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Search Party
The moon, where, not long ago, Quasar and eight of Earth’s mightiest space faring super humans (Darkstar, Vanguard, Binary, Captain Marvel, Hyperion, Ikaris, Adam Warlock and Black Bolt), were on the other side of the moon, attempting to deactivate a device pushing the moon out of orbit. While that was happening, members of the extra-terrestrial gang of brigands known as the Starblasters were on Earth, kidnapping Quasar’s girlfriend, among other things, for Quasar’s girlfriend, Kayla Ballentine, is the current possessor of the Starbrand, a power source like none this universe has ever seen - and it is something the Starblasters will stop at nothing to possess!
Right now, Wendell “Quasar” Vaughan soars down towards the home base of Uatu, the Watcher. ‘You’d better be in a helping mood, Watcher, cause I’ve never needed anybody’s help like I need help now!’ the young cosmic hero thinks to himself. Dropping down to the moon surface, Wendell thinks to himself that the Watcher must have seen what went on, as he lives on the moon. ‘So he’s got to know just how dire the stakes are here!’. Quasar thinks to himself that just because the Watcher has no door to his facility, it may keep out unwanted peddlers, but not him, as he uses his quantum bands to phase through the outer wall.
Quasar begins searching the facility: ‘WATCHER! You’ve got a visitor! An impatient one!’ Wendell shouts. He calls out to the Watcher again as he flies through the facility. ‘Hey, come on out! I know you’re here somewhere!’ Wendell calls out, remarking that the Watcher almost never leaves his home. ‘You’re too afraid you might miss something important to wander far from your observation post!’ Quasar calls out, while thinking to himself that this is weird, as it is the fourth time he has been here, and that all the other times the Watcher has met him somewhere so he didn’t have the chance to snoop around too much. ‘Where the heck is he this time?’ Wendell wonders.
‘Could he actually be doing some field work - maybe checking out the impact site of the Moonthruster device?’ Wendell wonders, while calling out to the Watcher again: ‘Where are you?’. As Wendell searches the observation tower, he is unaware that he is being watched by a mysterious figure with a mohawk. Quasar suddenly realizes that he didn’t check out the Watcher’s favorite room, his viewing chamber. As he makes his way to the viewing room, Wendell notices what look like scorch marks on a wall. Analyzing it, he decides that they are from a blast, and notices the weird particulate residue. Wendell goes wide-eyed as he wonders if it was possible that the Watcher was in a struggle with somebody and that he lost. ‘What kind of power could take out an all-seeing Watcher?’ Wendell wonders, his mind drifting back to when he and the others took out the Moonthruster, Quasar wonders if it has anything to do with the Watcher’s disappearance. ‘Maybe the creeps who planted it were here also?’
Within moments, Quasar is flying back into open space, ‘If I’m adding up all the clues correctly, this just keeps getting bigger and bigger!’ Wendell tells himself that with the moon being shoved out of orbit, Kayla’s abduction by aliens and now the Watcher’s disappearance, he is starting to need help. Quasar touches one of his quantum bands, ‘Epoch? This is Quasar. You there?’ Wendell asks. A projection of Epoch appears, and replies ‘Of course I’m here, but I still have not had a chance to locate your friend. As I told you an hour ago, I am in the middle of my final examination here at the Learning Institute…and I do not have the concentration to separate for making random galaxy-wide telepathic sweeps!’ Epoch replies.
‘Um, a different favor, Eppy! It won’t take nearly as much brainpower. I need to contact some people fast!’ Wendell replies. ‘Wasn’t it your people who developed the communication device called the telephone? It’s on my test!’ Epoch exclaims. ‘Yes, but the people I need to talk to aren’t reachable by “phone”…’.
At that very moment, four figures streak from the moon, bound for Earth - Captain Marvel a.k.a. Monica Rambeau, Carol “Binary” Danvers, Hyperion of the Squadron Supreme, and the Eternal known as Ikaris. Hyperion, who is not of this Earth, looks at the other three and thinks to himself that this world has produced an astounding array of superhumans. ‘Enough to make my home world look like quite the underachiever’ Hyperion tells himself, adding that he is glad he is not the only one who is unable to teleport back to Earth.
Suddenly, the four flying heroes come to a stop as a spacecraft leaving Earth’s atmosphere flies by. Ikaris sees that the vessel is manned, while Binary realizes that it is not a U.S. ship. Ikaris thinks to himself that it is annoying they are unable to speak in space due to the airless void, but realizes that his three companions seem as curious about the Ship as he is. The four Earth-bound heroes look for a way into the ship, just as two moon-bound heroes exit the ship - those two heroes being the godly Perun and the robotic Vostok - two of the People’s Protectorate of Russia. Ikaris looks puzzled as Perun and Vostok begin gesturing to them, as to accompany them into the aircraft.
Suddenly, a large astral projection of Quasar’s face appears overhead, he greets the six heroes as he explains that he is speaking to them via quantum hologram, before informing them that he needs help, revealing that the business with the moon being pushed towards Earth was just a subterfuge for what is really going on. ‘And I think it’s something big!’ he exclaims, telling them that if they are interested in following up on this, to meet him at the following coordinates, which he transmits to them.
Binary, Captain Marvel, Hyperion, Ikaris, Perun and Vostok are not the only ones to witness Quasar’s apparition, for across the Earth Quasar’s image appears to a hand-selection of Earth’s most space-worthy champions:
In Russia, at the home of Siberforce, Laynia “Darkstar” Petrovna and her brother Nicolai “Vanguard” Krylenko, just arrived back home, before receiving Quasar’s message. Vanguard asks his sister if they go to help Quasar, or whether they have done enough already. Laynia suggests that they see what Father Garnoff advises.
At the seaside amusement park camp-out of the Inhumans, Black Bolt and Lockjaw also receive the summons, and look skyward.
In the Atlantic Ocean, on Monster Island, Adam Warlock and Pip the Troll also receive the summons. Warlock remarks that they have a choice - to either answer Quasar’s summons, or to investigate the madness that has beset the Thunder God, Thor. ‘You forgot out third option: kick back and party!’ Pip replies.
At the New Warriors headquarters in Manhattan, Richard Rider a.k.a. Nova also sees the projection as he lays in bed, complaining that he has not even had time to recover from his punch-up with those space goons on the Upper West Side.
In Midtown Manhattan, Thunderstrike is facing off against a foe, wondering what all the noise is about the moon, he tells himself that he could drop what he is doing here and join in, if he wanted to.
In the communications room at Avengers Mansion, the Black Widow remarks to the android Vision that she wishes they could keep track of when Quasar is on Earth or not.
At Project Pegasus, two of the Squadron Supreme - Doctor Spectrum and the Whizzer are in one of the labs when they too receive the message from Quasar. Doctor Spectrum tells his friend that Hyperion was supposed to be investigating that situation on the moon, but he has not returned. ‘Should we wait for him or run off?’ Doctor Spectrum asks. ‘You’re asking the wrong guy. I’m always up to run!’ the Whizzer replies, suggesting they check with Power Princess.
On Muir Island, Scotland, the home of Excalibur, where Nightcrawler, Meggan and Rachel “Phoenix” Summers also receive Quasar’s message. ‘I remember this fellow’ Nightcrawler tells his teammates, to which Rachel replies that she does too, as she fought him once. Rachel tells her teammates that she could probably make it to Quasar’s coordinates in under an hour, before asking if this is any of Excalibur’s concern.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere, Quasar thanks Epoch for his help in getting his message across, to which Epoch replies that he must return to his studies. ‘Gotcha!’ Wendell replies, before using his quantum bands to create a “pie in the sky” meeting place, and something to sit on. A large circular platform is created, and Wendell adds a sun chair for him to lounge on. ‘And now wait for somebody to show up…assuming someone will’ he thinks to himself as he kicks back and grabs a moment to relax.
Somewhere outside the orbit of the moon, Gladiator of the Imperial Guard flies alongside a Shi’ar vessel, until he receives announcement that the airlock is secure. Gladiator enters the vessel, where the Shi’ar captain asks for a reconnaissance report. Gladiator replies that they were wise to remain after that business with the human Nova, and that some noteworthy things are going on in this system, including the abduction of a Watcher by parties unknown. Gladiator tells the Shi’ar captain that he recommends further investigation, to which the captain agrees, and announces that he will notify the home world.
At that moment, back on Quasar’s quantum platform, Darkstar and Vanguard arrive, followed moments later by Black Bolt and Lockjaw. ‘Ah! Some of my favorite teleporters. Long time no see!’ Wendell jokes, to which Vanguard tells him to spare them his American humor and tell them of the urgent matter he so cryptically alluded them all to. ‘Just the facts, huh?’ Wendell replies, adding that he would prefer to wait a bit to see if anybody else is going to show up. ‘But…any of you know who the Watcher is?’ he asks.
Before Wendell can explain any further, Binary, Captain Marvel, Perun, Hyperion and Ikaris drop down onto the platform. Captain Marvel greets her fellow former Avenger, assuring him that they got here as soon as they could, while Ikaris suggests to him that, next time, he might like to arrange for a tele-transport for them. Hyperion thinks to himself that, perhaps now he will learn the names of some of the others whom he fought alongside on the moon. Perun approaches Quasar and introduces himself as Lord of Storms, and explains that he is the chosen emissary of the People’s Protectorate of Russia to this gathering. Quasar shakes Perun’s hand and asks him to take a seat. ‘I’ve got one for everybody’ Wendell exclaims as he uses his quantum bands to make more loungers. ’Ho! Is useful power you have making chairs!’ Perun exclaims.
Everyone takes a seat, with Vanguard looking nervously at his enemy, Perun. Quasar sits facing everyone else, with Lockjaw at his feet as he begins ‘Now then…here’s what’s going on’. Wendell explains that firstly, some unidentified extraterrestrial parties planted a gravitational device on the far side of the moon, powerful enough to push the moon out of orbit, except with the aid of most of those here, they managed to deactivate it. Quasar adds that, secondly, an Earth woman, possessing a cosmic power from another universe has been kidnapped, and a credible eyewitness claims it was aliens. Wendell remarks that one might guess the two incidents occurring almost simultaneously were related, and he believes that the whole moon-moving business was just a diversion so the aliens could nab the girl.
