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[Assistant]
House of M
Today…Steve guesses he shouldn’t be surprised. What was it his ex-wife used to say? She said to him “You’ve got everything you ever wanted, Steve Rogers… if the world didn’t turn out how you thought it would, well… that’s just life. Welcome to it.”
A now old, retired Captain America is at a party in his honor, listening to a speech. The spokesman remembers his grandfather telling him and his brother stories about seeing Captain America on the battlefield. The grandfather claimed that the inspiration that this great man was to all those fighting soldiers, and the risks that he and his partner Bucky took, how many times they came close to death, they were truly inspiring. Steve remembers.
The English Channel, 1945…A drone plane takes off over the channel, with Captain America and Bucky on top of it! Steve warns his young partner that he’s losing his grip! Bucky tells Steve to grab his hand and he does. Steve suspects that the plane is probably booby-trapped, which Bucky confirms. Steve thinks there’s no time for subtlety and rips the engine apart. He climbs himself back up to Bucky, wanting to see if they can’t get this package to return to sender! They steer the plane towards Baron Zemo’s castle, where he and his soldiers start panicking upon sight. Steve and Bucky jump off the plane into the ocean, and watch the plane crash into Zemo’s castle, making it explode! With Bucky thinking Zemo dead, he wonders what they’re going to do next.
Berlin, Germany, 1945…Reporting live, from the fall of Berlin, Edward R. Murrow tells the camera and the viewing public that he shall never forget the things they saw in the city over the past few days, when Captain America and the other Invaders led allied troops to victory over the last Nazi regiments that were holding the city. The Murrow adds that, though their crew was as far from the action as possible, the final battle between Master Man and the Invaders was still awe-inspiring. The blow these superhumans struck shook the very ground under their feet and, even half a block away, the heat from the Human Torch’s flaming form was blistering as he destroyed the Master Man.
The death of the Red Skull was not captured on film. But the image of his fallen form, with the Skull’s long-time enemy standing over his body, was broadcast around the world that night, as was the most amazing part of this whole week. When this morning, Captain America and Bucky emerged from a bunker under the city, with the Führer, Adolf Hitler himself captured! And it really was Hitler, the leader of the Third Reich and the worst mass murderer in modern history. He will be brought to justice now, for all the world to see. It’s truly a great day in Berlin, which many wondered if they’d ever live to see it.
Today…Dum-Dum Dugan explains his respect for Cap. He was there to watch him fight the Red Skull on that rooftop in Berlin. He saw it, clear as day, that Nazi coward jump to his own death when he realized there was no other way out. Dugan claims that, these kids today, they don’t understand it. Everyone is special now, and either a mutant or a super-hero. But back in the old days, guys like Cap were a rare breed, and they won that stupid war for the world. This makes Steve smile, wondering when the last time was when he saw Dugan, thinking it was a long time ago at his wedding.
Washington DC, January 1946, the White House…President Harry Truman has summoned Cap to his office, and he arrives there. The president has heard through the grapevine that Steve is thinking of getting married, and wants to know if that’s true. Steve confirms, unless the president has any objections of course but he hasn’t got any. The war is over, and the president thinks Steve served his country far more than they could have asked, thinking Steve deserves happiness now. Cap thanks President Truman for that, mentioning he did all he could just like all those other soldiers.
Truman laughs, as Steve is sounding modest as always. He jokes that, in any case, Bess would box his ears right off his head if he didn’t let her personal tie the knot. But, the president does have a few concerns. He explains to Steve that, as he knows, America’s relations with the Soviets aren’t good, even after the alliance they had. And while the president can’t see them going to battle them, tensions are going to be high there for some time. And there might come a day they will need to summon up Captain America’s help again.
Cap promises he’ll be here whenever the president needs him. Truman says he knew that, and asks Steve who Steve’s lucky girl is, and if she knows what she’s getting into. Cap smiles his girls better knows it, as she’s a spy. He met her while she was working alongside the French resistance. They walk out of the office to the gardens outside, with Truman wishing both Cap and his girl the best of luck. As they continue the walk, Truman wants to talk about these mutants he keeps hearing things about.
Senate Hearings on Mutant Activity in the United States, 1951… Cap is present at the hearing and Senator McCarthy shows Cap a picture of his wedding, asking if that’s Namor he sees on it. Cap confirms. McCarthy is surprised that with this being the case: Cap still refuses to answer questions about this… mutant… and clearly Cap’s maintained a friendship with Namor beyond their time fighting together in World War II. Cap isn’t entirely clear why he is being questioned about Namor at all, wanting to know what the problem is.
McCarthy shouts at Cap that he’s out of order there, as they are the ones asking questions here. He explains that, unless Cap has been sleeping through the last several years, he must have seen the reports on mutant activity in America. He explains that the mutants infiltrated all aspects of their society and have practically taken over Hollywood, trying to spread the message over to America’s children. Cap wants to know what that message could possible be. McCarthy explains that the message is that the mutants are claiming that they are normal, like the rest of the world’s populace.
McCarthy asks Cap if he knew studies indicate that nearly one in every one five thousand United States citizen is now born as a mutant. Cap wasn’t aware of that. McCarthy smiles that Cap now is, thinking now Cap will answer his questions. The Senator has got some questions about both Namor and Cap’s other partner, the Human Torch, and that sidekick of his, Toro. Cap apologizes but he’s afraid he has to refuse to answer any questions about them.
Cap tries to stand up, but the Senator shouts at him to go sit back down immediately wanting to do him as ordered. He explains to Steve that his uniform puts him under their command as much as the president. If that’s the case, Cap is afraid he can no longer where the costume, as he won’t inform on his friends. He refuses to watch his country sink while the Senator gets drunk over the power he has. Cap takes off his mask and walks away.
1955… the Moon…A spaceship called the Astro-5 lands and reports back to its base they’ve got lunar contact. The base reports back to Steve that he can go out for that moon walk. Steve goes outside and is thrilled. The base wants to hear something good, something they can put on film. After all, Rogers was Captain America. As he lands his feet on the moon, Steve jokes that this is one small step for men, but one giant leap for peace between man and mutant-kind. Steve asks his friend Watts if that’s newsworthy enough.
Back on Earth, the entire world witnesses how Astronaut Steve Rogers’s controversial first words from the moon have been the talk of the nation these past weeks. But sources at NASA were quick to point out that Rogers was merely trying to acknowledge that it was only through the combined work of human and mutant scientists that the United States was able to reach the moon so early in the space race.
At their home, Steve’s wife Peggy is watching the news about her husbands’ moon walk. The reporter mentions that Russia, where mutants are still banned from scientific work, has only recently been able to send an orbiter around Earth with any success. Nevertheless, the reporter concludes, Steve Rogers has long been cast by anti-mutant groups as a mutant-sympathizer.
Peggy is angry with Steve that he had to say that. Steve asks her to stop but Peggy refuses, as she noticed Steve can never just leave well enough alone. She wonders if he realizes what people are going to say to her at the office tomorrow. Steve angrily gets up, asking Peggy if her agency is spying on mutants now, instead of America’s actual enemies. He defends that mutants are American citizens. Peggy reveals that SHIELD keeps an eye on a lot of people, at home and abroad. She thinks it’s lucky that at least Bucky understands that. Steve didn’t know Bucky was now working for SHIELD as well. Peggy takes off, explaining that Steve could be working for them as well, but he had all of his old Army buddies pull strings so he could become an Astronaut, even after he embarrasses himself in front of the whole Senate.
New York City, 1957…Steve and Bucky are eating at a local diner. Bucky is sorry to hear about Steve and Peggy’s breakup, as he thought the two of them would go the distance. Steve thought so too but things change, claiming Peggy never wanted to be an Astronaut’s wife. And she was also never thrilled at the way he gave up the mask. Bucky mentions that shocked a lot of people, him included. Steve understands, but asks Bucky what he would have done if they asked him to testify against Toro for simply being who he is. Bucky doesn’t know for sure, but would have probably done the same thing Steve did. But it’s hard to say and Bucky claims himself lucky they didn’t ask him.
Steve doesn’t want to hear that now that Bucky’s been working for SHIELD, that has made him turn paranoia about mutants as well. After all, Toro was his best friend. Bucky confirms, but that was in a different world. And like Steve said, things change. Bucky believes that the whole mutant issue isn’t as black and white as it looks. Sure, they’re guys like Toro, who fought the good fight beside them. And there’s the hyper-intelligent scientists that helped them kick Russian butt. But, Bucky concludes, in Eastern Europe there exist some mutant rights groups that are essentially terrorists. Steve reminds Bucky that there exist human terrorists in the world too. Terror isn’t exclusive. Bucky knows that. Except when you’re talking about mutants, they don’t plan bombs… they are the bombs.
Today…And, of course, as the decades pass, Bucky’s words stayed with Steve. And there was a lot of truth in them. The mutant issue wasn’t black and white, it was about politics and prejudice and fear. It was about shades of grey. And there were shades of grey among mutantkind, too. There were heroes and leaders, and there were criminals and despots. After all, Steve wonders, why not? Why should mutants be any different than anyone else?
And why Steve spoke for equal rights for all people, regardless of race, creed, color or genetics, he also bore witness to a changing world, as the mutant population explosion became something undeniable. Regardless of how mankind felt, it was clear they would soon become a minority. And in this period of change, one mutant rose to prominence… a mutant named Magnus. Steve remembers lots of mutants gathering, just to look at Magneto’s posters hanging on walls.
Steve remembers that after his destruction of the Sentinel Program in the early 1970’s, the rushing tide finally overtook the world. Magneto was suddenly spoken of as a world leader. He was meeting with the United Nations and discussing ideas. And maybe it was the stubborn old warhorse in Steve, but Magnus’ vision of the future, his ideas for peace, they didn’t sit well in him. Steve even spoke out angry speeches in public, claiming they were watching as leaders all over the world are falling in line, falling all over themselves to agree with Magneto.
Steve knew that everyone knew that he bears no ill-will towards mutants, as he judges man and mutant alike by their deeds and words. And, Steve told the public right there and then, that in Magnus’ words he heard echoes of men he had faced before. Men like Mussolini and Stalin, and even Hitler. Steve now supposes he shouldn’t have been surprised when he was forced to take an early retirement from the Air Force soon after that speech. It turned out that Magneto had already gotten much father inside the system than anyone realized, and dissent was not going to be tolerated.
Steve thinks it’s amazing how quickly the world can pass someone by, make oneself feel irrelevant. From then on, the only people interested in talking to Steve were the radical human-separatist movements, and Steve refused to have anything to do with them. It wasn’t about keeping humans and mutants apart, it was about making sure the people in charge weren’t selling the world out. But no one would listen. In the late 70’s, when Bucky was killed in the line of duty, Steve was not allowed to speak for him at his old friend’s funeral. He was never even told the circumstances of Bucky’s death, though reading between the lines, it seemed clear it had something to do with a SHIELD operation in Genosha.
And SHIELD would soon be yet another arm of Magneto’s world, which Steve doubts Bucky would have found ironic. Maybe it was already starting then. Peggy wasn’t even at the funeral.
And here it is. Fifty years since that day Steve walked on the moon, and he’s still thinking about Peggy. He wonders what she would think of this dinner they threw for him. He thinks Peggy probably wouldn’t be too impressed, though at least Steve is glad Namor’s son showed up. He thinks Peggy would have liked to meet him. Steve doesn’t know what he can say here. He captured Adolf Hitler in his bunker. He walked on the moon. In the end, there’s not much more to do than thank the people who walked beside him, those who triumphed and those who fell. All the rest are just leaves scattered to the winds of history. The history of a world that no longer exists. A world that is no longer relevant.
After the party, Steve decides to take the subway home. As he descends the subway stairs, he gets kicked out of the way by two mutants. Steve doesn’t like them and the mutants think Steve wants to fight. Steve ignores them, and instead simply walks on the arriving train. As the train moves, Steve watches the two mutants cheering. He thinks it’s so hard to believe that this is the world he and his old buddies fought for. That this is the world where Bucky and so many others died for. A world where humans have been pushed aside for mutants.
Steve knows it sounds naïve, but it just… doesn’t seem fair. He guesses one can never know how life will go. Steve knows he could have died a hundred times over back in the war, but instead he lived through it. He captured Hitler with his own two hands. And then he got to walk on the moon ten years later. Steve smiles, thinking that’s not too shabby. He thinks about what Peggy used to say: “You got everything you ever wanted, Steve Rogers. If the world didn’t turn out the way you thought it would, well, that’s just life.” Still, Steve thought it would be a lot different than this.
As Steve walks inside his home, he doesn’t realize that he’s being watched above him, namely by Wolverine, Luke Cage, Emma Frost, Cloak and Spider-Man, who obviously have more in store for him.


