says he knew him, someone like him. In another time. Another world. Would that other Nicholas Fury betray him? Would he lie to him? Think about it.
Rojhaz decides to trust him and come down. Good man, Fury remarks and takes his hand. He knows, that other Nick Fury he knew… Yes? He isn’t him, Fury replies and sucker-punches Rojhaz. He lied.
Fury carries the unconscious Rojhaz on his back, accompanied by the Virginia dog, unaware that Banner and Peter have seen them.
What is he doing? Peter asks. Banner doesn’t care. He takes his crossbow, intent on shooting his quarry Fury.
Virginia, in her dog form, attacks him and goes for his throat. Peter hesitates and looks into the dog’s eyes. Banner urges him to kill the animal. Instead, Peter calmly talks to her, telling her to get off Banner. She’s done what she came for. They won’t get Fury now. And Virginia obeys.
Getting to his feet, Banner asks what that was. It almost seemed to understand Peter. He’s always been good with dogs, Peter proffers. Banner sighs. They’ve lost Fury. But he won’t avoid them forever. He notices the strange light, fearing a storm will be coming.
Nearing the source of the lightshow is Fury, who shouts at Reed that he brought Rojhaz. Reed need to make it happen now!
Safe behind the walls are the other marvels. Reed protests they can’t leave Fury up there. How else are they going to get Rojhaz through the gate, Fury retorts.
It would mean Fury’s death, Carlos worries. Wasn’t he listening? Clea asks. This is what he wants. She orders Enrique and Thor to make it happen. With a nod of his head Enrique replies that it has begun. She orders Thor to channel the lightning and he complies. Fury walks into the heart of the growing anomaly. Reed orders everybody to close their eyes as the energy effect grows.
Banner in a surprisingly selfless act shoves Peter down and covers him when the energy reaches them as well.
There is a noise then, so loud it fills the world. The sound of a universe screaming in pain. The sound of a world dying. And after that silence.
So it is over, a voice states. I feel time reconfiguring itself. The colony at Roanoke simply starves, their first winter in the harsh new continent. A handful of survivors are rescued by the natives. Virginia Dare will die in the form of a white deer, her own name on her lips as she transforms for the final time, never now to become queen of anything…
Time heals, and is healed. All will come into existence in its proper time. One small possibility has ended, that everything else may exist.
Everything I did, I did for good reason. And yet… and yet… if this right, why do I feel so… empty? Uatu the Watcher wonders aloud.
Another giant Watcher appears in front of him, explaining that Uatu feels shame. Uatu replies hesitatingly that he did everything he was required to do. And he did it well, the other agrees. Still as they watch the entirety of creation, for the rest of time, their shame will always linger. They meddled for selfish reasons. But if he hadn’t interfered Uatu points out, they could never have mended it themselves, could they? They will never know, the other replies, calling him Ikor’s child. All is now well. The universes continue. As much as they are shamed by him, they are proud of him. And so, that Uatu not forget his shame and so that they do not forget this triumph the high tribunal have a gift for him. They have crafted it from the fringes of alternity. It is small. Keep it safely. He hands him a small glowing object which Uatu promises to carry within his heart. A tiny universe… and with mounting fascination once more he begins to watch.
Banner gets off the unconscious Peter. Enrique states that it would seem the universe did not end. But if it had ended and a whole new universe had taken its place, how would they ever know? Reed argues. Philosophers can argue such questions until the end of time, Clea remarks, it matters not. Taking her dead husband’s head, she states that Stephen is silent. She orders Reed to bury his head with his body. Treat it with honor. He died that worlds might live. It is finally time for her to go home. Into a wall she draws a doorway. It opens to reveal a madcap other reality into which Clea steps.
While Thor joins the heroes Banner runs away. Fascinating, Enrique remarks, watching the doorway fading in the wake of Clea’s departure.
Landing, Thor admits that Susan’s words were wise. Soon he shall soar skywards. The gods of the Aesir await him. Fair Sif awaits him. His father awaits him. And what of Donal? Susan inquires. His father Wotan will with wise words advise them both. He cannot be happy while he hears Donal screaming.