‘Third -’ Wendell begins, when, suddenly, an astral projection of Moondragon appears before him. ‘Quasar, this is your old friend, Moondragon’ the haughty woman exclaims, to which Wendell asks her if she has come to audit this meeting. Moondragon replies ‘Not quite’ before explaining that Warlock asked her to tell him that he will be unable to attend this little get-together as he has more important business on Earth. ‘Oh, and don’t bother looking for the Infinity Watch, Thor, or the Silver Surfer, as we are likewise engaged’ Moondragon replies, before her cold image vanishes. ‘Message received, lady’ Wendell mutters.
Some of the heroes look at Quasar like is insane: ‘Ah, Quasar? Did your attention start to wander or are you talking to somebody the rest of us cannot see?’ Monica asks. Vanguard whispers to his sister in Russian that Quasar is one odd fellow, even by American standards. Wendell turns to his allies and apologizes to them for the interruption as he received a telepathic RSVP. ‘Where was I? Oh, yeah’ Wendell begins, informing the others that there is an ancient alien living on the moon called the Watcher who is also missing, and while there are no witnesses, the evidence points to another abduction.
Quasar gets to his feet as he declares that the bottom line is that whoever has done the three things he just explained has power out the wazoo, and even more if they manage to get the power of the missing woman. Quasar announces that he intends to lead a search party and tells his allies that he would love to have all of them in it. ‘You’ve gotten my curiosity aroused’ Ikaris remarks as he and the others all get to their feet. Wendell tells everyone that he has a bad feeling this is going to be bigger than he can even guess, to which Perun declares that a space voyage sounds fun, and he thinks they should all go along. Carol tells Quasar that she owes him one, so he can count her in. Wendell tells his friends and allies that he really appreciates this, before raising his hand in the air, using his quantum bands to turn the platform into an airtight dome, before they take off.
But, just as the domed platform reaches the stratosphere, two figures arrive moments later - Nova and Rachel Summers. ‘Hey! Hello there!’ Nova calls out. ‘Hi yourself!’ Rachel replies, before Nova introduces himself. Rachel does the same, and asks him if he received Quasar’s message too. Nova replies that he did, while wondering where the caped cosmoid is. Rachel motions to the golden dome and replies that she imagines Quasar is soaring out of sight in that, and asks Nova if he wants to try catching up to it. ‘Not particularly’ Nova replies, explaining that he has just come back from a space trip, and is all spaced out. ‘How about you?’ he asks Rachel. Rachel replies that she has a lot of personal matters to attend to. ‘I’ll claim we got here too late to catch up with it if you will!’ Nova smiles. ‘You have a deal!’ Rachel replies as they shake hands.
Flying off in separate directions, Nova tells Rachel that it was nice meeting her, and that he hopes they run into each other again. ‘So do I…’ Rachel tells him, while Nova thinks to himself ‘Wow!’, when, out of the corner of his eye, he notices an Avengers Quinjet soar past. ‘Glad I’m not the only johnny-come-lately’ Nova tells himself as he flies along side the Quinjet, just as the android Avenger known as the Vision phases through the Quinjet. ‘You’re the Vision, huh?’ Nova asks. ‘And you’re one of the New Warriors’ the Vision replies, before Nova tells him that if he is looking for Quasar, then he is too late. ‘He went that away!’ Nova exclaims, motioning upwards.
Deeper in space, Quasar’s dome soars onwards, while someone asks Wendell how long the air is going to last. ‘Indefinitely’ Wendell replies, explaining that he has an interspatial pipeline to a very oxygen-rich pocket of atmosphere he shunts in. Vanguard and Darkstar stand away from everyone else as Nicolai tells his sister to keep on eye on Perun, reminding her they have good reason not to trust him. Perun sits with Ikaris and Captain Marvel, who asks if anyone thought to bring along a deck of cards or a monopoly game. ‘Not me…we could swap origin stories to pass the time’ Hyperion suggests. Carol gazes out into the darkness of space and thinks that, after all these months, being here reminds her of how much she misses the Starjammers.
45 minutes later, Binary announces that she detects a ship within star-drive, to which Quasar replies that he is picking it up too. Wendell thinks to himself that this might be the ship that Kayla is in, and knows that he could quantum-jump away and check himself, but he knows that would be too team leader-like, so he announces that they need to investigate. Darkstar remarks that she can teleport aboard the ship and reconnoiter, explaining that conventional scanners cannot detect her force field. ‘All right. Take me with you’ Quasar replies, to which Vanguard rushes over and declares that where his sister goes, he goes. Laynia reminds her brother that she can teleport the two of them, while Quasar informs the others that he, Darkstar and Vanguard are going to investigate the other ship. He announces that Captain Marvel, former Avenger’s Chairwoman, is in charge until he returns, and asks Binary to use her energy to keep the dome on its present course. Darkstar takes the men by the hand, and the three teleport away via the Darkforce.
Carol announces that she senses a human-sized object approaching, to which Captain Marvel asks Hyperion to intercept it. ‘Aye, Captain!’ Hyperion replies, smiling, but as he prepares to leave, Black Bolt grabs him, and points to Lockjaw. ‘Why’s this guy gesturing to his dog? He wants me to walk it?’ Hyperion wonders, before putting a hand on Lockjaw, ‘Nice doggie, nice. Uh, I’m not sure what you want me to -’ he begins, only to realize that they have teleported into open space. There is no air in space to propagate sound. Thus Hyperion’s meeting of an irresistibly forceful extraterrestrial and an immovably strong extra dimensional goes unaccompanied by the cacophonous crash that such an impact would make on Earth - as he clashes with…Gladiator!
‘Who is this guy? He’s humanoid in form but of no earthly hue!’ Hyperion tells himself, as he realizes just how strong his foe is as Gladiator forces him backwards. Hyperion recalls that he hasn’t fought anyone with this much power since his evil duplicate some time ago. Both superhumans grimace as they grasp each other, forcing the other backwards. They are uncannily matched, and, now only are each of their diamond-hard physiques empowered by cosmic rather than electrochemical process, they also each mentally manipulate anti-gravitons, enabling them to bend gravity to their wills. Therefore, it may appear that the two motionless super-beings are simply flexing their steely muscles in dynamic opposition, it is the grappling of two opposing gravimetric fields that exerts the planet-pulverizing force cascading from their forms.
For over a minute, the two combatants bring their fullest might to bear upon the other - then, realizing they could be deadlocked this way for untold hours, Gladiator recalls another of his abilities that he hopes his opponent does not also have. As his eyes light up though, so do Hyperion’s, and Gladiator’s hopes are in vain as eyebeams of cosmic energy erupt from his head at approximately the same time that Hyperion triggers his own. The resulting feedback is so forceful that it breaks both their hand-grips and their gravimetric field interface at the same moment, and sends them careening away from one another at frictionless projectile speed.
Gladiator is the first to recover, and he soars the several miles that separates them towards Hyperion, who has only recently regained his ocular abilities and requires several more seconds recovery time. But, just as Gladiator’s steely fist is about to impact Hyperion’s face, Hyperion raises his own fists, just in time, forcing Gladiator backwards. Gladiator thinks to himself that his opponent’s battery of attributes rivals his own, yet he appears to be of Earthly origin. Hyperion thinks to himself that he doesn’t know what “mister Mohawk” wants, but that it has become a matter of principle for him to find a way to stop him.
Hyperion is shocked as Gladiator manages to force his own hand behind his back, and Hyperion admits that his foe is not only matched in power, but he is also a skilled fighter. Hyperion recalls that where he is from, he almost never encountered anyone he could go all-out with, so he hasn’t been able to hone his battle skills past a certain point. ‘Mohawk doesn’t seem to have had that problem’ Hyperion realizes, telling himself that it means he will have to get inventive, so he reaches his free hand upwards and grabs the front of Gladiator’s Mohawk, and yanks a chunk of hair out. ‘If there’s anything in the world tough enough to hurt this guy, maybe steely spikes produced by his own body are it!’ Hyperion wonders, as he forces the spikes into Gladiator’s face.
‘Did I get him?’ Hyperion wonders, while Gladiator attempts to shout ‘Barbarian! You nearly blinded me!’, only, there is no sound in space, - even so, Hyperion swears that his ears perceive the sound of vertebrae breaking movements before blackness overtakes him, as Gladiator breaks his back! Gladiator watches as Hyperion goes limp. ‘I have vanquished him…or killed him’ Gladiator tells himself, while wondering where the dog is that accompanied Hyperion. Looking around, Gladiator cannot see Lockjaw, and decides that he can now continue his mission to determine who approaches the star-cruiser. But as Gladiator uses his powers to scan the quantum dome floating nearby, he sees that it is empty. ‘Peculiar’ he thinks to himself, before picking up Hyperion’s unmoving body and flying back to the imperium ship to see if he can revive his opponent and question him.
Moments later, Gladiator arrives inside, only to find the Shi’ar crew chained by quantum and Darkforce energies. ‘Gladiator! Intruders have boarded this vessel! Beware!’ one of the Shi’ar crew calls out. Moments later, still carrying Hyperion, Gladiator arrives on the astro deck, where he finds more imprisoned Shi’ar officers, along with Quasar, Darkstar, Vanguard, Binary, Perun, Captain Marvel,, Ikaris, Black Bolt and Lockjaw. ‘This vehicle has been commandeered in the name of the Earth!’ Quasar shouts, ordering Gladiator to surrender his prisoner.
Meanwhile, half-way toward the sun, aboard the Starblaster, Skeletron calls out to Insidio, who is working in one of the labs. ‘Are we out of this backwater star system yet?’ Insidio asks the Starblaster’s leader. ‘Not yet’ Skeletron replies, before informing Insidio that he has come to inspect his charges. Insidio motions to Kayla Ballentine, imprisoned in a vat, Skeletron tells Insidio that he does not want him touching her in any way, as she is far too dangerous to tamper with. ‘When we get to our destination and her power is removed, then you can have her. Do you acknowledge?’ Skeletron remarks. ‘Perfectly, Sire’ Insidio replies, telling Skeletron that he is quite content for the duration to ply his trade on their other prisoner, the Watcher!
Indeed, Uatu the Watcher sits paralyzed, Insidio’s contraptions stuck to him. If Uatu’s thoughts were knowable to us, we might learn that the Starblasters have underestimated his abilities though, for, truthfully, he could escape anytime he wishes. But more than anything else in the universe, this is where he desires to be right now…prisoner of the intergalactic Starblasters!