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[Assistant]
<BR>Hour of the Hurricane! (1st story)
Early morning over London. A private time, as a young physicist turned superhero hangs poised, fifteen feet above the floor of Thames University’s gymnasium. Brian Braddock works out in his guise as Captain Britain, relieved to get into action again, even if it is only against the odd balance beam and parallel bars. The ease with which he’s adapted to life as a superhero is frightening, considering that he has only done this for a month.
He somersaults up in the air. In mid-jump, he hears a nose from outside – someone’s about to enter and it wouldn’t do to find Captain Britain in a gym reserved for Brian Braddock. Cap touches the amulet around his neck and changes in midair. It is powerless Brian Braddock who lands gracelessly, just as Jacko Tanner and some of his friends enter.
Tanner helps Brian up but can’t resist taunting him, as he asks whether Brian intends to try out for the Olympics team. A delicate chap like him might have been hurt. Brian angrily turns away, ordering Jacko to take his hands off him. Unimpressed, Jacko keeps on mocking: Such hostility from their resident mild-mannered genius. Brian warns him to stop taunting or one of these days …
He’ll do nothing, Tanner shoots back. He’ll merely turn on his heel and walk away. Brian does just that and Tanner calls after him that his problem is that he’s as predictable as he is gutless.
Outside the gym, Brian broods about Tanner’s words. He realizes that they all must think he’s a coward because he won’t fight them, but none of them know what happened to Brian’s parents or the vow he made to them because of that.
He is broken out his pensive mood when Courtney Ross calls out to him and joins him. Grabbing his arm, she invites him for breakfast and Brian happily accepts.
The two of them start off the university grounds, blissfully unaware that this beautiful November morning is about to end. Suddenly, a costumed flying figure crashes through one of the buildings’ roofs. He announces that he is Hurricane and that he is here to destroy Captain Britain!
Debris falls from the roof and Brian utters a warning cry at Courtney. The flying Hurricane gloats at the destruction he is wreaking, courtesy of his armor and his thrusters. Next, he tries out his wrist-blasters to destroy a car. He reverses the effect to create an irresistible suction. While Hurricane causes even more destruction he keeps on ranting about he fools at the institute who called him a madman. They will mock him no more, now that he is master of the raging hurricane!
Brian leaves Courtney on the periphery of the university grounds, claiming he’s going to help people trapped in the wreckage. He ducks behind a piece of debris, touches the amulet and turns into Captain Britain. The next moment, he draws his quarterstaff and using it as a pole vault he jumps up to his foe’s level. Making a feeble joke about the weather, he kicks the surprised villain, who falls to the ground.
However, his armor caught the brunt of impact and, the next moment, Hurricane trains his wrist-blasters on Cap and fires, tossing him right into the debris. Nearby are Jacko Tanner and his cronies, wondering what Captain Britain is doing here. Trying to save their worthless hides and wondering why he’s bothering, Cap thinks caustically.
He’s diverted for only a moment, but that’s enough. The next moment, a thirty-foot high hurricane is moving into his direction, with the laughing villain standing in its vortex. Brian uses his staff as a pole again and manages to jump into the eye of the storm. But Hurricane trips him and Brian lands within the vortex after all. Moments later, Captain Britain lies on the grounds, defeated, while the laughing villain flies away.


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[Assistant]
<BR>Havoc at Heathrow! (1st story)
Hurricane’s warehouse hideout near Heathrow airport:
Captain Britain has finally tracked down the villain and presses the attack, intending to take Hurricane out before he recovers his wits. Easier said than done, though, since Hurricane’s armor protects him from Brian’s blows and his wind-blasts push him violently away.
So strong are the wind-blasts, in fact, that Captain Britain is pushed straight through the wall and outside the warehouse. Hurricane then uses his wind-blasts to lift a petrol truck and toss it right at the still groggy Captain. Brian barely evades the truck’s impact and the following explosion.
Nearby, the Heathrow airport personnel notices something going on and calls for the fire brigade and a security team.
Hiding behind some crates, Cap reasons that the only things he has going for himself against his foe are speed and agility. He’ll have to try and wear Hurricane down. He attacks again, but Hurricane boasts that he doesn’t even feel Cap’s blows through his armor. He shoots again, mocking Brian’s fancy acrobatics as the hero somersaults away. Brian touches down again and hits the villain’s backpack, hoping that there’s a chink in the armor somewhere. He seems to have some measure of success, as Hurricane shouts “no” and all of a sudden his winds go wild.
Hurricane presses some buttons at his wrist, intending to compensate for the damage. He then attacks again with his windblasts and Captain Britain, who has lost his quarter-staff, is caught like a leaf in a storm.
Still reasoning that he needs to get to the backpack, Brian lands hard on an active runway, with an aircraft moving fast into his direction. Hurricane uses this opportunity to try out his suction blasts on the plane, trying to pull the plane on top of Brian. The hero runs for his life and makes it just a hair’s breadth before the plane crashes down. He worries about what would happen, should the fuel ignite but Hurricane once more captures him with his wind-blasts not allowing him the opportunity to help. Finally, Brian runs out of air and collapses.
Hurricane disperses his winds, admitting that Captain Britain came closer to victory than he knew. Security forces arrive at that moment, but Hurricane easily disperses them and their vehicles with a few wind blasts. He’ll be gone by the time they regroup, he states. But, before he goes, he has a very special fate in store for Captain Britain…
When Captain Britain finally regains consciousness, he finds himself chained over the air intake of a Concorde SST. The villain informs him that he plans to start the engines and run them full throttle until Cap’s chains snap – at which point the turbo-jets will make mince-meat of him …


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[Assistant]
<BR> Wind of Death! (1st story)
First story:
The situation is grim. Chained to the air intake of a Concorde, Captain Britain faces death, while the villainous Hurricane gloats. Once he pushes the throttles to full power, Captain Britain will be sucked into the air intakes and die a horrible death. Stalling for time, the hero commends the villain’s genius and asks why he is using it criminally. Apparently happy to be able to tell the tale, Hurricane shouts that he does it for the simplest of reasons: vengeance against those who laughed at him.
(flashback to two years ago):
Hurricane was still Albert Potter, meteorologist at a London weather research station and the laughing-stock of his colleagues, who mocked his expensive and fruitless attempts at taming the weather. Eventually, the director cancelled the project, just when Potter had secretly completed his experimental weather control craft. Taking an enormous risk, Potter secretly activated the craft, flying into the air and right into the giant Hurricane Linda. The craft withstood the winds until it was repeatedly hit by lightning. In an instant, the craft was transformed into a piece of junk and, by all logic, Potter should have been killed by the four thousand meter fall into the ocean. However, by some inexplicable quirk of nature, he survived and changed – survived to be rescued by a ship two days later, with the growing conviction that the craft had failed due to sabotage. Since then, his intention has been to make all of humanity pay and bring the world to its knees.
(the present)
Hurricane starts the Concorde’s motor and the wind force inexorably starts to draw Captain Britain in. He snaps his arm forward and manages to break one chain. He holds on and changes to Brian Braddock. As Brian has a slimmer, less muscular frame, he manages to slip out of the chains and swing out of the jet intake. Back on the ground, he changes back into Captain Britain, catapults onto the jet and, with the help of is quarterstaff, pulls Hurricane up out of the cockpit to brutally throw him to the ground a moment later.
The surprised villain responds with some windblasts. Cap walks towards Hurricane but finally sinks to the ground in exhaustion, seemingly pummeled into unconsciousness. As Hurricane triumphantly stands above him, Captain Britain jumps up and uses his quarterstaff to separate him from his backpack. A moment later, Hurricane’s power goes wild and, deprived of the cooling system in his backpack, Hurricane burns himself out. Airport Security comes to tidy things up ad Captain Britain muses sadly at the brilliance of Albert Potter and how he threw it all away.