Javier wants to thank Enrique. Much too early for thanks, comes the reply. Now, his terms. They are reasonable. He will be sailing north. Firstly, he is to be left alone. No interference. No investigation. Nothing unless he calls for Javier’s help. And secondly, he wants Javier to teach his children. Wanda and Petros. And they are never to know that they are his. Teach them well, he tells Javier. One day he shall send for them.
Somewhere else, Reed and Susan watch the sunset. So everything has been restored? she asks. Perhaps, Reed muses. But he fears the creation that has been restored is not the same one as the one that would have been. They gave Rojhaz back to the future. They also gave them Fury, he points out.
They carry Javier back and Reed suggests that they declare the colony independent of England. Javier’s people can guard the coast. James is a long way away. He lacks the coffers or the will to prosecute a war so far from here. And will Reed be their king? Carlos asks. He does not believe that there will be any more all for Kings or Queens, Reed muses. He shall suggest to Master Dare that they make the colony a place where all people – people of all shapes and talents – can prosper.
They are unaware that, from the forest, Banner, now changed into a gray Hulk, watches them.
Virginia wakes, helped to her legs by Peter. He asks her if she saw where Master Banner went. He was trying to protect Peter from the strange light. He thinks he fell asleep. Virginia doesn’t remember either. Peter muses that Banner will tell James that he stopped him from killing Fury. He is a dead man if he goes home. His aunt and uncle….
Virginia suggests they can get them out of England somehow. And he can stay with Virginia and her father until then. Peter would like that. Suddenly he screams out in pain as a glowing spider dropped from a tree and bites the back of his hand. Virginia gently scolds him that it’s not the end of the world. She’ll put a poultice on it. And together they go home.


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

[Assistant]
Everything is Fair
Doom has become the new self-proclaimed President of the United States. Sitting in his high floating tower, Doom makes his first changes to the country. He changes America’s land name into “Libera Cielo,” which in Latverian means “Clear Sky”. Also, Doom introduces the Latverian language to America and makes every American learn how to speak it. At this moment, Doom points his attention to a more urgent matter: the super-heroes. Doom wants to find solutions to get rid off any possible resistance. Doom remembers the time when he walked the Earth during the first heroic age, and remembers how much grief those many heroes gave him. With that in mind, Doom doesn’t want to see that happening again.
Doom gathers his Black Cabinet for solace and support. Indigo speaks and is certain that they can deal with the corporate and financial pyramids of Lotusland, but fears the Hulk. Sharp Blue calls that nothing, and is more concerned about the “X-Men mutants” in the South-West and Ghost Rider in Transverse City. Wire is concerned about Alchemax, and Fortune worries about Northeast’s true random factor: Spider-Man. She and Wire joke about him and sing: “Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can…”  Morphine Somers isn’t interested in any of the super-heroes and asks his colleagues to stop talking about them.
To himself, Doom wonders if his Cabinet combined forces will be good enough. Fortune cuts in, taking out a yellow-and-red card, referring to the heroes, and says that all those random cards can’t be handled slightly. If they ignore them, it will be at their own peril. She says that the system of divination has been treasured in Latveria for a thousand years. Morphine isn’t impressed and wants to see some of its age. Morphine uses his mutant powers of superannuation and shows to everyone that the system doesn’t look a day over seven hundred. He turns the card into dust, like he believes it should have been done since the dawn of the Computer Age.
On the subject, Morphine says that Washington has outlived its usefulness as well and destroys the White House. He says that the American government merely mediates border skirmishes between overfed corporations. He doesn’t see why Doom even bothers with them. Morphine doesn’t get it, especially not when the American southwest is full of mutant activity. Morphine says that’s his area of concern as Doom’s Minister of Humanity. Morphine is angry and doesn’t see why they bother to even listening at what Fortune says.
Wire steps in and stops the arguing. Wire claims that he communes with Doom’s world board.
Wire agrees that they should pay attention to the random factors. Doom stops the entire meeting, saying that he is board and walks out. Fortune runs him after and stops him. She asks Doom what he is keeping secret from the rest of them. Fortune tries to tell Doom that they can’t help run his campaign properly if he keeps his plans and thoughts for himself. Fortune tells Doom that he has become paranoiac. Doom turns his face to Fortune, and tells her that even paranoiacs have enemies. Doom asks Fortune if she has already forgotten her betrayal towards him? The one he paid her back by having Nkumah put a blade at her throat?