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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In a Stranger Land
A psychiatric hospital…somewhere…a dark-haired man with a crescent moon imprinted on his forehead lies in his bed in a padded cell. Since his discharge from the service over eighteen months ago, he has lain in the 12’ x 12’ cubicle, sleeping for twenty hours a day. Even when he is awakened for his meals, mandatory exercise and toilet, he keeps his silence, evincing no emotion…no need except to return to his bed. For in sleep, there are dreams - and dreams are where he would prefer to spend the remainder of his life…. When he was awake, terrible things happened to him. When he is asleep, the terrible things remain at bay…. It would take something horribly dire for him to voluntarily traverse the waking world once more. Then, suddenly, he wakes urgently, and screams ‘THEY’RE COMING!’
At that moment, far, far away, a star ship of the Shi’ar Imperial Fleet warps through the solar system’s major star gate. On aboard, an eclectic mix of Earth heroes - Quasar, Darkstar, Binary, Vanguard, Perun, Captain Marvel, Ikaris, Black Bolt and Lockjaw - stand gathered after commandeering the star ship to pursue an alien vessel through the star gate. The unidentified aliens have kidnapped a woman from Earth who possesses the most significant new power source in all the cosmos, not to mention also being Quasar’s significant other. The Shi’ar, however, so not suffer the intruders gladly.
Wendell “Quasar” Vaughan motions to the large monitor on the bridge and tells everyone that something is not right, as he has flown this gate-path many times and has never seen anything like this. Monica Rambeau a.k.a. Captain Marvel announces that it sounds like the ship is losing power, and asks if their quarry could have set some sort of booby trap for them. Starbolt stands with several of his Imperial Guard teammates - Moondancer, Smasher, Neutron, Solar Wind and Voyager - and tells his teammates that the sound is the engines cutting out. ‘The Earthers have done something!’ he exclaims. Quasar hands command of the team over to Captain Marvel as he announces that he is going to quantum-jump outside to check out what is going on.
But just as Quasar teleports out, Voyager opens a portal, which he and the tracker Moondancer quickly enter. Starbolt asks them where they are going, to which Voyager replies that this is their vessel caught inside the gate, and although they have allowed Quasar and his people to believe they are in charge, if anything happens to the vessel it is the Imperial Guard who will have to answer to the Majestrix. Moments later, Moondancer and Voyager have joined Quasar on the outside of the Shi’ar ship. But when Wendell is unable to ascertain what is stalling the Shi’ar vessel from immediately outside, he quantum jumps still further, with the Shi’ar warriors hot on his heels.
Quasar materializes outside the star gate from where they entered, and notices a strange device. ‘What’s that?’ he wonders, before noticing Moondancer and Voyager arrive. ‘I got company, I see’ he tells himself, before deciding that the device is some sort of power-dampener by the look of its energy signature. Wendell realizes that there is some sort of anti-matter device at its core, meaning it is a bomb - and he thinks his quantum probe he used on it has activated it. ‘Got to get it away from here - before it -’  Quasar thinks to himself, when suddenly, unbidden, Voyager helps Quasar open a space portal large enough to contain the device - so that when detonation occurs moments later, the device is light years from the opening of the star gate.
During this, Quasar protected himself, Moondancer and Voyager in a quantum energy bubble, and with the Shi’ar vessel free from the dampening device’s grip, it suddenly regains its inertia and careens down the warp tunnel. ‘Whoa! There goes the ship!’ Wendell thinks to himself, knowing that it is safe, in no small part, thanks to Voyager, and wonders whether he could have shunted it away quickly enough if he was alone.
Meanwhile, several light years away, but at that very moment, on the laboratory world of the enigmatic experimenter known only as the Stranger, the powerful cosmic being stands in one of his myriad labs, where Skeletron of the Starblasters and he examine Kayla Ballantine, the cause of Quasar’s quest. The Stranger motions to Kayla, in a tank of fluid, and boasts that he has analysed scores of Earth beings, so what interest is this one to him. Skeletron replies ‘Do not be so disingenuous, great Stranger! Surely your instruments detect the pulse of anomalous energy reading within its form’. The Stranger replies that they do.
Skeletron explains that they call it the Starbrand for it looks like a cosmetic body marking in the stylised shape of a star, behind her neck. Skeltron explains that this Starbrand, he believes, to be from another universe so far from this one that none of its physical properties resembles theirs. ‘How this Earth being came to acquire this power source has to do with the Earth being Quasar, you have heard of him I’m sure’ Skeletron replies, before exclaiming that this is a bargain he is offering him. ‘Use your vast resources to examine the power source - remove it from its host - determine where it is from and how I might get there - and you may keep the Brand!’
The Stranger asks Skeletron why the Starbrand’s place of origin interests him so much. ‘Do you expect that there are many such power objects there?’ he asks. ‘Perhaps. Perhaps not’ Skeletron replies, before asking if they have a deal. ‘We do!’ The Stranger replies, to which Skeletron exclaims ‘Good’ and announces that he will leave the Stranger to do his work, and asks him to summon him if he requires anything, as he will be waiting in his ship. ‘Acknowledged’ the Stranger replies as Skeletron leaves.
Ahead of Skeletron, at the space-port, several of his squad are stationed - Zardok and Threkker currently egging Codabac and Skar on as they battle. ‘Come on, Skar! Pin that four-armed freak!’ the rocky-skinned Zardok shouts. ‘Don’t let me down, Codabac! I have currency dependent upon your performance!’ Threkker encourages Codabac. Suddenly, the giant Nygorm approaches them and uses his abilities to levitate Codabac and Skar into the air. ‘Let is down!’ Skar shouts, to which Nygorn tells him that if they have so much energy to spare, then they should be using it to explore this curio-world.
Codabac explains that they are honing their battle skills and tells the giant that he should do the same. ‘Fah! I am as skilled as I ever need be!’ Nygorn snaps back, before dropping Skar and Codabac to the ground, while Threkker asks ‘Explore, large one? You do mean plunder, don’t you?’, before reminding Nygorn that Skeletron is here to negotiate, not plunder. ‘He would be very perturbed were we to -’ Threkker adds, before Nygorn interrupts, boasting that he does not fear Skeletron, as he goes to explore, and asks if there is anyone bold enough to join him. ‘I’ll go with you’ Zardok replies. Nygorn takes flight, using his abilities to lift Zardok alongside him, as he calls back ‘Feel free to inform on us to the mighty Skeletron!’
Elsewhere…a doctor stands beside his patient in the padded cell, while two orderlies guard the door. ‘ - a very disturbing dream, Doctor. I…believe it to be precognitive!’ the dark-haired man exclaims. The Doctor calls him Keith and asks what it was - what was so compelling that he brought it out of himself. Keith replies that it is going to sound weird, but he knows where they are - forces from another plane of existence on their way here. ‘I see’ the Doctor replies. ‘No, you don’t see! You’re just saying that because you’re glad that I snapped out of my vegetable state!’ Keith replies, agitated. ‘We’re going to be invaded, Doc! You must believe me! You know about my abilities -’ he begins, before the Doctor interrupts, assuring Keith that he will not close his mind to anything, not with all those preposterous paranormals running around, before asking if what he says is true, then what does he want him to do about it?
Keith gets up off the bed and lunges at the Doctor, exclaiming that they have got to warn the world, the president and their most powerful paranormals. The orderlies step into the room and call out to Doctor Clow: ‘You want we should -?’ one of them asks. But Doctor Clow remarks that he is happy Keith has become motivated once more. ‘After all these months, I was beginning to lose hope that you’d ever get over your guilt over what happened during the war…’. Keith sits back down on the bed, telling Doctor Clow to forget it. ‘What’s coming is going to make the war look like a picnic - and if you don’t think we should do anything, fine by me!’
Meanwhile, somewhere beyond the star-gate, Quasar stands beside Gladiator, leader of the Imperial Guard and announces that they are past the little booby trap, thanks to Gladiator’s fellow Shi’ars, before informing everyone that he just got a good look on the Starbrand signature trail. Wendell asks Gladiator to have his pilot set his course as follows, before giving the co-ordinates. Moments later, Quasar tells Gladiator that he is sorry about the hassle with he and the others Earth heroes taking command of his ship and all. ‘But you can’t believe how big this Starbrand deal is!’ Wendell exclaims, assuring Gladiator that if he gets his allies into the vicinity of the Starbrand, and they will leave him peaceably. Gladiator replies that he agrees, but warns Quasar that he may still be held accountable for his violations of Shi’ar law. ‘Right’ Quasar replies as he leaves the bridge, while thinking to himself that Gladiator is a jerk.
Moments later, Quasar arrives in sickbay, where Captain Marvel is monitoring their other ally, Hyperion of the Squadron Supreme. Wendell asks Monica how Hyperion is doing, to which Monica tells Wendell to ask him himself as he has regained consciousness. ‘Physically - I’m healing, but I feel rotten that I let you down and let that alien get the better of me!’ Hyperion replies from where he lies in a capsule, a neck brace around his neck. Quasar tells Hyperion that they all have their heads handed to them sometimes, and tells Hyperion to do him a favor and get better, otherwise Zarda will kill him if he brings her fiancée home all busted up! Hyperion smiles.
Captain Marvel motions to another capsule in the sickbay, where Manta lies, unmoving. ‘I wanted to mention something’ Monica tells Wendell who asks ‘Manta, wasn’t it?’ Monica reveals that she is responsible for the coma that Manta is in. ‘We were fighting...her power and mine - there was some sort of feedback effect - that as far as I can tell has somehow restored my control over the full electromagnetic spectrum!’ Monica explains, before displaying some power to Quasar. Monica adds that she cannot turn into electromagnetic energy like she used to though, when suddenly, a voice sounds over the intercom, asking Quasar to report to the command deck. Wendell excuses himself from Captain Marvel and leaves the sickbay.