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[Assistant]
<BR> Dagger of the Mind! (1st story)
First story:
Out of her mind with grief and terror, Betsy Braddock swings a battleaxe at the “monsters,” who she believes killed her brothers. Actually, they are her brothers but the mental influence of the evil Dr. Synne lets her see things in a different way.
She turns her attentions to her elder brother, Jamie, who has a hard time moving fast, thanks to his recent accident. The way his leg is slowing him down he’s a sitting duck. Luckily, Brian diverts Betsy’s attention but she is so fast that her axe actually chips his arm. Brian cries in pain and Betsy turns again toward Jamie, who falls as he tries to scramble away. Backed into a corner, he’s trapped and Brian has no choice but to turn into Captain Britain in front of his siblings.
The next moment, he uses his quarterstaff to stave off what would have been a lethal axe strike. Seeing her new foe, Betsy screams in horror. She perceives a new monster more terrifying than the others. Yet, even now, she does not panic and attacks, tackling the Captain. As he stands before a window, her momentum carries both of them outside.
As Cap hears her rambling about monsters, he reasons that Dr Synne has hypnotized her and that he must be somewhere nearby to exert that kind of control. He looks across the snowy landscape and indeed – not too far away – there is Dr. Synne on his horse.
The villain laments that Captain Britain is apparently able to resist his powers and that makes him too dangerous to live. Betsy, in the meantime, strikes again but, with his superhuman strength and speed, Captain Britain finally manages to wrangle the weapon away from her. As Jamie joins them, Captain Britain kayos Betsy with a nerve pinch and tells his brother to take care of her. He’s going after the real villain. But Synne is gone. Only the hoof prints of his horse are left.
Captain Britain and Jamie carry Betsy to the car and Cap assures his brother that he’ll explain later. First, they have to get their sister to a hospital.
A little later at the nearby Morder Research Center, a clinic that specializes in diseases of the mind, Betsy is being examined, while Jamie tells his brother that he’s changed, inside as well as out. He’s seen a lot, Brian replies. He’s talked with gods and took on the responsibilities of a superhero. And yet he could not save his own sister. It’s all like a dream, Jamie states. Brian agrees. And he’s one of the protagonists bewildered by forces beyond human understanding. He asks Jamie to keep quiet about this, until he can sort this madness out.
They are joined by Dr. Ramsey, who informs them that their sister is as well as can be expected. They plan to keep her there for some more tests, nothing for her brothers to worry about, just a routine precaution. He urges the two men to leave and assures them he’ll call the next day. As they leave, his voice peters out, his eyes grow glazy and, suddenly, he informs his ‘master’ that the brothers are gone and that the girl is being prepared. They will begin extensive brainwashing and, within a day, she will be his to command.
Excellent, Dr Synne agrees, as his own powers are not yet sufficient to control the girl. The delicious irony that the brothers should deliver her to his doorstep, where he will shape her into the instrument of their destruction!


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[Assistant]
<BR> … To Die A Superhero!  (1st story)
First story:
Captain Britain runs to save the young woman whom the villagers, whose minds are clouded by the mental powers of Dr. Synne, intend to burn at the stake. Over the villagers’ protests, Captain Britain jumps over the flames, puts his quarterstaff between the stake and the chains holding the girl and uses it as a lever to break them. The hero grabs the falling girl and then gets ready to defend her from the angry mob. A difficult task, as his sole weapon now lies in the flames.
But, suddenly, the attackers freeze and the hero turns upon hearing an all too familiar voice. Dr Synne announces that it is not for them to destroy Captain Britain. That pleasure belongs to him. So Synne is the puppeteer, the Captain announces. But how? And why? By the utilization of greater mental power than man has ever known, the villain boasts. As for why: to test that power. First on these simple country folk, then on more sophisticated city dwellers. And, finally, on all mankind.
While Synne speaks of world domination, in a certain nearby mansion, his every action, every move he makes and every word he speaks are painstakingly plotted in a huge computer complex. However, at this crucial moment, the artificial monstrosity senses that something is wrong – its foe is more powerful than anticipated, therefore it will have to divert all its energy to Synne. Its energy flow to other subjects is temporarily lost. It watches on its screen how Synne seems to be gaining the upper hand in the struggle with Captain Britain.
In the meantime, at a hospital specializing in mental disorders, a doctor informs Jamie Braddock that it’s hopeless: his sister is never going to wake up. At that very moment, Betsy Braddock does just that – she wakes up, completely recovered, while the doctor silently wonders what happened: Synne was certain she wouldn’t regain consciousness.
Synne has more pressing concerns, as his mental energy tears at Captain Britain’s brain. The hero refuses to be stunned and attacks his foe but Dr Synne is safe behind a mental force shield. As Captain Britain lies stunned, Synne levitates his fallen form and vows to send him to his final fate.
The computer is satisfied. His subject seems in total control and it anticipates completion in fifty seconds. It commands Synne to levitate Captain Britain into the flames and, in a few seconds, the hero will be destroyed.
Before Captain Britain’s mind’s eye, Merlyn and Roma appear and he desperately wonders why they chose him. Was it their intention to have him die here?
Synne laughs as he withdraws the mental shield that held the Captain and the hero tumbles towards the raging inferno.


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[Assistant]
<BR> Riot on Regent Street!  (1st story)
First story:
Vixen’s mob hit the bank just before opening, smashing into the vault and grabbing a million pounds before escaping in a hovercraft that adheres to walls right into Regent’s Street’s rush hour traffic. Despite their weapons, one lone cop car, driven by the determined Inspector Kate Fraser is still following them.
Help is nearby, though, as Captain Britain, on his morning patrol over the roofs, hears what he believes to be the noises of a huge traffic jam. He gets closer to investigate and sees the wall-climbing hovercraft of Vixen’s mob. He recognizes their uniforms, having fought members of the same gang before, jumps over the craft and stops it with his quarterstaff, wrecking the engine. As a result, the vehicle falls hard.
The gangsters are not willing to give up and try to execute an escape plan. Angrily wondering where her reinforcements are, Kate gets out of her car to see Captain Britain fighting the gangsters. However, one of the mobsters slipped away unseen and now intends to shoot the Captain from the back.
Kate grabs a gun from one of the fallen mobsters but hesitates for a moment. If she shoots, she’ll have killed again, but she has to help Captain Britain. She shoots, luckily only injuring the gangster.
After the mobsters are taken care of, Cap thanks Kate for saving his life. Just returning the favor, Kate replies and adds cryptically that she’s glad she’s only wounded the man. She died too many times to wish death on anyone else, no matter how evil. Cap doesn’t understand and supposes she won’t enlighten him but could she tell him why her boss, Chief Inspector Thomas, dislikes him so much?
Kate explains that it goes back a few years. Dai and his wife were at a conference in New York when they got caught up in a superhero battle. A building was toppled on both of them. Dai was hurt badly but his wife died. He doesn’t really mind superheroes, if they stay in New York, but he’ll do anything to stop that kind of madness from spreading to London.
The day moves on and Brian Braddock is back Thames University, strolling across the campus with Courtney Ross, much to the chagrin of Jacko Tanner and his cronies. Brian tells Courtney about his experiences at Darkmoor when, suddenly, an excited young woman comes running towards them – his twin sister, Betsy. Shaking like a leaf, the blonde informs her brother that he must come home at once. Their elder brother, Jamie, has had a terrible accident. Brian asks Courtney to tell Dr MacKenzie what happened and hurries away with his sisters, much to Jacko’s glee.
Later, Betsy drives Brian to the hangar where she has her plane. She apologizes for her driving. Jamie’s modified Mercedes has more power than she’s used to. So says his sister, the charter pilot, Brian jokes, before asking what exactly happened to Jamie. She’ll tell him once they’re airborne she replies and gets the plane ready for takeoff, while Brian wonders about their relationship. They’re so close sometimes but like strangers at others. If only their parents were still alive, he thinks wistfully. But they’re dead and all the powers in the world won’t drive that nightmare away.
Once they’re airborne, Betsy fills him in. Jamie was testing his new formula 1 racer on the track behind the house. Suddenly, the car went out of control, clipped some trees and exploded. Betsy was only a few meters away when the blast threw Jamie out of the car. She managed to smother the flames before they got trough his protective suit. It’s odd, she recalls, but she saw a strange beam of light hitting the cockpit before the crash.
Suddenly, her eyes are aglow as she shouts that she is seeing the same light now. A moment later, Betsy screams that there are monster all around them, trying to pull the plane down. Brian doesn’t see anything, as the plane crashes, the impact knocking Betsy unconscious. Brian switches to Captain Britain and drags his sister out of the plane a moment before the fuel ignites.
They make it and Cap finally has time to wonder what happened to Betsy. She screamed she saw monsters. An answer comes in an unexpected shape. A wild-looking elderly man on a frenzied white horse appears before him, proclaiming that they were monster of the mind, spawned by the demon dreams of Dr. Synne. And as he destroyed the girl’s mind, so shall he now destroy Captain Britain’s.