Doom says that he still knows how Fortune sold him down the Ciri River to an entity known as the Neon Angel, who became his worst enemy. Doom knows that Fortune did all that to ensure the safety of her brother, Kaz. He tells Fortune that she should have come to him first. Fortune stops Doom, saying that she wanted to tell him, but they are all afraid to tell Doom bad news because he is always so angry. Doom stops Fortune, and says that he knows that she is distraught over Kaz, and the death of Fortune’s beloved Poet, but… Wire steps into the room and jokes that he is Poet, but doesn’t know it. Doom walks away, and asks them both how he can run America, if he has to leave Latveria to the likes of his Cabinet?
South-western America, an empty desert…
A motorist steps off his bike and is glad to be home again, despite the awful heat the sun brings. The motorist is glad to be back at the place where he can relax, and shelter his acquisitions: the things he has gathered that need protection from an uncaring world. The man takes out a device. From the device, a laser comes out, and shows the hidden entrance to the man’s home. The man is glad to have the remote that guarantees him the concealment of his world within! The man goes into his house, descending the many stairs.
He turns on some lights, and enters his huge library. The man takes of his motor helmet, and remembers that it took forever to build this place. That it took him forever to gather all the artifacts that are inside the room, and keep them here. The man takes a look around his precious chamber and sees his many suits. He recalls, and knows that the suits are from warriors, warriors who battled in fought and unfought wars. The man then takes a look at a gigantic plastic world globe, and finds that design to be much better than the world of today. The man goes over to his books, which contain the works of art that can’t be displayed on the walls for fear of blocking the refrigerant, a vital chill that keeps his books from aging.
The man called Lohengrin fears that his artifacts would be ruined. If that should happen, so would be gone the meaning of his existence. Because Lohengrin is a man with all the time in the world! Lohengrin goes to sit in a chair, and commands his computer on word application. He orders it a new title for his next book: “The Fall of the House of Usherette.” Lohengrin thinks about what to put in the book, when suddenly two evil-looking persons appear behind him. They tell Lohengrin that he has an artifact that the Theatre of Pain wants.
Lohengrin asks what artifact they are talking about and how he got in. The evil man says that there isn’t a place he can’t get into. He then tells his servant, Polymre, to sample around, in the way Lohengrin likes it. Polymre grabs one of the many books and starts to bite on it. Lohengrin tries to stop her, but she doesn’t listen.
The evil man introduces himself as Septymbre and tells Lohengrin that he knows what artifact he is talking about. He threatens Lohengrin to give it, or else all of his books will get destroyed. Lohengrin doesn’t have much of a choice and gets a brown and red-striped jar, with a yellow face trapped inside it. Septymbre is glad to have the yellow alien fossil back in his might. Septymbre tells Lohengrin that he no longer has a free will, and embarks his controlling symbol on Lohengrins head.
Lotusland Studios…
A man flirts with Quirk and tries to get her to work for him. Quirk isn’t interested, but the man doesn’t stop trying. An angry Hulk appears behind them and yells to the man that if he is using Lotusland resources to start his own business, he better goes freelance – now. The Hulk gets even angrier and punches the man out of sight. Quirk gets upset at the Hulk for always protecting her, since she claims to be perfectly able of protecting herself. The Hulk gets angry at Quirk and tries to get it in her head that he is her guardian. But, if she doesn’t want him, that’s fine by the Hulk. He’s done being a cop. The Hulk goes and sadly thinks to himself that he should have left the Knight of Banner in the same way. And Gawain too.
The Hulk now believes that if he shouldn’t have been so greedy back when he was human, all those people would have been alive today. That those people would still be practicing their rituals and spreading their legends about the heroic age. One of those tales comes back to the Hulks mind. The tale about some alien jar they had recovered a jar that had the power to restore the lives of those who had fallen in past battles. The Hulk recalls how he would have made fun of a story like that in his human form of John Eisenhart, but as the Hulk, he can’t afford to be a wise guy. The Hulk jumps and bounces away, planning to get the jar and restore Gawain’s life.