A planet is displayed on the large monitor on the bridge, and Gladiator informs Quasar that this appears to be the world where the Starbrand was taken. ‘Already, huh?’ Wendell remarks as he looks at the planet, before announcing that it looks vaguely familiar. Solar Wind informs Gladiator that the planet is familiar to him also, before announcing that it is the world of the Stranger, where he, Moondancer and Voyager were imprisoned for countless rotations. Gladiator informs Quasar that they can go no further, explaining that they have an Imperial treaty with the Stranger, meaning if they leave the Stranger’s world alone then no Shi’ar citizen will ever be a subject of his experimentation again. Quasar replies that he supposes this is where they part company then, and announces that he will assemble his troops and get out of here.
Soon, the Imperial Guard look on as Quasar and his allies prepare to leave, with Quasar telling everyone to join hands with someone who can teleport. Vanguard takes his sister’s hand, while Ikaris approaches Laynia “Darkstar” Petrovna and asks if she minds, to which Laynia replies that she doesn’t, so Ikaris takes her other hand. Captain Marvel and Carol “Binary” Danvers each take one of Quasar’s hand, while Perun approaches Black Bolt, who is holding onto Lockjaw, and jokes that he will walk his dog with him, before Captain Marvel points out that Hyperion Is still not in any shape to travel, so they will have to come back for him. Three teleport signatures engulf the heroes, while Quasar thanks the Imperial Guard for the lift, before they all vanish. ‘Impenitent earthman. I do  not like him’ Gladiator tells his teammates.
Meanwhile, aboard Skeletron’s ship, in the chamber of his most trusted aide, Fabrikant, the alien notices incoming life forms on a scanner, and wonders if the Earthlings could have gotten through his star-gate blockade. ‘Skeletron must be notified!’ he tells himself.
Flying over the Stranger’s planet, Quasar, Darkstar, Binary and the others take in the strange surroundings, while Quasar tells his allies that he has been here before, and informs them that they are looking for a huge dodecahedron. Vanguard complains that the way Quasar constantly assumes command is annoying, to which Darkstar replies ‘Yes, my brother’, while Perun remarks to Black Bolt that they are making some bizarre visits. Suddenly though, the giant Nygorm appears before everyone. ‘Come no further!’ he booms. ‘Whoa! Where’d he come from?’ Quasar wonders, before telling Binary and Captain Marvel to subdue the new arrival, while he quickly flies past Nygorn, continuing on his journey.
Nygorn glances at Quasar, but cannot stop him, as Binary an Captain Marvel bombard him with their powers. Monica decides that this is the time to give her new energy manipulating powers a real workout, while Carol warns everyone that their opponent is attacking as he fires beams of energy at them. ‘Don’t hold back!’ Carol tells everyone. Vanguard asks if this is the Stranger, to which Darkstar replies it is not, as she has met the Stranger. Ikaris points out that Binary and Captain Marvel seem to have their enemy at bay, and suggests to Darkstar, Vanguard, Perun and Black Bolt that the five of them follow Quasar.
Nygorn screams out in pain as Binary and Captain Marvel’s energy strikes him, while Codabac, Skar, Threkker and Zardok suddenly appear in space crafts. ‘Fabrikant was right! The Earthers!’ Codabac exclaims. Skar remarks that he has not killed anyone in many rotations and boasts that he will relish the next few minutes. ‘Hostile aliens. What an unexpected pleasure!’ Perun exclaims as he, Darkstar, Vanguard, Ikaris and Black Bolt begin to battle the four Starblasters. Perun takes on Zardok, while Ikaris deals to Codabac, and Black Bolt confronts Skar. Threkkers lunges at Vanguard shouting ‘Morsels! Threkker shall feast!’, to which Darkstar calls out to her brother, but as Threkker forces Vanguard downwards, Vanguard assures Laynia that he can handle this beast and suggests she help someone else.
‘ENOUGH OF THIS IMPERTINENCE!’ Nygorn booms, blasting enery at Binary and smashing her against the Starblaster’s shuttle. Laynia calls out to Binary, before using the power of the Darkforce to create a blindfold around Nygorn: ‘Let’s see how well you shoot when you cannot see, giant!’ Laynia exclaims as she wraps the Darkforce around Nygorn’s eyes, confusing the cosmic being. Perun has been knocked to the rooftop of a building, and watches as Zardok rushes towards him: ‘Oh, woe is me! The rock creature has dealt me a resounding blow! Now he comes to finish me off!’ Perun mocks. ‘Oh, what shall poor Perun do?’ Perun continues to mock, before casting forth a bolt of lightning to strike Zardok down. Perun just laughs at the rock-skinned alien.
Vanguard finds himself in danger, unsure as to what is happening, for his power to repulse all energies used against him isn’t working, and he cannot bring it to bear against Threkker, who continues to force Vanguard downwards to the rooftop as Vanguard loses his power to fly. ‘What have you done?’ Nygorn booms at Darkstar, while Black Bolt continues to fend of Skar, and Ikaris finds Codabac a worthy foe. ‘As strong as you are, Earther, you cannot block all the ways I can attack!’ the four-armed alien exclaims.
Once more, an unimaginable distance away…Keith is curled up in bed once more, thinking to himself that Doctor Clow will not believe him. ‘He’s going to be sorry…everyone’s going to. Including me, I guess…’ Keith tells himself that he could just let the world go hang, but the catastrophe that will befall Earth will affect him, too. Keith knows that he could do something, but that would mean making peace with his other self, his dream form. ‘Putting myself in the position where once again millions of people could be affected if I mess up in some way!’. Keith tells himself that he doesn’t have a choice - if he fails to do something or if he tries to do something and fails, either way he will still be responsible.
‘Why I have to be in this position, I’ll never know! I didn’t ask for this responsibility!’ Keith tells himself, as he slips into his costumed dream form, and leaves the padded cell. Keith supposes he can hide away inside his own private dreamscape no longer, for he is going to have to act if he ever wants to know peaceful sleep again. ‘I’m going to have to summon Nightmask from the recesses of my mind, and pray he can do something to save the waking world!’
Meanwhile, aboard the Shi’ar star ship, Moondancer, Voyager and Solar Wind stand in front of Gladiator, who exclaims ‘No! I forbid you to go down to the Stranger’s world! I cannot allow the three of you to jeopardize the treaty!’. Solar Wind tells Gladiator that this is very important to them, reminding Gladiator that he, Moondancer and Voyager - and possibly others - were imprisoned and experimented on by the Stranger for almost three cycles. ‘He did unspeakable things to us!’ Solar Wind exclaims. Solar Wind reveals that, more than anything else in the universe, they would like to extract vengeance upon the Stranger - and they may never get another opportunity like this. Gladiator tells his teammates that he appreciates what they must be feeling, but that their duty to the Imperium must come first. ‘If that is how you feel, praetor - then tell the Empress that Solar Wind, Voyager and Moondancer hereby resign from the Imperial Guard!’ Moondancer exclaims as she and her male companions leap into a portal opened by Voyager. Gladiator frowns as he watches them leave.
Back on the Stranger’s planet, Nygorn tries to pull the Darkforce bonds form his eyes, while Ikaris and Black Bolt continue to battle Codabac and Skar, when suddenly a ripple in the air signals Voyager’s portal opening. Moondancer explains that she guided them to where the greatest concentration of Earth people were, and suggests that the Stranger might be nearby. Black Bolt grapples with Skar, and eventually forces him in front of the giant Nygorn, before whispering the merest syllable, which smashes Skar into Nygorn - a shocking equivelant to a ton of TNT. Solar Wind decides that if he aids the Earthlings in their skirmishes with the non-entities, they may assist him and his teammates in their vendetta against this world’s master.
Solar Wind proceeds to blow a bust of wind, separating Ikaris and Codabac - but Nygorn continues to fall backwards where Ikaris is about to land - until Voyager rescues Ikaris by opening a portal. ‘Don’t worry, blue one! You shall not be crushed!’ Voyager assures him. Darkstar and Captain Marvel help Binary down, and ask her if she is all right, to which Carol replies ‘Somewhat’. ‘Teleported? By whom?’ Ikaris wonders as he re-appears. ‘By me!’ Voayger exclaims as he, Solar Wind, Moondancer, Perun and Black Bolt gather together. Suddenly, Threkker reminds everyone he is still around as he holds Vanguard over his head and shouts ‘Surrender, Earthers! Or I will drain this one of every last speck of life force!’. A horrified Darkstar screams out for her brother.
Nearby, in his lab, the Stranger informs Skeletron that he is nearly finished with his analysis. ‘You are sure? I did not expect it to go so quickly!’ Skeletron replies as he looks at Kayla Ballantine. The Stranger replies that he has been doing such procedures for eons, before Skeletron asks him if he can tell where the Starbrand is from. The Stranger replies that he cannot while it is still on her person, so he will have to remove it. ‘Then proceed, great scientist, proceed!’ Skeletron replies.
Close by, Quasar flies through the numerous corridors, thinking to himself that they are maddeningly complex. ‘I have half a mind to burn right through them all’ Quasar tells himself, though is afraid he may hit a reactor or something. ‘Hold on, Kayla, please hold on! I’m going as fast as I can…and oh how I’m going to make your tormentors pay!’….


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

[Assistant]
The Long Goodbye
Earth. Sort of. Where Wendell “Quasar” Vaughn hovers over. It is the Earth of another Multiverse brought into this universe by the immense power of the Starbrand. It is an Earth that is home to four billion human beings, native to the world, and one human being native to the Earth of our dimension. That human being Is - or was - the girl friend of Quasar, the champion of the cosmos. Kayla is now trapped inside an invisible, impenetrable barrier that surrounds the New Universe’s Earth. Enormous quantum-band-infused lettering lights up the sky - GOODBYE KAYLA I‘M SORRY, Q -, while an upset Quasar continues to hover over the other Earth. He is trying to say goodbye.
The young hero wonders how long he is going to torture himself here. ’I had my chance to breach the barrier, but I refused to pay the price. I could have given up my powers and responsibilities to be with Kayla forever - but I turned it down. End of story’ Wendell reminds himself, before deciding that there is nothing more to do here except to erase his message to Kayla and leave. Instantly, Quasar quantum-jumps, traversing the breadth of the Milky Way Galaxy in the blink of an eye.
Wendell arrives back at Earth - his Earth - the world where he and Kayla were born, but which Kayla would never see again. Wendell thinks that it is his fault Kayla had to be sealed off from the rest of the universe behind that barrier, as he was the one who inadvertently gave her the big band Starbrand. ‘Some protector of the universe I am - a menace to those I love!’ Quasar thinks to himself, before deciding that he cannot let this happen ever again. ‘I can’t let anyone suffer because they got close to me ever again!’. Wendell decides that he must leave this planet for good, that he must cut himself off from everyone he knows and cares about.