[User]
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[Assistant]
<BR>  “… Once upon a Death Wish!”  (1st story)
First story:
Reminded of his parents’ death and his role in it, Captain Britain wishes to die and the mysterious Mastermind seems all too willing to fulfill that wish. Captain Britain buries his face in his hands, moaning that he can’t live with the guilt. He expected sterner stuff from a “superhero,” Mastermind mocks. Captain Britain explains that he didn’t seek his powers or his mission. They were offered to him by forces beyond his understanding. But he accepted them, Mastermind reminds him. He made the choice.
Not out of vanity, Cap defends himself. He wanted to fight injustice. Noble motives aren’t enough. He lacks moral fibre, his foe replies. He points his gun at him. That moment, they are interrupted, as the charwoman, Emma Collins, enters looking for her dust pan. Mastermind shoots her and Captain Britain decides he’s not yet ready to die while such evil walks the world. He dives for his quarterstaff. Nevertheless, Mastermind angrily announces that he’s finished.
At the same moment that Mastermind fires at him, Cap presses the second button of his staff and its forcefield engulfs him and protects him from the deadly laser ray. Using his staff to propel himself forward, Cap jumps right at Mastermind – and right through him, as though he weren’t there!
Studying his foe, he notices a beam of light from the computer aimed straight at Mastermind. Captain Britain understands what his foe is now and, more importantly, how to beat him. He throws the staff at the computer’s projecting lens and, when it hits its aim, Mastermind disappears. He was right, Captain Britain announces. It was a three-dimensional projection - a hologram.
What else is the computer capable of, the hero wonders, as he carefully picks up the inured Emma and carries her out of the lab. He calls for an ambulance, emotionally drained, praying that this won’t end with his having more innocent blood on his hands – while the computer watches and plots.
Hovering above the streets of London is SHIELD’s famed Heli-Carrier, making the Londoners who are not used to the sight nervous. Inside, Nick Fury is addressing Steve Rogers aka Captain America, telling him that this may be the biggest job he’s ever tackled. Their orders came straight from the Ministry of Defense, who is suspecting that some commies are building a supersecret computer complex in Britain. They asked SHIELD to help out. And for that they need Captain America? Steve asks incredulously. Fury tells him to get into his longjohns and pick up his orders on the way out. Oh, and if he runs into a costumed clown named Captain Britain, he should check him out as well. Intelligence thinks he might be tied in to the computer somehow.
Back at Braddock Manor, Captain Britain carries Emma outside to the waiting ambulance. Unfortunately, that’s not the only thing waiting, as Cap finds himself surrounded by the police, led, of course, by his favorite representative of law and order, Inspector Dai Thomas.
Thomas orders his men to take the injured woman and turns to Cap, demanding to know what happened to the woman and whether he was responsible.
Cap has no time for explanations. He has to get back to the computer. Thomas takes his silence for an admission of guilt. Angrily, he rants that first Captain Britain all but wrecks London battling that Hurricane fellow. Then, there’s the strange business of the murder of someone named Synne in one of the nearby villages. Cap was at that scene as well. And now the woman! He’s no hero, but a public menace!
Captain Britain finally protests. But he hasn’t got the time to explain - he’d better make time, Thomas threatens. He wants answers and he doesn’t care whether he gets them here or inside the Yard. He can’t talk now, Cap states and Thomas order his men to arrest him.
Brian knows that whichever decision he makes now will be wrong but, even as he ponders his desperate dilemma, a hooded person steals inside the computer lab. The hooded man gloats that, thanks to the police, he has the chance to slip inside and take control of this complex. And when he’s done, no power will stop him from gaining control over all of Great Britain and, eventually, the domination of the entire world. He touches a button and a screen lights up. Satisfied, he sees that the computer’s hostages – Captain Britain’s siblings, Betsy and Jamie –are still well-guarded. Then he switches the screen to another grim sight, Captain Britain being held by policemen, while Thomas is about to unmask him.


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[Assistant]
<BR>  “A Hero unmasked!”  (1st story)
First story:
Moments ago, C.I.D. inspector, Dai Thomas, ordered Captain Britain to remove his mask. As the hero refused, Thomas now intends to unmask him himself, leaving Captain Britain in a quandary: should he disobey the law or risk his secret identity? He protests that Thomas mustn’t do this. When Thomas doesn’t listen, Cap kicks him away before he can fully remove the mask.
Angrily, Thomas reaches for his weapon, announcing that he didn’t want to settle this with a gun.
Nor will he, another voice announces, as Captain America joins the fray and asks what this is all about.
Thomas replies that he doesn’t want to be impolite but Captain America is interfering in official police business and they can’t have that, not even from him. So he’d better stand down or be arrested. No way, Cap announces and kicks away the gun. Thomas was pointing at him. He has not time for this red tape. He shouts at Captain Britain to run – he’ll handle the bureaucracy. Surprisingly, Captain Britain attacks him instead! As far as he’s concerned, he’s in enough hot water and he doesn’t need attacked policemen to make the situation worse. Plus, he figures, if he takes the police’s side, maybe they’ll see that he’s no threat. Unfortunately, Captain America easily tosses him to the ground.
The policemen ask Inspector Thomas if they should interfere. He tells them not to. That way, they’ll weaken each other and afterwards they can take both in.
Captain America gives his British counterpart a hand, suggesting he stop trying to impress the cops and let Captain America get him away from them. Grasping his hand, Captain Britain tells him that what he most admires about Yanks is their unbearable trust – with that, he flips Captain America over. Perhaps he gets the message now: he is not a lawbreaker. Losing his patience, the other man snaps that his message is coming in loud and clear. But, in the States, a hero does whatever is necessary to protect his secret identity. Maybe he’s not the genuine article… He’s not in the Colonies now, Captain Britain snaps back, as he reaches for his quarterstaff. Both men get ready for a proper fight.
Inside Braddock Manor, the shrouded figure, who has been watching matters on the computer screen, exclaims “Captain America?! Here?” Could he suspect his presence? He calms himself announcing that his foe doesn’t even know he’s still alive. And he won’t find out until it’s too late. This time his enemy will not triumph. This time Captain America will die while he will rule the world. With that vow, the Red Skull reveals his unholy visage. But, to that end, he continues, he must reprogram the computer for its final assault on mankind. How appropriate that his first victim should be his greatest foe, he announces, as he turns back to the computer screen watching the battle between the two champions.
Outside, Captain Britain finds that his foe is faster than he anticipated, as he can barely evade the other man’s thrown shield. He counters with his quarterstaff and then uses it to kick away the shield. He mocks that Captain America might just be a had-been. Pissed off, Captain America kicks him straight in the chest, intending to teach him a lesson in manners. He doesn’t get far, as suddenly a gun is held to his temple and Dai Thomas announces that they are both under arrest.
Why take him in, Captain Britain protests. Captain America started the trouble. Thomas isn’t interested, until Captain America announces that he is operating under orders from SHIELD, with clearance from the British C.I.D. They’ll find his papers in his belt buckled. Thomas checks the clearance and actually apologizes. Nevertheless, he intends to keep Captain Britain, until Captain America explains that Captain Britain is an integral part of his assignment. He’ll have to stay with him until the mission is completed. Just his rotten luck, Thomas swears. He warns Captain Britain that he won’t rest while he’s still on the loose. As soon as the assignment is finished, he’ll be taken into custody.
Thomas storms off and Captain America tells the other Captain to relax and put that stick away, unless he wants him to break it over his thick skull. Captain Britain still isn’t convinced. The papers might be forged. If he’s really Captain America, why was he able to give him such a tussle? The real Captain America would have made short work of a novice like him. Captain America tells him that he either overestimates him or underestimates himself. His reflexes are fast. With more experience he could hold himself against any hero. But he didn’t cross an ocean to test him. Pointing at Braddock Manor he tells him that his mission is to check out a computer that apparently is inside that mansion. Does he know anything about it? More than he’d believe Captain Britain replies, although he’d forgotten about it during the battle. He’d be happy to brief him, if the other man is willing to forget youthful cheek and agree to be friends.
The two Captains shake hands and, inside the mansion, the Red Skull swears that no amount of information will save Captain America from the wrath of the Red Skull.