Doom finds the Ghost in the Machine, and is impressed by them. The Ghosts tell Doom to stop pretending, as they know he isn’t. Doom confirms that he is. How can he not be of an admixture of science and magic? Doom tells the Ghosts that he is more sympatric to them than they realize, and also towards the vassal they call the Ghost Rider. Doom would like to have the Ghost Rider as an agent. Doom says that he needs him to leave Transverse City, to recover an artifact for him in the American southwest. Doom tells the Ghosts that he would get it himself, but he doesn’t want to announce his presence in America so soon, because the historical presence of Victor Von Doom may have special resonance to some.
Meanwhile, Spider-Man swings around his city and an explosion gets his attention. Spider-Man goes to it and rescues a car, using his webs. Spider-Man tries to bring it up again, but his web snaps and the car falls down again. Below, some Thor fans are claiming that the now dead Thunder God will soon return. Their ritual is stopped by the car that crashes down near them, killing the guy speaking. The people run away and Spider-Man swings below to check things out. He sees a guy crawling out of the car and recognizes the Punisher, as they have met before and didn’t end up so well. The Punisher tells Spider-Man not to call him that in another person’s earshot. The Punisher asks Spider-Man to call him by his real name: Jake Gallows.
The Punisher tells Spider-Man that he tried to explain their previous meeting, but he says that Spider-Man immediately gave him a hostile reaction, leaving him no other choice. The Punisher asks Spider-Man if he too hates those phony god-speakers as well as he does. The Punisher explains that he believes that Alchemax is trying to revive them. The Punisher reveals that he knows that an Alchemax recon team “recovered” a strange artifact from a Knights of Banner cache. The Punisher has heard stories that the artifact is able to restore life. He continues and says that Ayatarr wanted it to bring back the Norse Gods, but the artifact was stole right under his nose. But there was a strange thing about how it was taken, the Punisher says: it was grabbed by a mystical hand that came through something that was called a virtual unreality gate.
The Punisher says that Tyler Stone told him that the only two people who could do a thing like that are Doom and Ayatarr himself. And the Punisher doesn’t believe that the head of Alchemax would steal from himself. The Punisher says that they figured that Doom took the artifact somewhere southwest, and says that he can arrange transport to get them both there; if Spider-Man is interested. Spider-Man asks why he should be. The Punisher says that Alechemax, Tyler Stone, as does Ayatarr, offer a directorship in their company for the one who gets it back. Wouldn’t it be nice to find out first hand?
The southwest…
Bloodhawk soars through the desert sky, and gets angry when he sees lots of carcasses from killed animals. Bloodhawk knows that they have been poisoned and promises to make the one responsible for it pay. Bloodhawk flaps with his wings, thereby covering the animals with sand so that they have at least have some sort of funeral. As the sand goes, it shows a hidden vault. Bloodhawk gets interested and wants to know who would tore up a landscape for this. Bloodhawk wants to open it, but his attention gets drawn elsewhere. Suddenly, he notices giant footprints in the desert. Bloodhawk figures that there must be some kind of giant creature nearby, and wants to know what it is. Bloodhawk believes that danger must be even bigger than this one, so he goes to check it out.
As he goes, Bloodhawk doesn’t notice Meanstreak shouting at him below, trying to get Bloodhawk’s attention. Meanstreak realizes that Bloodhawk is too high to hear his voice, and though he runs fast, Meanstreak can’t fly. And the sand doesn’t allow him to run any faster. The “deer” behind Meanstreak tells him to stop complain and let his friend go, as they have bigger plans. Meanstreak agrees, as they have to get the Synge’s out of Las Vegas: they deserve it. Halloween Jack transforms back to his normal evil self, and says that he has a little side trip planned. Jack informs Meanstreak that he has brought the ashes of Heimdall, who is one of his fallen comrades from the experiment that recreated him into Loki, in the funerary box that hangs around Jack’s neck. Jack says that he hopes to learn more about Heimdall’s constitution, and his, once they have retrieved a certain artifact he has heard about.