Flying over his hometown, Wendell decides to start here, and begins by circling the city one last time to try and etch it all into his memory - places like his elementary school, his grandparent’s house, the local church, neighborhood - and his mother’s house, which he drops down beside, knowing that this may be the hardest, so he has got to be strong. ‘Knock, knock. Anybody home?’ Wendell calls out as he opens the door, and enters the kitchen - where his mother, Lisa, and sister, Gayle, are in the kitchen. ‘Wendell!’ they both call out. ‘Hi Mom, hi sis’ Wendell replies as they rush over to embrace him. ‘My brother the super hero finally graces up with a visit!’ Gayle exclaims, while his mother adds ‘Not that you need one, but what’s the occasion?’
Wendell hangs his head, before announcing that he has come to say goodbye. ‘This may be the last time you’ll ever see me!’ he adds, causing shock to spread across his mother and sister’s faces. ‘Don’t worry, it’s not like I’m dying or anything!’ Quasar assures his family, explaining that he has been neglecting his responsibilities as protector of the universe, what with spending so much time on Earth. ‘It’s time to get serious about my job. And that means leaving Earth full time’. Mrs Vaughn tells her son that they barely had a chance to see him while he was here, to which Wendell replies that he knows, and that if he had to do it again, he would have visited more often.
Quasar creates a quantum crystal and tells his family that he is going to leave it with them, so if they really, really, really need to communicate with him - a matter of life and death - all they need to do is grasp it with two hands and think his name over and over. ‘I’ll be able to talk to you through it, okay?’ Wendell explains as his mother takes the quantum crystal, and hugs her son. ‘Well, that’s about it. I’m going to miss you both. I love you’ Quasar tells his mother and sister. Quasar leaves, taking to the sky, while his mother and sister wave goodbye. ‘That ripped me apart. Better pull myself together before I do the next one!’ Wendell thinks to himself as he soars away.
Meanwhile, in Khystym, Russia - better known as the Forbidden Zone - stronghold of the eminent, yet deranged, scientist Sergei Krylov - better known as the Presence. The radioactive being sits beside a glass coffin which contains the body of his slain son, Nicolai “Vanguard” Krylenko, while his daughter, Vanguard’s twin - the glamorous Laynia “Darkstar” Petrovna, and Sergei’s second wife - Dr Tania “Starlight” Belinsky - stand nearby, a sad expression across her face. ‘My son…DEAD! I can’t bring myself to accept it!’ the Presence booms.
Darkstar declares that she killed the alien who murdered her brother. ‘But somehow, it doesn’t feel like enough!’ she exclaims. The angry Presence asks Laynia how she and Vanguard came to be fighting the alien, to which Laynia explains that Quasar recruited them to help him battle some aliens. Darkstar is about to explain further details, but the Presence interrupts, booming “QUASAR! Once again I hear his accursed name!’. Laynia replies that she was not aware her father knew Quasar, to which the Presence mutters that he knows Quasar all too well, before getting up from his seat and declaring that Quasar probably planned to have Vanguard slain, just to get back at him.
But the ever-reasonable Darkstar tells the Presence that she is not sure Quasar knew he and Vanguard were related, before, surprisingly, declaring that she agrees with him that, ultimately, Quasar is responsible for this, as he was the one who recruited she and Vanguard to his mission. The Presence tells Laynia to use the Darkforce power that she commands, and declares that it is time for retribution. The Presence tells Starlight to wait here, and that if they do not return in twenty-four hours, then it means Quasar vanquished them. ‘At that time, you will find Quasar’s family and kill them!’ the Presence orders as he and Darkstar vanish in a burst of Darkforce energy. ‘Yes, Sergei’, the down-trodden former Red Guardian replies sadly.
Back in New York City, Quasar flies towards Four Freedom’s Plaza, specifically, the thirteenth floor - headquarters of Vaughn-Tanaka Security Consultants, and his closes friend - Ken. Wendell appears outside the window to Ken’s office, where Ken sees him and exclaims ‘Wend - I mean, Quasar!’, while their colleagues Brenna and Phil stand nearby. Wendell enters through the window before Ken asks him what he is doing here as Quasar, remarking that Brenna and Phil are going to suspect that he is the company founder. Hanging his head, Quasar replies that it doesn’t matter anymore, before Informing his friend that Kayla is not coming back, that he lost her on an alien world, and there is nothing he can do about It.
‘Her family calls here everyone once in a while. What should I tell them?’ Ken asks, to which Wendell tells him not to worry, as he will see the Ballantine’s before he goes. ‘I’m leaving for good this time, Ken’ he announces. Quasar turns to Brenna and Phil, and tells them that if Ken hired them, he knows they must be the best. ‘Take good care of the company’ he tells them, adding that he wishes he had the chance to get to know them better. ‘Me too’ Brenna remarks as she shakes Wendell’s hand. ‘Goodbye, buddy. Take care of yourself’ Wendell tells Ken as he embraces him. ‘I - uh - you, too!’ Ken replies, before Quasar steps out the window, announcing that he best be on his way, when he sees Nova fly past. ‘Yeah, he must do work around here or something. I see him zipping around a lot’ Ken remarks.
Quasar doesn’t fly after Nova though, telling himself he doesn’t know him that well, so will spare him a farewell. Instead, Wendell flies up higher alongside Four Freedom’s Plaza, knowing that he should say goodbye to the Thing and the rest of the Fantastic Four while he is here. Quasar finds the Human Torch at one of the higher windows, and assures him that he isn’t here for a fight, but was wondering if the Thing was around. The Human Torch replies that the Thing is out, and didn’t say where he was going. The Human Torch flies outside around Quasar and asks if it is urgent and if he wants him to send up a flare. But Wendell replies that it isn’t urgent, and asks the Torch to tell the Thing that he stopped by and said hi. ‘You got it!’ the Human Torch replies.
However, nearby, Darkstar and her demented father hover in the shadows. ‘Should we attack now?’ Laynia asks. ‘No - not with other superhumans about’ the Presence replies, adding that they can afford to be patient.
Wendell takes flight once more, and soars over Avengers Mansion, though the former member of the Avengers decides that he does not want to say goodbye to anyone save for Captain America. ‘Probably don’t even know half the team these days’ Wendell realizes, before picking up his Avenger’s Priority Card and phones the Avengers - only Black Widow answers the call. The Black Widow is surprised to see Quasar on the other end of the comm-card, and tells Wendell that she didn’t even know he still had his communi-card. When Quasar remarks that he was expecting Peggy Carter, the Black Widow replies that Peggy has the afternoon off, to which Wendell explains that he needs to talk to Cap. The Black Widow replies that Cap is on some solo mission, but offers to patch him through.
An instant later, Captain America, speeding along on his motorcycle, receives the transmission: ‘Quasar! How are you doing, son?’ the legendary hero asks. Wendell replies that he is okay, before explaining that he wanted to tell Cap he was leaving Earth - maybe for good this time. ‘And I - well, I had to say goodbye to you’. Quasar remarks that Cap has always been an inspiration for him, and he wanted to make sure he told Cap that. ‘You’re a good man, Wendell, one of the best Avengers I’ve known. I’m proud to call you my friend’ Cap replies. Quasar wipes a tear from his eye when he finishes talking to Cap, and thinks to himself that it is probably a good thing he didn’t see Captain America in person: ‘I’d probably start to bawl and he’s know what a wuss I really was!’
Still following Quasar, Darkstar alerts her father to their quarry, and asks if they should attack - but the Presence tells Laynia to await his signal.
Up ahead, Wendell sees Spider-Man. Although he knows they were never that close, ‘Since I’m here…’ he decides, unaware that Spider-Man’s Spider-Sense is going crazy. ‘What’s your hassle?’ Spider-Man asks as he spins around mid-swing. But as Spider-Man is but inches away from Quasar, he realizes that his Spider-Sense is no longer tingling, so it must not have been Quasar. Wendell replies that he has no hassle, and just wanted to say hi. ‘Hi yourself’ Spider-Man replies.
The Presence remarks that, once more, another superhuman would have intruded. ‘We had best wait until he is out of this hot bed of super-humanity!’ the Presence tells his daughter.
‘Take care of yourself, Spidey!’ Quasar calls out as he flies away. ‘What was that about. What was he really trying to tell me?’ Spider-Man wonders.
Soon, in upstate New York, Quasar arrives at Project Pegasus, where he can say goodbye to both the Squadron Supreme, and Kismet all in one stop. Inside, Quasar is greeted by Whizzer of the Squadron Supreme, who asks Wendell what brings him here, beside quantum energy, of course. Wendell smiles and replies that he wanted to check on Kismet’s cocoon. The Whizzer looks concerned, and remarks that he thought Quasar had been notified. ‘Oh what?’ Wendell asks, to which the Whizzer reveals that Kismet’s cocoon was abducted about two days ago. ‘Abducted?’ a worried Wendell asks. ‘How did it happen? Who did it? Have you searched for her?’ Wendell asks.
‘Whoa, whoa, whoa!’ the Whizzer replies, trying to calm Wendell down, while three of his teammates - Power Princess, Doctor Spectrum and Skylark approach them. Power Princess remarks that Quasar bet Hyperion home from their space mission, and announces that she just received a message from Hyperion that some aliens named the Shi’ar are going to be dropping him off on Earth within the week. ‘Speaking of space, the other reason I stopped by is to tell you guys I’m heading off into the void in a few hours, and there’s a fair probability - I won’t be returning to these parts in a long time’ Wendell announces, before telling his friends that, in any event, he hopes they make it back to their rightful universe soon. ‘So long, Quasar!’ ‘Take care!’ ‘Goodbye!’ the Squadron call; out, while Quasar examines his quantum bands and thinks to himself that he is very familiar with Kismet’s energy signature, so if she is anywhere on Earth, he should be able to find her.
Watching her ally fly away, Darkstar remarks to the Presence ‘Even in this remote place, there are superhumans about!’, while wondering why Quasar is paying short visits upon so many of them. ‘It does not matter. If we are patient, the perfect opportunity will come!’ the Presence replies.