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[Assistant]
<BR> Two Died With Honour! (1st story)
First story:
St Paul’s Cathedral: A place where weddings and funerals are held for royalty and for fallen heroes. It’s several hours before the service begins and a somber Nick Fury stands before two coffins, covered with the Union Jack and the Star-spangled Banner respectively. It should be him lying there, he thinks, not those two. He should have saved Captain America and Captain Britain, now he can only avenge them by finding the man who did this – the Red Skull. Sitting down in front of Captain America’s coffin, he sifts through his memories trying to find a clue.
(Flashback)
Fury is trapped in one of the STRIKE planes that are bombing Braddock Manor. Radcliffe cynically tells him to enjoy the show. Fury has an idea. He tells Radcliffe that he can guess who is next on the “hit list.” Could he have a smoke first? There’s a cigar in his pocket. It’s traditional to let a condemned man have a smoke, Radcliffe agrees. He takes the cigar, lights it and puts it into Fury’s mouth, little guessing that it is actually a weapon. A moment later, a poisonous dart shoots out of the cigar and into his back. Good old Q-branch, Fury exclaims.
Still tied to his seat, Fury activates the radio with his foot, hoping he’ll reach STRIKE central and that they can help him. He is lucky and soon STRIKE central guides the plane back via auto-control.
(The present)
Fury looks to the ground, dejected. Still no clue about the Red Skull. Suddenly, there’s a hand on his shoulder and he is told that he mustn’t blame himself for what happened. If anyone should shoulder the blame, it’s him, the newcomer says.
It’s a tall, thin, formally dressed middle-aged man. He shows Fury his credentials and introduces himself as Commander Lance Hunter, director of STRIKE. He’ll always feel guilty for allowing that traitor Radcliffe to enter the ranks. Well, he should, Fury exclaims and strikes away the other man’s bowler. He’s at a funeral so he should pay some respect.
Calmly Hunter tells Fury to collect himself. Anger is useless and wallowing in self-recriminations while the world is in danger is futile. The Red Skull is still at large and recruiting a sizeable army here in London. Unless they can stop him, he may well succeed, where Hitler failed.
In the meantime, at Thameside University, several students are watching a news report and learn about the death of the mysterious hero, Captain Britain. Seeking comfort In Jacko Tanner’s arms, Courtney Ross asks the others to turn it off. It seemed like only yesterday when Captain Britain saved her from that monster, Hurricane, and now he’s dead. Tactlessly, Tanner tells her its not like she lost one of her family. Who was he really? Some bloke running around in longjohns. For all they know, he could have been a villain.
How dare he, Courtney exclaims. They heard on the TV that he died fighting dangerous Neonazis. Angrily, she slaps him. Tanner suggests she go find her milksop pal, Brian Braddock, to hold her hand if she feels that way; if she can find him, that is. He hasn’t been in class for days.
Yes, Brian would understand, Courtney silently agrees. He’s gentle and sensitive. If only he wouldn’t shy away from life … from her. She looks at a picture of Brian Braddock, wondering why he’s so afraid of involvements. What hurts is he hiding? Will she ever learn who the real Brian Braddock is?
The SHIELD helicarrier hovering above London.
Within Dum Dum Dugan, Fury’s right-hand man, is overseeing a fight involving … Captain Britain and Captain America! Dugan watches the strangely mechanical fight sequence, until Fury and Hunter enter.
Fury can’t believe his eyes, as he helps Captain America, who just received a blow up. Something is wrong, though. Why is Cap so limp, Fury asks Dugan. His friend apologizes. He didn’t think Fury would take it that way. They are just Life Decoy Models. Dugan had made them up after the two Captains were killed. He figured they’d use them to rattle the Skull and catch him off-guard.
Dropping the limp Captain America model, Fury admits to himself that there was no miracle escape for Captain America and Captain Britain. They’re really dead and the others are going to have to fight without them.


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[Assistant]
<BR>While the World Gently Weeps ! (1st story)
First story:
“Britain Mourns Fallen Heroes,” is the headline of the Times, showing a picture of Captains Britain and America. This is good news for the Red Skull. Crumpling up the paper, the Skull gloats about his great triumph. Finally, after all this time, Captain America, the living symbol of the United States, is vanquished and Captain Britain, embodiment of the country that brought about the Fuehrer’s downfall, is dead as well! Smashing his fist on his desk, the Red Skull shouts that this is merely the beginning, for he won’t stop with crushing them, their nations will be next.
Unfolding a map, the Red Skull eagerly shows two of his men his master plan for the annihilation of the British people. Talking to himself, the Skull is convinced that the Fuehrer’s heart would swell with pride at such a cunning scheme and he can almost feel him smiling upon him and guiding him to the final conquest, which he was denied. The Red Skull turns to the picture of Adolf Hitler at the wall and salutes, vowing that he won’t fail him and, with his inspiration, he’ll bring forth the Fourth Reich.
At the same time, a top-security session is taking place at Ten Downing Street. The prime minister asks whether Nick Fury and Lance Hunter have located the Red Skull or learned of where he plans to attack. Unfortunately, they have not. Yet, Hunter assures that they have every available man working round-the-clock on it. The prime minister says that it’s not enough, the Red Skull is one of the most dangerous men alive and, so far, they only managed to uncover one of his pawns, the traitor Radcliffe, whom Fury killed and, therefore, is of no use to them. Nick Fury gets a little bit angry, stating that he is well aware of his mistakes but wallowing in guilt is not going to help now. Fury tells the prime minister to give him free reign and he’ll bring in the Red Skull in no time. Reminding him that he is just a guest in this country, the prime minister says that he doesn’t like outbursts as this, but he understands Fury’s anxiety and therefore wants to cooperate with him the best way possible. Hunter chimes in, trying to calm down the tempers. He thanks the prime minister and states that he and Fury will be working together quite effectively. Fury understands and promises that he’ll be playing by their rules. He only wants nobody to stop him when they get a hot lead. Then, Hunter says, he’ll be only too glad to follow Fury’s lead. Excusing themselves, the two leave the Prime Minister alone and get to the task.
On a dark street, somewhere north of London, two figures clad in red and blue are walking the road. Captain America knows they need to tell Fury of their plan to let the Red Skull believe them to be dead, but the next phone is in the hospital more than a mile away. As they continue to walk, a light suddenly approaches them. The two heroes don’t want themselves to be seen and leap off the road, hoping that the driver didn’t see them. While the two Captains are hiding in the bushes, the car stops and a middle-aged couple get out. The man is sure to have seen two men leap off the road, but his wife tells him she didn’t see anything and she doesn’t want to be late for the theatre. As they get back into the car, the man swears that he saw them; he even got a glimpse of red and blue clothing... could it be that they were the two heroes, he asks. His wife though tells him to shut up, fearing that, if he would tell anyone else, people would think him nuts.
Once the car is out of sight, Captain America and Captain Britain come out of hiding. They discuss what they just heard. Obviously, the public already thinks them dead, so the Red Skull must do so too. Captain America is having second thoughts about letting the world grieve for them; it doesn’t feel right. Captain Britain though cheers him up, saying that people have short memories and great concerns for them and, surely, they’ll be forgiven this ploy. Now, however, they need to hurry and rescue his brother and sister, who are still held hostage in the hospital.
Fury and Hunter have made their way to a huge base, located beneath a transparent dome at the bottom of the sea. Saying that it’s his show, Fury asks his colleague where they will start looking for the Skull. Hunter says that Dockland is their best bet, as they had numerous reports of Nazi activity there recently. Guiding Fury into the base’s Radio Communication Center, Hunter points to a huge screen showing a map of the city. The flashing lights on it show the positions of their agents there, a heavy concentration of them being around Dockland. As soon as one of the men learns something definite, it will be directed to the command central and they’ll be on it. For now, though, all they can do is sit and wait.
Having reached the hospital, the two Captains peer into a window to see that Jamie and Betsy are tied up, back to back, with two of the Red Skull’s men and Dr. Ramsey watching over them. The heroes wonder how they can attack without endangering the hostages, for, as soon as they burst in, one of the villains might shoot them. Captain Britain has an idea: a diversion is what they need. He tells Captain America to wait there and burst in, as soon as the guards will answer the door. Cap understands the plan and, before Britain leaves, he tells him to make sure to distract all of the guards.
Making his way around the hospital, Brian thinks to himself that he can’t botch this, not with the lives of his family hanging in the balance. Activating his amulet, Brian changes from costume into civilian clothes and, in this form, he can enter the hospital without suspicion. Once inside, he makes his way down a long corridor to the room where his siblings are held in. Brian knocks and, once the door opens, he pretends to be a lunatic patient, urging Dr. Ramsey to help him, as he is not insane and doesn’t want to remain in there. The doctor is startled, while the two guards fall for Brain’s act and prepare to deal with the supposed nutcase. Right then, Captain America bursts in, easily deflecting the men’s bullets with his shield. Brian uses this split-second to activate his amulet again, changing back into Captain Britain. Together, the two heroes quickly defeat the men and untie the Braddock siblings. Rather concerned, Jamie asks Captain Britain if it is really Brian, for they heard report of Captain Britain having been killed. He demands to know whether he is the real deal or an imposter, dressed in Captain Britain’s costume.