Jack says that he knows that the artifact is now in the hands of Doom. They move to the vault Bloodhawk found earlier, and descend the many stairs in it. Meanstreak asks his friend, Jordan, if he’s sure that it’s here. Jack becomes angry and says that he is, but tells Meanstreak to never call him Jordan again, or Loki: his name is Halloween Jack!
Below, the man knows as the Ghost Rider holds Lohengrin by his throat, because Lohengrin has given the jar away to the Theatre of Pain. Lohengrin tries to explain that he didn’t have choice, but Ghost Rider doesn’t even listen. Lohengrin begs Ghost Rider not to kill him, but Ghost Rider has something better planned for him. The Ghost Rider knows how to really hurt Lohengrin and destroys all of his books. Lohengrin can’t bear to watch and tries to escape through a secret door.
Meanstreak and Jack enter, and Meanstreak notices that Lohengrin is trying to escape. He quickly runs to the man and stops him. Jack notices the mark on Lohengrin and knows it, and informs Meanstreak that the Theatre of Pain has the jar now. Ghost Rider overhears them and decides to continue his destructions, but also to listen what they say. Meanstreak can’t believe his ears and asks Jack if he knows that his former leader, Xi’an, has now joined the Theatre. Jack knows, but isn’t interested in that; he wants to know where the Theatre of Pain’s base is. The Ghost Rider offers his help and says that he can help them. Halloween Jack doesn’t trust him, but knows that he doesn’t have much of a choice. So the three become partners – for the time – and begin their search for the Theatre of Pain, a place where the X-Men have once been held captive.
Meanwhile, the Hulk still mocks about the fact that Quirk, the woman in his life, kicked him out. As he lands in the desert, he finds a blue-haired woman named Polymre. Polymre fakes that she is sad, miserable and hungry and begs the Hulk for help. Having reach the Hulk’s weak point, he decides to do it, despite the fact that the last woman who he tried to help almost bite his head off. The Hulk takes Polymre on his back, and she says that she can’t thank him enough. The Hulk wants to go but, as he prepares, Polymre turns in her vampire form and bites the Hulk in his neck!
Some time later, the Hulk wakes up, bonded in Septymbre’s base. Polymre laughs at the green goliath, while Septymbre speculates that the Hulk must be the result of a lot of pain and suffering. Septymbre activates his machines, and informs the Hulk that the Theatre of Pain enjoys so much pain. He asks the Hulk what the root of his misery is, and observes the memories on his viewing screens. The Hulk remembers Gawain’s trust towards him, and how he misused that trust that led into Gawain’s death, and that of the members of the Knights of Banner. The Hulk gets angry and tells Septymbre that he hates the fact that he did this, only to give his alter ego a better chance in life. And if he got the chance, the Hulk continues, he would take back everything that happened there and to do things whole differently.
Septymbre now knows why the Hulk wanted the alien jar, but tells him that he won’t use it to restore Gawain’s life. No, Septymbre plans to use the jar to restore Polymre’s dead sister’s life. Polymre’s sister, Wintre, was killed in a battle against mutants, who are freaks in Septymbre’s eyes that even he nor the Theatre like to approach. Septymbre begins to explain how Wintre was killed, but is disturbed by the arrival of Ghost Rider, Meanstreak and Halloween Jack. Jack notices the captured Hulk and gets interested in him, but holds that plan and tries to take the jar from Septymbre. Jack tells Septymbre that he needs it more than he does. Jack explains that he plans to use the jar to restore the rest of the Aesir and to protect himself from people who try to take Las Vegas away from him.
The Ghost Rider watches how Jack takes the jar away, and enjoys to see his team winning. Polymre doesn’t like his laughing and attacks him. Polymre kicks him and activates a nearby button that allows her to view the Ghost Rider’s most unpleasant memories on video screens. The Ghost Rider screams from the pain, and remembers the same pain when the Artificial Kidz tried to kill him by shooting him full of Mycotoxin. The Ghost Rider remembers how he had no chance to survive that, so had to allow the Ghostworks download him into a new body. Polymre now knows how the Ghost Rider was created, and realizes that he must want the jar to restore his human body.