About two thousand miles westward, Quasar drops down at an abandoned building, where Kismet’s signature is the strongest. ‘Kizzy, what have you gotten yourself into?’ Wendell wonders, before entering the building, where he finds the alien known as Kismet standing over the unmoving bodies of three elderly men. ‘Kismet!’ Wendell exclaims, causing Kismet to spin around, shocked to see him. Quasar comments on Kismet’s new appearance, telling her that she looks great, but different, and asks what happened to her.
Kismet a.k.a. Her a.k.a. J’ridia Starduster replies that she recovered from the wounds incurred at the hands of Quasar’s woman friend, and emerged from her cocoon in this slightly altered form. Kimset explains that she is waiting for her fathers to revive, and she has placed them in resuscitive cocoons. ‘Your fathers?’ Wendell asks, confused. ‘Yes. The men who grew me in a test tube’ Kismet explains, before Wendell tells her that he is glad she is okay. ‘I was very sorry about what happened to you…I hope you didn’t think I abandoned you’ Wendell adds, before informing Kismet that he is going back out into space, and that he would like her to come along if she wishes. Kismet thanks Quasar, before declining his offer, explaining that she is going to wait for her fathers to revive before deciding what to do next. ‘Then I…guess this is goodbye’ Wendell replies as they shake hands.
Meanwhile, two hundred miles east of Quasar, Laynia flies alongside her father, who remarks that Quasar is moving once again, as he senses his energy coming closer. Darkstar suggests that they attack Quasar out here, as there are not so many superhumans to interfere. The Presence replies that they will not attack Quasar while flying, as he possesses greater speed than they. ‘Wait until he alights’.
Flying onwards, Wendell thinks to himself that Kismet seemed very changed, distant, but that he is relieved she is okay. ‘Her injuries were in a way my fault. If I hadn’t given Kayla the Starbrand…Kayla. I left the hardest stop till last. Her family’s house!’ Wendell tells himself.
Soon, Quasar descends upon Staten Island, at the Ballantine household. ‘I’d rather face Maelstrom than her Dad. What am I going to tell him?’ Wendell wonders as he knocks on the door. He half hopes Kayla’s father will not be home, but moments later, an overweight, drunken man opens the door: ‘Who the @#$% are you supposed to be?’ he snarls. ‘A friend of your daughter’s - Quasar. I used to be an Avenger’ Wendell replies. ‘I ain’t got no daughter - I threw her out! Now go away!’ Mr Ballantine booms as he tries to shut the door - but Wendell sticks his foot in the doorway, ‘I will, Sir…but I have something to tell you first. About your daughter’.
Wendell informs Mr Ballantine that his daughter will not be coming home again - ever - as she is on another world, and there is not a force in the universe strong enough to get her free. ‘What? What kinda cock ’n’ bull story is that?’ Mr Ballantine retorts, before shouting ‘My baby ain’t coming home no more - you filthy son of a - you murdered my little girl, didn’t ya?’ as he lunges at Wendell, knocking him to the sidewalk. ‘No, sir, I didn’t - but I am to blame for -’ Wendell begins to reply, as Mr Ballantine shouts offensive language at him and calls him a murderer. ‘I’ll kill you for what you’ve done! I want my baby back!’ Mr Ballantine shouts as he begins to punch Quasar.
Wendell thinks to himself that there are a million ways he could stop Mr Ballantine, but that he thinks he is entitled to take out his rage on him. Suddenly though, ‘Let us help you, comrade!’ exclaims the Presence as he and Darkstar drop to the ground beside Quasar. ‘So this is the mighty Quasar, being pummeled by a balding, overweight civilian!’ the Presence remarks. ‘Who - ?’ a confused Mr Ballantine asks, stopping his attack on Quasar. ‘Never mind that, Mr Ballantine! Just get out of the way - quickly!’ Wendell replies as the Presence blasts him with his foul energies.
‘You are not going to flee from our final confrontation, American. The force dome my daughter is erecting will see to it!’ the Presence booms while Darkstar encases the area in a Darkforce bubble. ‘Darkstar is his daughter?’ Wendell thinks to himself, before approaching Darkstar and asking her what this is about. ‘I thought we were allies!’ he exclaims, while Mr Ballantine rushes into his house. ‘You don’t even know, do you? You couldn’t be bothered to learn! You just use your allies and throw them away!’ Laynia exclaims in reply. ‘Learn what?’ Wendell asks, confused. ‘My brother Nicolai is dead. He died on that mission you took us on!’ Laynia exclaims. ‘He did? I - I -’ Wendell begins to reply, while thinking to himself that he had been so preoccupied with Kayla, that he never got in touch with all of his allies. ‘I’m so sorry, Darkstar. You’ve got to believe me. I didn’t know that would happen’ Wendell assures Laynia.
‘It is too late for apologies. It is too late for everything save vengeance!’ Laynia exclaims as she throws several Darkforce spears at Quasar, who quickly constructs a large quantum shield to protect himself. Wendell reminds himself that Darkforce is one of the few things his quantum energy has no control over, and his shield barely stops them, as they slightly pierce it. ‘You talked me out of revenging myself upon you once before - and this is what I get - you killing my only son!’ the Presence exclaims as he grabs Quasar with his energy. ‘I swear to you, Sir: I didn’t know Vanguard was your son. And I didn’t mean for him to die!’ Wendell replies, adding that he did not force Vanguard to accompany him. ’He volunteered! Tell him, Darkstar!’ Wendell exclaims.
‘He died while serving your cause. You are to blame. You must pay!’ the Presence replies as he continues to pour energy against Quasar, telling him not to think about escape. ’If you flee, I shall hunt down your family and slay one of them in your stead!’ the Presence warns Quasar. Suddenly, Quasar shouts ’That did it, you bulb-headed bozo! You had me feeling pretty miserable for whatever part I played on your tragedy. But you dare threaten my family, and my sympathy for you vanishes! You’ve gotten me mad, mister!’ Wendell exclaims as he breaks free of the Presence’s energy, and traps Darkstar and the Presence in quantum energy bubbles.
Elsewhere on Staten Island though, Nova soars after making a delivery as part of his messenger delivery service, when he notices the sky has grown very black - before realizing that trees and houses have been cut in half - and that the blackness is actually a solid dome. Nova supposes that it is Darkforce, and wonders which of the Darkforce wielders he knows is doing it - ’Blackout? Cloak? Darkling?’. Suddenly, lightning or something like it, startles Nova, who decides to check it out - provided he can get through the Darkforce.
Back inside the Darkforce though, Darkstar reminds Quasar that she can teleport out of any containment vessel that he concocts, and uses the Darkforce to create a pair of large pincers, which she traps Wendell within. ’Let’s see if you can, too!’ Laynia exclaims, while Wendell reminds him that if he quantum-jumps in Earth’s atmosphere, he will blow holes in the Ozone. Suddenly, the Presence bursts through Quasar’s quantum energy dome, boasting: ’Ha! My nuclear energies shattered your sphere!’.
However, Nova has managed to penetrate the Darkforce dome, and as he flies towards the battleground, where Quasar has confined himself on a small quantum-dome, Nova thinks to himself ’What’s this? Darkstar and some guy with a bigger bucket-head than mine - pounding on Quasar. I thought Darkstar was one of the good guys?. Suddenly, Nova swoops down and grabs the Presence: ’Two against one doesn’t seem fair to me. It seem fair to you?’ he asks, while the Presence shouts ’What is - another superhuman!’. Nova replies that he isn’t just any superhuman, and is about to introduce himself, when the Presence blasts him with a bolt of nuclear energy - which narrowly misses Nova.
‘Nicolai was the one person in the world i was closest to, and you took him away!’ Laynia exclaims as she and Quasar battle each other with staves created from their respective energy forms. ’I hate you, Quasar - as I’ve never hated anyone ever before!’ Darkstar exclaims, to which Wendell tells Laynia that he can see why she is upset, and remarks that he has lost a number of people close to him also. ’You have to believe me - I didn’t mean for it to happen! I picked you and Vanguard because I figured you two could look after yourselves!’ Quasar exclaims, before a stray blast from the Presence hits his arm.
Looking up, Wendell is confused to see Nova, while Darkstar tells Quasar that he insults her brother’s memory by saying he was unfit to look after himself. Wendell does not have time to react before Laynia smacks him over with her Darkforce stave. Recovering moments later, Wendell thinks that he is in a major no-win situation here. ‘I’m not going to convince her I’m anything other than grossly negligent - and they look like they’re not going to let up until they kill me!’ he tells himself. Quasar thinks that if he defeats them by hauling them into the Quantum Zone like he did to the Presence when they last met, they will only escape, and when they do, they will kill his mother or sister if they cannot find him. ‘So what do I do?’ Wendell wonders.
‘Think of something!’ he tells himself, before flying up to where Nova is still battling the Presence, and exclaims ‘Hey, Nova! Thanks for coming to bail me out, but you shouldn’t have! You can back off now!’ he exclaims, adding that he deserves the beating Darkstar and the Presence were giving him. Laynia watches the situation above, and wonders what sort of trick Quasar is planning, before Wendell announces to the Presence that he has decided to take his punishment like a man. ‘Do whatever you two wish with me. I won’t resist. I’ll even drop my protective aura!’ Quasar exclaims.
Suddenly, the Presence orders Darkstar to attack: ‘Now, my daughter - with all your might!’ the Presence booms as he unleashes a blast of nuclear energy against Quasar, while Laynia follows suit with a beam of Darkforce. Nova drops out of the way, before, moments later, the shredded remains of Quasar’s cape, along with his quantum bands, drop from the ashes. ‘We disintegrated him!’ the Presence booms as he grabs the tattered remains of Quasar’s cape. ‘We must have! He could not have teleported away without his quantum bands!’ Laynia explains as she collects the bands, adding that they have avenged Nicolai.
‘You stinkin’ murderers!’ Nova shouts, speeding towards Darkstar and the Presence, they teleport away before he can strike them. With Darkstar gone, her dome evaporates, revealing several other heroes who were outside it, trying to get in - Rage, Firestar, Justice, Thunderstrike, Giant Man, the Vision, Invisible Woman and the Human Torch. ‘Hey, it’s Nova!’ exclaims Rage, while Nova takes in the gathering of heroes and supposes to himself that the black-out didn’t go unnoticed. ‘What happened?’ Thunderstrike asks.