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[Assistant]
<BR>They’ve kidnapped the Prime Minister ! (1st story)
First story:
At midnight, James Callaghan, the British prime minister, sits in his office at Ten, Downing Street, reading through some documents. Just as he prepares to turn in for the night, he is suddenly gone, disappearing into thin air.
Almost instantly, S.T.R.I.K.E commander, Lance Hunter, is informed of the incident. Still holding up the phone, he tells his colleague Nick Fury about the bad news and he is equally startled. Hunter tells Fury to calm down as he wants to get some more information.
Meanwhile, in a seemingly deserted dockland warehouse, the Red Skull and his men observe the prime minister rematerializing in the entry chamber among their lab equipment. As soon as the goons recognize who their prisoner is, they are in disbelief. They knew that the Skull was powerful but they didn’t consider he would be capable of performing such a feat – in fact, they think that it must be an actor and not the real Callaghan. Furious by his followers’ doubts, the Red Skull tells the prime minister to convince them himself. Still disoriented by the transport, Callaghan angrily says that they won’t get away with this kidnapping and that his disappearance must have been noticed the same moment he was gone. By now, every agency in the government will...
He is interrupted by the Red Skull, who orders his prisoner to be silent. For long decades, he has endured British stubbornness, ever since and before World War II, but no longer will he allow his destiny to be denied. Now, the Skull gloats, will victory be his. As Callaghan is led away to a prison cell, he calls the Red Skull mad – for when Hitler and an entire army couldn’t conquer Great Britain, how should he do it with a few henchmen? The Red Skull does have an answer, though, with an ultimatum: Surrender within twelve hours or face annihilation.
At the hospital somewhere north of London, the freed Jamie and Betsy Braddock are somewhat surprised that their saviors are Captain Britain and Captain America. Jamie brings it right to the point, saying that the news reported them dead, so it can’t be his brother Brian underneath that mask, can it? Captain America wants to know what exactly the news said about their deaths but Jamie refuses to reply, not until his own questions are answered first and he can be sure that they aren’t imposters. Betsy is just confused; first she was captured by neo-Nazis and now Jamie claims her brother is a superhero – it’s simply too much to take in at once.
Captain Britain tells her to calm down and sits down next to her, wanting to explain. He reveals that Jamie is right, he has two identities – Brian Braddock and Captain Britain. He apologizes for not having the time right now to explain how he became a superhero but, at least to demonstrate that he is telling the truth, he once more activates his amulet and is transformed back. The costume gives way to the civilian clothes of Brian Braddock. Jamie and Betsy are happy to see their brother alive and well and Captain America finally understands why the other hero was so familiar with the layout of Braddock Manor.
Right then, Cap notes one of the Skull’s men having come around and trying to sneak away, but he catches him in time. He tells the man to take them to the Red Skull and even threatens him with physical violence, until he gives in. Brian tells Jamie to get his sister back home and Captain America decides to try to give Fury a phonecall before they depart. He gets a little bit annoyed when the operator tells him all lines are jammed; he needs to talk to S.T.R.I.K.E. headquarters, Nick Fury especially, right now.
Back at S.T.R.I.K.E.’s base, Nick Fury and Lance Hunter wonder what to do. Despite hundreds of phone calls coming in, they got no decent lead on the prime minister or the Red Skull. In front of them, a woman named Judy receives yet another call but, when she hears who it is, she tells the operator that the line is strictly for emergency use and that they don’t accept crank calls. After she hangs up, Hunter asks her what the matter was. She says that a cheeky operator put through a call from some lunatic, someone claiming to be Captain America but, as they all know – it can’t have been him as he is dead.
Back at the hospital, Captain America tells Captain Britain that he couldn’t get through to Fury. They thought he was some kind of nut. It seems the world is really convinced of their deaths, he adds. Brian answers that this means they’ll have to take on the Skull all by themselves and Captain America agrees. He plans to get their prisoner but Brian tells him they don’t need him anymore. In the meantime, he has wrung the location of the Skull’s hiding place out of him.
Just as they are about to leave the hospital, a group of teenagers storms in, armed with baseball bats. They intend to rob the hospital of any saleable stuff and, seeing the two heroes in their colorful costumes, they believe them to be patients from the loony ward. Having only little time, Brian tells his American colleague that he can handle the thieves himself, while Cap should already try to hitch them a ride. Captain America does as told and leaps over the teenagers, towards the exit. The young men now believe Captain Britain hopelessly outnumbered but he swings around his scepter a few times, hitting several of the thieves. It’s too much for them to handle and they quickly run away. Brian yells after them that they haven’t finished the fight yet. He thinks to himself that he should phone the law but, with the threat of the Red Skull, he hasn’t got the time.
Outside, Captain America gets lucky, as a truck is driving by. He leaps in front of it and gestures for it to stop. The driver hits the brakes almost too late but Cap gets out of the way in time. The two men inside the car get out, worried whether they hit him or not but Captain America is unharmed. Captain America tells the men that he needs to borrow their truck, just as Captain Britain arrives to join him. He also gives them the address of the Skull’s hideout and a S.H.I.E.L.D. ID card to hand it to the police, once they have called them. The two Captains quickly board the truck, one of the men not understanding what’s going on, but the second one, having recognized the two heroes, and tells his friend that it’s okay.
As they drive away, Captain America hopes that, when the police arrive, they will alert Nick Fury, providing them with an entire army to storm the Red Skull’s base. The driver heads towards the hospital to make the promised phone call and he is also somewhat worried about his truck. The other man follows, thinking that soon the car will be the least of his friend’s worries.
Meanwhile, in London, Lance Hunter is informed of the ransom note having arrived. He fills in Nick Fury that Scotland Yard has been contacted – the Red Skull has captured the prime minister and demands for the British government to surrender by six, or the prime minister will die. However, that is not yet the worst. According to the note, the following midnight a germ bomb will detonate over London, wiping out the city’s population within hours. Puzzled, Fury and Hunter look at a map of London, wondering what to do and where the Red Skull might be hiding.
On the road, Captain Britain tells Captain America that he is not sure what to expect from the Red Skull but he got the notion that they’ll make it out okay. Cap warns Brian not to get too overconfident but the British Captain replies that, between the two of them and S.H.I.E.L.D., the Red Skull got no chance. Captain America hopes that he is right; it all depends on the truck owner making the phone call.
Back at the hospital, just that man meets his untimely end. His “friend” shoots him in the back, for he too is a follower of the Red Skull and believes in the Glory of the Fourth Reich. To make sure that the information will never make it to the police, he picks up the S.H.I.E.L.D. ID card and burns it, already thinking of the reward the Red Skull will give him for this.


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[Assistant]
<BR>Mayhem at Midnight ! (1st story)
First story:
In a S.T.R.I.K.E. base, Nick Fury tells his British colleague Lance Hunter that he is tired of waiting and that he wants to track down the Red Skull all by himself. He prepares to run outside, but Lance Hunter stops him and reasons that he will never find him in a city of eight million people. The only chance they have is to wait for one of their agents to turn up a clue.
Meanwhile, Captain Britain and Captain America have made their way to London and they approach the warehouse where the think the Skull is hiding. They know time is of the essence, for if they don’t find and stop him before midnight, then the villain will destroy the entire city. Looking at the abandoned warehouse, though, Captain America’s confidence lowers, for he doesn’t believe that the Skull could be hiding there. He wonders if the criminal back at the hospital could have given them some wrong information, but Captain Britain doubts that as he was very persuasive during the interrogation.
Right then, Captain Britain spots two men sneaking in the warehouse’s rear entrance, which he points out as evidence for the place not being as abandoned as it looks. Not entirely convinced, Captain America agrees to check the place out, for they have no real other options left. Eventually, the two heroes make their way into the building but they no longer see the two men they have been following – only crates and boxes. Further investigating, the two Captains argue wether it could be possible or not that the Red Skull is so cunning to have his headquarters here, in a place so stereotyped that it would be overlooked.
Suddenly, a trapdoor opens beneath the two heroes and, as they fall, they realize that neither one’s powers are able to slow their descend or safe them from the impact. They needn’t have worried, though, as at the bottom of the pit they are falling into there is a large body of water. Diving in, Captain Britain looks around and, seeing no algae or fish, he deduces that they are in some sort of tank. He intends to swim back to the surface but finds himself pulled further downwards, just like Captain America. Before long, they emerge in a water basin, the Red Skull and his men awaiting them and having them surrounded. He congratulates the two heroes on their stamina, even though it has only bought them a few more hours of life.
As the two Captains step out of the water, the Skull continues that he allows to let them live so that they can witness the defeat of the entire nation, this “land of fools who have always resisted the indescribable joys of tyranny,” as he calls it. Unimpressed, the two Captains decide to attack, America’s shield and Britain’s force field being more than a match for everything the Skull’s men fire at them. In fact, the Red Skull even reprimands his men for striking, as he wants the two heroes alive. The Captains use the chance to continue the battle but their optimism is only short-lived. Yelling for them to stop fighting, the Red Skull presents his trump card – the tied up prime minister, at whom he points his weapon. The Skull orders the two heroes to surrender in order to save the politician’s life. Having no choice but to obey, Captain Britain and Captain America are led to a prison cell, along with the prime minister, to await their execution.
Meanwhile, in London, it’s business as usual until the newspaper hits the stands. The citizens are shocked to read about their prime minister having been kidnapped and that the Nazis seem to be behind it. They even begin to suspect each other of belonging to the Nazi organization. From a S.T.R.I.K.E. office, Lance Hunter and Nick Fury follow these events with concern – especially as the worst news, the one about the germ bomb threat, has yet to be released. Nick Fury is really fed up by now and asks for Hunter to allow him and S.H.I.E.L.D. into action, but the director of S.T.R.I.K.E. once more denies this request. He senses that Fury is tired and emotionally too involved to think straight, so he injects him with something to make Fury sleep. As he rams the syringe in Fury’s shoulder, Hunter apologizes but he really thinks this is for the best and, after a few hours of rest, Fury would be in top shape again.
Fury is carried to a bed and, although asleep, he still has no easy rest. Hearing Fury mumble in his sleep about the bomb’s danger, Hunter realizes that even sleep gives Fury no respite from his responsibilities and that, for men in their work, there is never any escape. Looking at his watch, Hunter reminds himself that he can’t worry about a single man now, not when the entire city is endangered and there only one hour remaining before the prime minister dies.
(Fury’s nightmare)
In a nightmare, Fury sees the clock turn twelve and he knows that it is too late. He looks around and finds London in ruins and a young girl searching for her mom, several dead people lying around.
(present)
At the docklands, one man calls for two policemen to help him. He claims to have seen them, hundreds of them. The officers try to calm the man down and ask him what he is talking about, which the agitated citizen answers, “Nazis – with uniforms and guns,” comparing it to World War II. He urges the policemen to call in the army but they don’t believe him. Thinking him drunk, the officers tell the man to go home and sleep it off.
Time is running out and, in the Red Skull’s base, the three captives are led out of their cell at gun point. They know that their lives now depend on the government’s decision wether to follow the Skull’s demands or not.
In the halls of the British parliament, Lance Hunter sums up the situation for the government. Either they surrender – to buy time to locate and engage the enemy, or they stand firm – sacrificing the prime minister’s life but showing the Skull that his ruthless ambitions are futile. The choice is theirs.
In the Red Skull’s base, the two Captains and the prime minister have been tied to poles, and the Skull’s men are ready to execute them. They are just waiting for the clock to turn six and the Red Skull to give the order.