Meanwhile, Meanstreak runs wild through the base and wishes that he had had the chance to destroy the place while he and the other X-Men were prisoners there. Meanstreak smashes his way through but, suddenly, the base goes over into self-defense. Long tentacles come from the walls that try to grab him. Some tentacles manage to grab Meanstreak’s arm, and it feels to him like the tentacles are trying to take over his mind! He feels like the tentacles are bringing his worst nightmares back to him, like the day in which Junkpile killed Serpentina. Meanstreak still hates that day; because it ruined every chance Serpentina had to become an X-Man. Polymre overhears Meanstreak and now knows why he wants the jar.
Septymbre, while fighting a transformed-into-dragon Halloween Jack, confides in Polymre that the mutants still don’t have the jar. Septymbre tells Jack to stop fighting, because once Septymbre gets what he wants from the jar, he says, Jack and his friends will all be part of his team! Jack refuses and kicks the jar out of Septymbre’s arms. Jack shapeshifts into a goat and rapidly runs to the jar, but Polymre gets it first. Halloween Jack quickly runs to the woman and takes it away from her and tries to escape. Unfortunately for Jack, Spider-Man and the Punisher arrive. Spider-Man recognizes the box that hangs around Jack’s neck and, via his webs, destroys it, and thereby also Jack’s plan to revive his former colleagues.
Jack also accidentally drops the jar again, which falls directly into Septymbre’s hands. He and Polymre take a look at their new prisoners: Meanstreak, Ghost Rider and the Hulk, but realize that they have more urgent matters to conclude. Septymbre makes his wish and Wintre begins to be brought back to life. But suddenly, the process gets disrupted and the jar shot into pieces! The Punisher has done it, and he doesn’t stop there: he also frees the imprisoned heroes. An impatient Hulk wants to make Septymbre pay and attacks him in full rage. Meanstreak also wants to hurt Septymbre, but Halloween Jack calms him down and says that they better take the chance and escape, while the others do the fighting and the rest of the hard work.
Polymre attacks Spider-Man, but he is too fast and swings her towards the same tentacles that grabbed Meanstreak. Polymre gets caught inside and screams out from the pain. The Hulk defeats Septymbre, but doesn’t want to become a killer, so he lets the villain live. He and Spider-Man try to figure out what to do with him. The Punisher has found a solution and shoots Septymbre!
Some time later, the Ghost Rider returns to the Ghostworks. He taunts his masters that he has returned the jar, but broken into pieces! He mocks the ghosts that he did what he was asked to do and gives them the jar; they never told him what condition it had to be in. And so it will always be, the Ghost Rider tells them: he will always do what’s been asked from him, but not always in the way his masters hope… or expect. The Ghost Rider becomes angry and tells the Ghost in the Machine that he wanted the jar to restore his body. But now, he wants to know what they wanted it for. He knows that the Ghost wanted it for someone else, but doesn’t know for whom. He asks the name of the individual, but doesn’t get an answer.
Meanwhile, Doom has returned to his floating castle. He opens Lohengrin’s file on his computer and concludes that he is quite the clever man, since he was able to steal something out from under Avatarr’s nose and placed the blame on Doom himself. But Doom knows that Avatarr will have more important things to worry about in the upcoming week, because everything the man owns will become his! Doom knows that by the time his Black Cabinet carries out his well-engineered plans, the shadow of Libera Cielo will fall upon the American shoreline, and Avatarr’s empire will mean nothing.
Doom wished that he had gotten the jar, if only for Fortune, but it doesn’t really matter to him, because soon he will have something else for the woman. Doom says that she will rule his homeland in his upcoming absence. He knows that Fortune loves Latveria, and will shepherd it well, despite her perfidy. Whether Doom likes it or not, Fortune’s council means much to him. Although he fears that the day may come wherein her council will no longer be his, Doom cannot imagine himself without it. Oddly, Fortune’s concerns have now become his.
He finds it odd that he wanted to obtain the jar, only to bring Poet back for her. Doom knows that Poet was a good and resourceful soldier, one who will be missed during his American campaign. Doom knows that Fortune feels that Poet was taken away from her unfairly, but feels that she must realize that everything is fair in love… and in war! Doom concludes that if one thing becomes apparent in the months ahead, it is this: he, better than any man, knows war!