Nova informs everyone that Quasar was jumped by two “super-yahoos” - Darkstar and the Presence, and though he is not sure, he thinks they disintegrated Quasar, took his power bands and teleported away. ‘The blond punk only got what was coming to him!’ Mr Ballantine shouts as he steps out of his home. ‘Quasar…dead? Is it possible?’ the Invisible Woman asks.
Meanwhile…on the outermost edge of Earth’s atmosphere - a quantum signature appears, as a solemn Quasar escapes Earth, knowing that he blew a hole in the ozone, but that there could have been a lot more damage had the fight continued. Wendell tells himself that he hates leaving like this, with everyone thinking he is dead, but if anyone on Earth knows he is alive, the Presence may read their mind and make food on his vow to go after his mother and sister. Wendell hopes that the duplicates of his quantum bands that he created from quantum-energy hold up to the Presence’s inspection, even though they are non-functional. Wendell hopes that the Presence will assume the blast he used burnt them out.
As he soars further and further away from Earth, Wendell tells himself not to look back, just to get away so no one can detect him. He remarks that Earth should be in good hands with people like Nova ready and able to step in. ‘I don’t think my power will be missed’ he tells himself. ‘Goodbye, mother planet. This native son is leaving your nest for good. Please, everyone. Be well…and don’t think badly of me. I didn’t succeed in everything I set out to do, but I tried my best. What more could I do…?’ Quasar wonders as he flies to the stars.


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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

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The Final Conflict (Siege of Wundagore Part 5)
A rift opens in time and space as a portion of another universe erupts into this one. Through it comes a ship, black in color and almost insect-like in design, carrying Lord Delphis, long-absent member of the Knights of Wundagore. He stands at the controls, piloting the ship back home, thinking that it was good of Lord Arkon to lend him it as a way of saying thanks for his aid. The messages he has received though are confusing. The High Evolutionary bid him to come home, saying that the time to supplant the usurper, Exodus, from Wundagore, yet the one from Quicksilver indicates that he has gone mad. As he comes in to land next to Wundagore’s golden citadel, he looks down to see the taller than usual High Evolutionary and his fellow Knights, the Heroes for Hire (some devolved), Quicksilver and several Acolytes in the midst of battle with Exodus laying on the floor, seemingly unconscious.
The lights from the ship pierce the evening sky and the High Evolutionary, not recognising the Polemachian craft, orders Sir Ram to bring it down, as they will no longer suffer the indignity of being invaded. Even Quicksilver is helpless to react as Sir Ram fires at the ship with a kind of energy lance, which pierces its armor and forces the craft to land in a ball of flame. Quicksilver, holding the scepter which houses Isotope E, quickly rushes into the debris and collects Lord Delphis, just before the entire ship explodes.
He delivers the startled Delphis to Bova, asking her to explain the situation to him. The High Evolutionary is preparing another attack and he tells Delphis that the outcome may yet depend on him. Bova takes her time and explains the events that have transpired since Delphis went to Polemachus.
(flashback)She tells him that it is a confusing tale. The High Evolutionary is sliding up and down the evolutionary scale, due to his experiments. The White Tiger, who is actually one of them, has spent these past months with the Heroes for Hire and was created specifically to track and kill their renegade brother, the Man-Beast. She was called back by their lord to help reclaim Wundagore Mountain from Exodus and brought her friends, the Heroes for Hire, with her. However, there was a flare up and the Evolutionary devolved some of them into subhumans. In his rational moments, their lord hopes to use Isotope E to stabilize himself and the humans, but these moments are fewer and fewer. The humans defeated Exodus when their lord, madder and more powerful than ever, rose to attack them all. Bova is clearly upset about these events.
(present)The High Evolutionary, meanwhile, looms down on Thena, asking how she dare pit herself against him. He looks seriously deranged. She replies that she is Thena of the Eternals. She has faced Celestials and survived and he is nothing compared to them and will fall before her psionic blasts before she will allow him to harm her comrades. She-Hulk and Quicksilver stand back to back. She tells him that most of her team has devolved again and the Knights are stronger than ever. “Any ideas?” she asks. He replies that he only has one; he hopes to restore them to themselves.
She tells him it’s a nice gag if he can pull it off and asks if he has any ideas how to do it. Quicksilver holds the scepter in front of him and says that he’ll do it the same way he enhanced his own power through the use of Isotope E. Aiming it at the three devolved heroes, he fires and they scream in agony as the energies are absorbed into their bodies. She-Hulk watches in horror and asks him to stop; “Can’t you see you’re killing them?” When he stops, a smile appears on her face as Luke says that he ain’t dead yet. They are back to their normal human state and Iron Fist thanks Pietro as now they stand a chance in their own defense.
Their relief is short-lived, though, as Lord Tyger hovers overhead on his atomic steed and fires at the with an energy lance, telling them that his lord commands them to die. Luke scowls and replies that his lord needs a good butt-whupping. Meanwhile, Thena falls from a blast and informs Quicksilver that she is no match for the High Evolutionary; it’s like going up against the Uni-Mind. They need help. Quicksilver thinks that he must strike against the one who was more a father to him than his own father. He calls the Acolytes to attention, telling them to prepare to follow him into battle.
Scanner angrily says that they will not. Pietro is aghast at her statement. He tells them that he is the heir to Magneto. He fought and defeated Exodus to claim his mantle and they are sworn to serve him. Cortez tells him that this battle no longer concerns them and they will not fight such battles. Exodus calls them cowards. He says that the High Evolutionary is an abomination and he will strike out to destroy him, no matter who he must ally himself with. Quicksilver tells the Acolytes that Exodus is more noble in defeat than they, asking again if they will come with him. This time, some of them agree and form behind him as he heads to battle.
(partial flashback)Bova, meanwhile, continues relaying recent events to the newly arrived Lord Delphis. She has some sad news for him, informing him of the deaths of both Lord Churchill and Lady Ursula. As for Lord Anon, she tells him that the true Lord Anon was another wolf that their lord had evolved, trying again to make right what went wrong with the Man-Beast. He knew that the new Sir Wulf would have to earn their respect and so encased him wholly in armor. It was only when they returned to Wundagore that they discovered that the Man-Beast slew Sir Wulf and took his place. While their master was in a weakened state, the Man-Beast struck him down and stole Isotope E from him. The last Bova saw of him, he was fighting White Tiger to the death, but there was a terrible explosion and she doesn’t know what became of him.
(present)The Man-Beast lives. He kneels down, relishing his survival, offering no thanks to his creator. He sees no sign of White Tiger but hears the sound of conflict. He mutters to himself that he will find Isotope E there and will once again have the means to destroy his ‘father!’ In the shadows, White Tiger stalks him, whispering to herself that his death follows him.
Back above ground in the citadel, the High Evolutionary and the Knights of Wundagore now face Quicksilver, the Heroes for Hire and the Acolytes. The Black Knights calls his winged horse, Strider, but Sir Ram insists that it will do him no good; the High Evolutionary says he must die, and he will obey him. Dane manages to deflect Sir Ram’s attack with his shield of night, which absorbs the energy from his blast, and uses his sword of light to send the energy back at him, telling Sir Ram that he should count himself lucky that he aimed at his atomic steed and not him. Sir Ram crashes to the ground as the atomic steed gives up the ghost. “Heads up!” he shouts as the steed hits the ground and explodes.
Luke looks into a hole in the ground, thinking that Sir Ram had landed pretty hard when, suddenly, Sir Ram appears and thrusts his lance at Luke’s chest, trying to kill him. Cage isn’t that easy to kill however and the lance snaps against his steel hard skin. He brings both fists down on Sir Ram as he leaps over him and Dane shouts that he’s sending another one his way. The identity of his second victim is lost in a ball of fire as a second atomic steed bites the dust.
Watching the action, Bova asks Lord Delphis whose side he is on now. He replies that he fights for his creator, for he owes him his very existence, but loyalty is not the same as blind obedience. He was imbued also with the power of reason and, if his lord was in his right mind, he would want him to stabilize his condition, and so he shall. He tells Bova that he will fight to make things right, true to his code, but first he must have Isotope E. The High Evolutionary is on a blind rampage and everyone, apart from the Knights, is trying to slow him down. Thena notices that Exodus’s power has as little effect as hers on the Evolutionary. Decay, meanwhile, places his hands on the Evolutionary’s lower leg, attempting to siphon his power. He presumes that he will grow strong, while his enemy dies. He is wrong. The power is too great and the build up of energy overloads his systems and Decay explodes; instant death.
The others see it happen and Luke says, “Whoa! Scratch one Acolyte,” as he smashes Sir Ram in the mouth. Senyaka takes on Lord Tyger, as She-Hulk grapples with Lord Gator, trying to choke him into submission. The High Evolutionary is too strong for all of them and he swats away Thena, as if she were nothing. He then manages to use the Earth itself as his weapon, binding the Acolytes and heroes in vines. Thena manages to free herself quickly and kneels down to recover alongside Exodus, who has exhausted himself with his ineffective psionic attacks.
Suddenly, the Man-Beast is standing behind Thena and suggests to them both that they’ll never beat the High Evolutionary this way, but their three minds together might be another story. Together they might be able to topple a god. Thena replies that she is acquainted with the concept of a unified mind, but their minds? Exodus tells him that there is a taint on him that he does not care to touch. “I love you too,” says the Man-Beast, but tells them that he means them no harm. It is the High Evolutionary that he wants brought down; besides, what choice have they? He will kill them otherwise, and indeed is killing some of them now.
The vines try and grab the Black Knight but he fends them away with his shield and slices the ones holding Quicksilver. Pietro offers his thanks, though he admits he is surprised given their history. He thought he would leave him to his fate. Dane continues slashing away at the vines, which now close around him, telling Pietro that, though they have both loved the same woman, he has never considered him an enemy. He values his courage and his ability, and only he can do what must be done. Quicksilver says he will now return the favor and free him but Dane replies that he should forget him and get to the Evolutionary instead. He is the only one with a prayer of reaching him, making him see the light and stopping this useless battle. Pietro honestly tells him that he has misjudged him. He is a man of honor and perhaps his love for Crystal indeed equals his own. As he powers himself away, he swears he will not fail his trust.