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[Assistant]
<BR> The Night Big Ben stood still!  (1st story)
First story:
6.59 P.M.
Captain Britain, Captain America and British Prime Minister Callahan stand helpless before the Red Skull’s Nazi firing squad, as the final sixty seconds of their lives are ticking rapidly away. The signal the Skull banked on isn’t coming and Captain Britain finally announces that it would appear that Parliament has voted to refuse the Skull’s ultimatum. They’re not handing the reins to the government over to him, not even to save the life of their prime minister.
And rightfully so, Callahan agrees. No man is more important than freedom. Captain America commends the brave statesman, adding that he has lived by those words and is content to die by them. The furious Red Skull orders them to be silent He is not interested in their feeble attempts at martyrdom. In thirty seconds, they will be nothing more than a trivial memory.
That same instant at the underground headquarters of S.T.R.I.K.E., Commander Lance Hunter demands to be patched through to the Red Skull. Parliament has voted to surrender, he announces.
The Red Skull is ready to give the execution order when the phone rings. Hunter informs him that Parliament will meet his demands. The British government has made a wise decision, the Skull gloats, as the chimes of Big Ben start ringing, and none to soon. Relieved Hunter sinks down in his chair. The prime minister is safe. He asks the Skull about his demands and promises to carry them out immediately.
The two heroes and Prime Minister Callahan realize that the phone call must mean that Parliament has given in to the Skull. Callahan shudders at the cost of their survival – enslavement of an entire nation!
While the Skull dictates his demands to Hunter, his men untie the prisoners and intend to them them away. The two Captains quickly plan to make a grab for their weapons once they pass them and order Callahan to hug the floor when they make their play. They successfully reach for their weapons, getting ready for battle as the Nazis call in reinforcements. Captain America tells his British counterpart that they need help. He is to run for the cavalry. Besides, Captain America made a career out of slugging Nazis.
Their foes announce that they must be mad. They are pointing four rifles directly at the heroes’ hearts. Another move and they are dead. Unimpressed, Captain America throws his shield at them, while Captain Britain jumps away courtesy of his quarterstaff.
Two hours later, a frantic Hunter shakes Nick Fury awake. He apologizes for putting Fury away but he couldn’t risk him botching the operation. Gruffly Fury tells him to give him a rundown of the situation. Minutes later, Hunter has brought him up to speed and adds that they have bought themselves some time by agreeing to the Skull’s terms but even these few hours might not be time enough to locate the Skull. They have no leads on his whereabouts and, worse, he’s planted a germ bomb in Big Ben. The explosive is set to detonate when the clock strikes midnight but Hunter is going to try and defuse it before then. That’s why he’s awakened Fury. He needs him to take over S.T.R.I.K.E. command center in Hunter’s absence. Fury protests. He’s no desk jockey. He asks the other man to give him a break and let him tackle the bomb. Hunter refuses. He’s compared their records. He has far experience in demolitions, Fury does not. Gruffly Fury tells him not to get splattered all over he city he’s trying to save.
Meanwhile, as Big Ben strikes nine o’ clock, Captain Britain still hasn’t found his way out of the Skull’s headquarters. He sees a doorway that might be an exit. Unfortunately, it’s guarded. He quickly takes out the guards and opens the door to find a ladder and a trapdoor that leads outside. He’d never realized the stars could be so beautiful, he thinks, as he climbs up, praying that he’s not too late.
At the same moment, deep within the works of Big Ben, Lance Hunter s unable to locate the bomb in the mechanical maze in spite of his use of the latest detection devices. He decides to have the clock stopped. The public won’t grow suspicious, thanks to the recent trouble they’ve had with Big Ben. He alerts Fury at S.T.R.I.K.E. control, ordering Big Ben stopped. What’s the point, Fury inquires. Hunter explains that he assumes that the bomb will be detonated by the clock’s movement. Therefore, if the clock isn’t running, they’ve bought themselves some time.
Moment later, Londoners are watching a news alert on TV. A state of emergency has been declared. All citizens are to evacuate the streets immediately. No explanation has been given, though the speaker comments that this may be connected with the kidnapping of the prime minister. The citizens worry, while the Skull gloats that, with the help of his computer complex, he can control he destiny of all mankind, so most assuredly he can control the simple workings of a clock.
Hunter has finally struck paydirt. He sees the bomb wired to the back of the large hand on one of Big Ben’s clocks. He decides to climb up.
Meanwhile, on a deserted corner, Captain Britain wonders why there’s nobody around. Seeing a car, he tries to flag it down. It’s a police car and it’s braking.
Meanwhile, Cap rushes for help the Skull’ fingers move towards a final button, which will cause Big Ben’s deadly countdown to commence.
Hunter, who has attached his rope to the clock hand, finds himself in dire straits, as he will fall to his death when the hand moves downward.
Captain Britain finds trouble of his own, as Chief Inspector Dai Thomas intends to take him in for questioning.


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[Assistant]
<BR> The Fall of the Fourth Reich? (1st story)
First story:
Lance Hunter, director of S.T.R.I.K.E. holds on for his life as he dangles from the large hand of Big Ben.
Captain America is held prisoner in an underground fortress, death aimed at him from every direction.
And Captain Britain is trapped by the unshakeable suspicion of Chief Inspector Dai Thomas. Cap implores the inspector to listen to him. The prime minister’s fate, perhaps even the fate of the country, is at stake. He must contact S.H.I.E.L.D. If not, he will be handing the country to the Red Skull on a silver platter.
Still training his gun on the young hero, Thomas tells him to save his breath for the interrogation. He is under arrest. He doesn’t know why Cap feigned his death at Braddock Manor but they’ll get the truth from him at the Yard. Instead, Cap hits him in the stomach with his quarterstaff, announcing that he can’t oblige when the life of a nation hangs in the balance. Swinging his staff, he forces the other policemen to back off and then jumps over them to their car.
As Thomas shouts at them to stop him, Cap simply drives away. The policemen apologize to Thomas but, as they point out, the quarterstaff makes a formidable weapon and they are unarmed. Thomas had a gun. If he couldn’t stop him, how could they? Angrily, Thomas orders them to alert Scotland Yard, muttering that he will se that costumed catastrophe brought to justice.
Rotten luck, Captain Britain thinks, running into the one policeman who hates his guts. Using the radio within the car, he identifies himself as Thomas and requests emergency clearance to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Heli-carrier. Seconds later, within the Heli-carrier above London, Nick Fury’s second-in-command, ‘Dum-Dum’ Dugan, answers the call telling him Fury isn’t there. Cap insists on speaking to Fury and Dugan patches him through to him, as he is currently subbing for Commander Hunter at S.T.R.I.K.E. central.
Fury tells Cap –still mistaking him for Inspector Thomas – that he isn’t here to take on local police problems. So, if someone heisted a bank or mugged a broad – he is barking up the wrong tree. Cap curtly tells him to shut his trap and listen. He has got the location of the Red Skull’s hide-out.
At that moment, a dog runs across the street. Trying not to hit it, Captain Britain swerves the car, loses control of it and crashes into a wall. Fury shouts at him over the radio to answer, afraid that he has lost contact at this most crucial moment. Captain Britain is groggy for a moment but finally remembers what he was trying to tell Fury. He takes up the radio again and tells Fury where to find the Skull.
Seconds later, Nick Fury announces a code red alert. He wants every man combat-ready on the double. He’ll lead the air assault himself. He tells a desk agent to contact Hunter and tell him they had no time to hang around waiting for him to show.
Hanging around is just what Commander Hunter does, as he desperately pulls him himself up to the clock hand, before it gets any lower. Finally, he succeeds but there is still a problem. With the clock’s hand at that angle, he cannot reach the bomb. He has to hang on and wait, till the hand moves into the right position, which will take another twenty minutes.
Captain Britain, in the meantime, climbs out of the car wreck and makes his way back to the Skull’s headquarters.
Inside that building, the Red Skull addresses his prisoners, Captain America and British Prime Minister James Callahan. The Skull informs that that Captain Britain has no doubt altered security forces to his location. But that alters nothing, for the Fourth Reich is more than capable of meeting any assault of force and destroying it. Neither of them will live, though, to witness his ultimate triumph. He shows them a small ticking device, which he then tosses carelessly on the ground before their cell. While he will be guiding his troops to victory, he informs them, this device will explode and they will die. He will seal he corridors as he leaves. They have ten minutes left to contemplate their defeat.
Maybe it is their defeat, Captain America announces, but it isn’t the Skull’s victory. There’ll always be someone to oppose him. Always! Wordlessly, the Skull marches out and the device keeps on ticking.
He has stared death in the face several times that day, Callahan admits. It doesn’t get easier. He knows, Cap replies, but they aren’t finished yet, with Captain Britain out there.
The Skull’s troops inform their master that the computer indicates a large invasion force approaching from the air. The Skull orders a counter attack. Fury’s troops are closing in from the air, flying courtesy of their jetpacks. Fury instructs them to be ready for anything and not to fire until he gives the word. They can’t risk the P.M. getting killed.
Captain Britain has found his way back inside the Skull’s lair and races through the corridors, intent on rescuing the two prisoners. He wonders why there are no guards in sight.
Back in the cell, Callahan bleakly announces that they’ve almost run out of time. There can’t be more than a minute left.
In another part of the building, the Skull points at the incoming S.T.R.I.K.E. team, telling his men to prepare to attack for the glory of the Fourth Reich. Spare none, he orders them. Annihilate all.
Captain Britain, in the meantime, has reached the cell. Captain America tells him to grab the bomb and pitch it – fast. Captain Britain jumps towards the device. One moment later, it detonates.