While Pietro heads for the High Evolutionary, Thena rips the vines off Iron Fist, insisting he listen to her. She says she will have both he and Senyaka free in a moment but she and Exodus are going to try to convince the Man-Beast to try a joint psi-attack. She asks him to keep the Knights and anyone else off their backs, as disruption could be fatal.
Quicksilver’s journey is halted in dramatic fashion by Bova, who stands with her arms open, shouting for him to stop. She says that Lord Delphis may be able to stabilize the High Evolutionary and the Heroes for Hire. He knows their lord’s mind and can complete the process in the lab, but he must have Isotope E. Pietro screeches to a halt beside her, the ground beneath him churned and cauterized beneath his super fast feet. He says that Isotope E is his. It has given him greater power; power to match his father’s. It makes him supreme and he will not give it up. Bova looks at him, dismayed, asking him to listen to himself. She says that it makes him too much like his father by half. All his life he has fought to escape becoming like Magneto. “Will you give in now?” Pietro frowns but considers what she says and reluctantly hands over the scepter holding the Isotope. She departs for the lab with Lord Delphis as Pietro sits there like a scolded puppy. Immediately, he also departs with a great turn of speed.
The Acolytes who hadn’t joined Quicksilver earlier discuss where all this is going. Amelia feels that maybe they should have helped the other Acolytes and Joanna Cargill says that it doesn’t feel right; their lord Exodus is back there. Cortez says that they’ve made their decision and should split but Amelia tells them that she’s going to linger, as she wants to see how this turns out. Meanwhile, the battle-worn Exodus, the Man-Beast and Thena sit cross-legged, facing each other, linked together by Thena, who tells them that she has formed the Uni-mind with the Eternals and, therefore, must have the most experience with this. She tells them to follow her lead. She doesn’t like going into their minds any more than they like her there, so she says there’ll be no games. She achieves contact with their minds.
Iron Fist, having been freed by Thena from the vines, finds White Tiger and thanks heaven she is alive. He wonders to whom she is talking but quickly realizes that it is the Man-Beast. She watches the trio from above, working herself up into attack mode, and Danny knows that she was created specifically to kill him. He also knows that if she attacks when he, Thena and Exodus are in union, it could kill them all. He has to make a decision and shouts her name.
The giant-sized High Evolutionary, meanwhile, is still on a rampagem as Quicksilver tries to talk some sense into him, moving rapidly around him to avoid being caught. He reminds the Evolutionary that he has been like a father to him but he cannot purge and remake his world. At his corem he is a good man. The Evolutionary replies that it is not a good world. It is flawed and imperfect and every day comes closer to ruin, soon to be past its ability to heal itself. He adds that mankind are only apes with delusions of grandeur. “Let them be swept away!” Quicksilver asks, “Are you not also imperfect? What world will you make?” He tells him that he is not god; he didn’t make this world, so by what right would he destroy it? He is flawed and so is his judgement, and any creation he makes will also be floored. Perfection is not possible.
The High Evolutionary calms down for a second, finding truth in Pietro’s words and ponders what he has said. Suddenly, however, he is struck down by a psionic attack from the unified minds and doubles over, calling Quicksilver a traitor for delaying him whilst his confederates strike at him. As Quicksilver leaps away, he insists he knew nothing of this plan, but the truth is still the truth. Gazing into a sphere of energy, the Man-Beast chuckles, as the first blow hits home. Behind him, White Tiger freezes, as Iron Fist commands her to stop. He stands between the Man-Beast and White Tiger, holding his hand up and tells her that, if she strikes now and Thena is hurt, all may be lost. White Tiger, towering over Iron Fist by now, replies that she was created for killing him and this goes against all her instincts. She pleads with Danny, “Please! I cannot fight you! I am loving you!” Danny replies that he cares about her too, a great deal, as a friend, but if she goes to kill the Man-Beast right now he will stop her.
His words have little effect, as her instincts take over and she charges him. He vaults over her, somersaulting into a handstand, realizing that he cannot use the iron fist on her in this state, as it might kill her; but he can’t let her through either. As White Tiger turns and begs Danny not to make her kill him, he springs back from his handstand and kicks her in the face, sending her to the floor.
The Acolytes who followed Quicksilver are still in combat with the remaining Knights of Wundagore and, as two of the Knights fly overhead on their atomic steeds, Senyaka tells Ant-Man that, if they don’t bring them down, they will slaughter them from the air. He asks if he will aid him. Ant-Man, meanwhile, is reverting to subhuman. He grows in size and becomes ape-like but, with the last vestiges of coherent thought, he thinks about how he might never be able to trust himself around Cassie his daughter for fear of what he may do. He is then lost to his primeval rage and, as Lord Gator swoops towards him, he lashes out, smashing the atomic steed and toppling Lord Gator.
The High Evolutionary, suffering from the combined mental assault, begins to shrink before Quicksilver’s eyes. He screams in pain and, as he shrinks ever further, begs Pietro to help him. Pietro calls to the trio to let him go, as he has reverted to being human again, and they release him from their grip. Exodus then approaches. He says that the High Evolutionary has lost his power, Quicksilver has expended the power he used to defeat him and Thena is now incapacitated. He, however, still has his power and he will achieve his original goal; the death of the abomination that calls itself the High Evolutionary.
A voice from behind him says that he won’t. Exodus turns to see the Black Knight, now also free of the vines. Exodus tells him that he must stand out of his way. He has suffered much over the years from those who have taken his name and crest, including one he once thought his friend. Dane replies, “I know. It was me. It was always me. Glance into my mind, you’ll find the truth. I was lost in space and time, merged with my own ancestor, and put you in that cave where you lay for centuries.” Exodus takes a quick scan and realizes Dane is telling the truth and immediately flies into a rage, attacking him. Dane defends himself with his shield and warns him that he is now a match for him.
Nearby, the Man-Beast stirs. There are so many enemies so near at hand, he has trouble deciding who to strike at first. He decides, all of them. With a psionic burst, the mental equivalent of a fragmentation bomb, they all fall around him, including Quicksilver. He grins and thinks to himself, ‘I win!’ Unfortunately, he hasn’t counted on White Tiger’s inbuilt defenses against his mental power and she stands tall behind him, ready to pounce. Elsewhere, Ant-Man begins pounding away on Lord Gator, the Black Knight shows his pedigree to Exodus and more than matches him while the Man-Beast and White Tiger begin a duel to the death. All three fights are brutal, but Ant-Man and Lord Gator’s is quickly broken up by Luke and Jennifer, who pull their colleague off Lord Gator, telling him that he’ll kill him and he’s no killer. “Once you kill, there’s no coming back.”
The sanest minds around belong to Lord Delphis and Bova. Delphis has Isotope E and he informs his creator that he has refined it in order that he can stabilize himself. However, he warns it is extremely volatile and will break down quickly. He asks the Evolutionary what he wants to do. Head bowed, the Evolutionary realizes that, if he stabilizes himself now, he will be a mortal man again; no longer having the god-like powers to shape a world. He will still have his knowledge and ability, but he will still only be human, as first he was. He looks tired and weak as he tells Delphis that giving up godhood is a terrible price to pay, even if it means that he will no longer regress into subhumanity. With that, he takes the scepter holding Isotope E from Delphis and holds it in front of him. “So be it. Good Bova, Brother Delphis, stand away. I would not have this change you.” He allows Isotope E to flow through his body, altering his body fundamentally, turning him human once more.
As he does so, the Black Knight appears holding Exodus aloft, unconscious. He has won his battle. He knows the fight is ended and asks if there is a final end to him, short of death. He then adds that it doesn’t matter; he is not his executioner, as he would be no man’s executioner, but he will see him sealed away in his tomb once again. The Man-Beast, meanwhile, readies himself for another round with White Tiger, asking if she is ready for the moment of truth, “Or have you become too human to kill?” The High Evolutionary answers for her, telling the Man-Beast that it is a question no longer for her to decide. He takes it himself.
He aims the scepter at him and tells him that it is the Isotope E for which he has lusted, asking if he still wants it. “Then receive your portion,” he adds as the Man-Beast raises himself and lifts his sword above his head, ready to strike. Before he can, however, a blinding flash of green energy transforms him back into his original wolf form. The High Evolutionary says that Wolf he was and a wolf he is, remembering nothing of what he was. The wolf scampers away into the distance as the Evolutionary says that he will make right what he did wrongfully.
He turns to the Knights and tells them that he added to their powers and twisted them. He now makes them as they were; still his Knights and hopefully still his brothers. He then tells the Heroes for Hire that he meddled with their DNA, made them less than human, but they were still heroes and he changes them to how they were, ridding them of the fear of reversion. Everyone watches these climactic moments. Bova tells Thena that, although she has been hurt, she will survive. The Acolytes have seen their leader fall and ask Quicksilver what will become of them. What is his wish? He replies that they should leave him alone. He tells them that their problem is that they are always looking for a leader, someone to follow without question, without thought. He will not be his father. He says that the same goes for the Knights, save for Delphis and Bova. They followed blindly when they would have better served by questioning. As he departs, he tells them to lead themselves but do not look to him.
The High Evolutionary then turns his attentions to White Tiger. He tells her that she has served him faithfully and received so little at his hands. He asks if there is anything he can do for her. Almost back in her human form by now, White Tiger replies, “As you have done for my foe, lord, do so by me. Remembering your promise, make me again as you are finding me.” She kneels before him but he says that he doesn’t understand. He thought she had found companions; a home. He was willing to make her fully human if she so wished.
White Tiger looks up to him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She is clearly very emotional, and tells him that these feelings the human have, the pains, the sorrows, the terrible longings; these she cannot master and never will. She adds that she can never have what she longs for and she will lose all sense of self, of what she is. She tells him that if he loves her then he will release her. The High Evolutionary holds the scepter over her and says, “As you wish,” and, like the Man-Beast, she is reverted to her former self, a powerful white tiger with no memories of these events.
Danny asks what will become of her now. The Evolutionary says that he will see to it that she is returned to the forest from which he took her; he owes her that; he owes all of them, much. Danny says that it doesn’t feel like a victory somehow, asking if all this actually achieved anything. Leaving the spent scepter behind, the Evolutionary says that it feels hollow because a great price has been paid but indeed, something was achieved. He asks what the future would be like if Exodus, or the Man-Beast, or indeed he, in his madness had prevailed. They saved the future, for one more day.