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[Assistant]
<BR> … Gathering of Gladiators!  (1st story)
First story:
Captain Britain throws himself on the detonating bomb left by the Red Skull to kill the captive Captain America and Prime Minster Callahan.
At the same time, above the hidden headquarters of the Fourth Reich, Nick Fury leads an airborne S.T.R.I.K.E. squadron toward the battle against the Red Skull.
As they fly closer to their goal, Fury addresses the men telling them that he doesn’t know if they are as good as his boys from S.H.I.E.L.D, but they better be, because this is no dry run! It’s for real. If they don’t clobber the Skull and his goons, they’ll take over the whole blamed world.
Back in the underground, Captain Britain has not only survived but his forcefield, activated by pressing the second button on his staff, took the entire brunt of the explosion. He pries the staff between the bars and starts pulling, until finally the bars give way, causing him to fall back in a rather unheroic position. Grabbing his staff, he tells his compatriot to come on. The show isn’t over yet.
Captain America tells him to slow down. He assumes that Britain has reached Fury, who is now leading an attack force here. If so, they need to get the prime minister to safety first, before leaping into battle. That won’t be necessary, Callahan announces, pointing out that the Skull will most likely need all his troops for battle. So he should have no trouble taking his leave.
Captain America is unsure but Captain Britain points out that the path was clear from here to the exit. If the prime minister heads into that direction, he’ll reach the street. Callahan wishes them good luck, adding that all Britain will pray for their victory.  With the politician leaving, the two heroes run to join the fray.
And above them, the Dockland sky seems to explode in a fiery paroxysm of death and destruction, as a modern battle for Britain begins between Fury’s troops and the Nazis. Fury announces that they should have gotten the message from World War II. The Nazis aren’t wanted here – not now – not ever!
Watching from below, the Skull revels in the battle. There is no greater thrill than armed conflict, man fighting man, dying for causes beyond himself. He touches a picture of Adolf Hitler, thinking that he aches for the victory denied to his Führer years ago – the conquest of the pigheaded British.
Up in the sky, Fury comes to the conclusion that they are holding their own. It doesn’t escape his notice that the Skull is watching the battle from a safe distance, rather than taking part. Suddenly, an agent warns him and takes out the Nazi, who meant to shoot him. Fury commends him. Apparently, they measure up after all. But they have more Nazis to knock off and he intends to nail the red-on-the-head chief down there. However, as he flies down, the Skull has already noticed him and points his gun at Fury, announcing that, to the fall of Britain and his destruction of Captain America, he will now add Fury’s death.
That very moment, the two Captains enter the room. Fury sees them first and is astonished – he believed the men to be dead. Taking advantage of his foe’s distraction, the Skull shoots him right in the chest. Captain America cries out in denial, blaming himself.
The Skull now sees him as well. He has no idea how he survived but he means to rectify the situation. He aims his gun at Captain America. Captain Britain jumps at him and kick him right in the face.
Captain America intends to take the Skull out himself but the villain orders him to back off. If he takes one more step, the Skull will press this button and the blood of eight million people will be on Cap’s hands.
He’s bluffing, America announces. Has he forgotten the germ bomb in Big Ben that is timed to explode at midnight, the Skull reminds him. Surely he realizes that it can be detonated sooner. Cap isn’t buying it but Captain Britain tells him to back off. Even if it is a bluff, they can’t afford to call it with stakes that high.
The stakes are too high to let the Skull call the shots, Captain America insists, undeterred. He has to get him. But while they were disputing, the Skull gained enough time to activate his mini-teleportation device. And so, he disappears before their eyes.
He blew it, Captain America berates himself. The Skull killed Fury, now he’s going to kill everyone else and he let him get away. It’s not over yet, Captain Britain insists. Taking a good look at the computer, he announces that it is similar to the one his father designed. If he can operate it, he can get back on the Skull’s trail, for the device that enabled the Skull’s escape is operated by the larger computer. Therefore, it must be set for the same destination as the mini-computer. He activates the computer’s teleporter, hoping to arrive where the Skull did. He tells his comrade he’ll try and stop the bomb and disappears.
Back at Big Ben, the situation is getting desperate, Lance Hunter still hasn’t managed to reach the firing mechanism. Perched somewhat more comfortably against the upright smaller hand, the Red Skull announces that he is wasting his time. Nobody can thwart the Red Skull.
He sounds very sure of himself, Captain Britain, who has suddenly appeared on a dais below them, announces. But then he didn’t expect him to show up, did he?


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[Assistant]
<BR> Hickory, Dickory … Death!  (1st story)
First story:
Big Ben: The Red Skull and Commander Lance Hunter are holding on to different hands of the clock, while Captain Britain stands on a dais beneath them. Very shortly, the germ bomb will detonate.
Captain Britain is too late, the Skull gloats. In less than an hour, victory will be his. He’s blowing a premature whistle, Captain Britain retorts. The match isn’t ended yet. Using his quarterstaff, he propels himself up to the Skull, who shows him his teleportation device, stating that he’ll be teleported miles away once he presses that button, leaving Captain Britain and his loathsome countrymen to die when the clock strikes twelve.
But how can he be so sure Commander Hunter won’t disarm the germ bomb before midnight, if he doesn’t remain here, Captain Britain goads the villain. He has no choice. He must stay and fight, until one of them kills the other. Hunter warns the Captain not to challenge the Skull. The box he’s holding might be a detonator switch. No, it’s a miniature teleportation device, Cap informs him. He’s seen him use it. Hunter asks him to hold the Skull off, until he can defuse the bomb.
Calling them fools, the Skull blusters that he wouldn’t devise a mechanism simple enough for the likes of them to comprehend. Cap silently urges him to keep talking, while he crawls closer and closer. Hunter exclaims that he happens to be an expert on munitions. The bomb hasn’t been made that he can’t pull the pin on.
Edging ever closer, Cap finally grabs the Skull’s ankle and dangles him down from the clock, causing the Skull to drop his teleportation device. He orders him to tell the Commander how to defuse the bomb. The Skull refuses first, at which point Captain Britain claims he’s developing an arm cramp. The Skull urges him to kill him but, if he does, Captain Britain will also die – when the bomb explodes.
While the Red Skull and the fate of a city dangle from Big Ben, the battle above the Nazis’ docklands headquarters nears its brutal conclusion, as a weary S.T.R.K.E. airborne squadron struggles to defeat the battered troops of the Fourth Reich.
Below, a stunned Captain America grieves over the silent form of his fallen friend, Nick Fury. If only he could have contacted him before, to tell him he was alive, Cap exclaims. Fury believed him to be dead. Then, when he swooped in and saw Cap, it distracted him long enough for the Skull to blast him. While the hero’s overcome with grief, an airborne Nazi nears from behind, intending to finish him off. He is shot by – Nick Fury. He was wearing Q-Branch’s latest life-saver vest, he explains What’s Cap’s excuse for still being alive? Cap quickly explains what happened when Braddock Manor was bombed by S.T.R.I.K.E.
 (Flashback)
Captain America believed they were goners when they saw the planes firing rockets at Braddock Manor. And they would have been, if not for Captain Britain, who informed him that in the middle of the room was a secret escape hatch operated by the computer. He opened it and the two heroes found safety in a bomb shelter from the last war. Let’s just hope it can withstand the current one, Captain America suggested and, luckily, it did. When the shooting stopped, they got out though a tunnel
(Present)
Congratulations, Fury dryly says and tells him to harness up. After Cap has strapped on a jetpack, both of them take to the air, where S.T.R.I.K.E. have gained the upper hand. But it’s not over yet, Fury reminds Cap. There’s still the germ bomb hooked to Big Ben and only fifteen minutes to get to it.
Big Ben clicks ever closer to Armageddon. The smaller hand Captain Britain is on  - while still dangling the Skull - has almost moved to the “12” position, while the larger hand with Hunter is on the “9” position. Cap announces that he can’t hold the Skull for much longer and Hunter tells him to hold him steady. He’s almost close enough to grab him. But before he can be transferred, the Skull falls. Instead of falling to his doom, the villain laughs and reveals the mini-jetpacks in his boots meant to carry him to safety.
Captain Britain makes a desperate jump in a last ditch attempt to capture the villain. He does and hangs on to him. The Skull protests angrily. The jets aren’t powerful enough to support both of them. They’ll fall to their deaths. Playing chicken, Cap tells him he won’t let go until he tells him how to disarm the weapon. The Skull relents, revealing that the firing-mechanism is in the computer. But it’s miles away, Cap exclaims. Nobody can reach it in time.
The Skull uses Cap’s distraction to hit him in the face with the elbow to get loose from him. Cap separates the jets from the shoe with his quarterstaff. If they are to die, then the Skull will die with them. While the Skull falls, Captain Britain reaches out to a flagpole and grabs it. The Skull, in the meantime, suffers a rough landing.
Five minutes to midnight and Lance Hunter realizes that he’s failed. The bomb has no firing pin. He cannot defuse it.
The flying Fury and Captain America join them, each of them picking one of their compatriots up. They reveal that the warehouse housing the computer was destroyed, meaning that the computer was demolished as well. Midnight strikes and no explosion. London is saved. And they are rid of the Skull for good, Fury announces, somewhat prematurely. For, even as Nick Fury speaks, the injured Skull reaches for the mini-teleporter next to him…