Watching multiple wizards stand around him, repairing the street with just their bare hands, should have been a sight that amazed him. He barely registered the phenomenon. He was aware that people were cautiously moving back to their homes, thanking the heroes profusely for how much they'd helped. He didn't acknowledge them though, choosing to stand in the corner to avoid any attention (not that anyone knew who he was in this world). The fact that he was in an alternate reality should have baffled his mind, and yet all it did now was make his heart sink. Walking through a portal, taking a step in San Francisco and then ending up in New York by the next, was the sort of thing that fantasies were made of. He made the journey with a depressed scowl, like he was doing nothing more than walking back home after his cab hadn't turned up.

As soon as they made it back to the Sanctum, people were moving around hectically, trying to make sense of the dark warning they'd been given. Some of them had chosen to stay in San Francisco, just in case it was targeted again, and to also help with the process of cleaning up. Others, such as Carol, were using their aerial abilities to cover a larger area, hoping to spot the next from high above. The more traditional route was to just stick the television on and hope that the news cameras alerted them to a dangerous presence once again. The whole point of the threat was that it would be large enough not to be missed, so the job shouldn't have been that difficult.

All through that chaos and endeavour, Dan simply sat on the sofa, staring into the middle distance, having absolutely no clue what he was supposed to do. He'd watched his two friends, the only people in this universe who understood who he truly was, disappear right in front of his eyes. Yaz had been quick to reach the Doctor just in time, but he'd been too slow to react in the end. They'd vanished before he could properly register what was happening, the Scarlet Witch seemingly going with them. It had left a strange feeling in the air, everyone knowing that the immediate danger had been neutralised whilst also realising that the trouble was only just starting.

He felt the sofa sink slightly, Kamala choosing to sit next to him and break his self-imposed solitude. Dan didn't feel up to having any sort of company, though he knew the girl was the last person to be warded off with a few choice words. She was too stubborn for that, too eager to help. Kamala carried the same sort of mindset that he'd seen in Yaz during their time stuck in the past together. It made him miss his friend even more. Through every setback during their travels together, he and Yaz had always been together. They'd been separated from the Doctor on occasion, but had always been lucky enough to have a friend close by. Now the roles were reversed, and he was left achingly alone.

"They're going to be okay," Kamala said quietly, knowing what was troubling him the most.

Dan smiled softly, though there was an element of bitterness to it. "You can't know that for sure."

"They survived crashing through one universe and into another one, so they're made of sturdy stuff."

"They've got to go up against a witch who could probably kill them with a click of her fingers, and the man who was probably behind bringing us here in the first place. That means he must be insanely powerful. And they're probably in his lair or something, right where he wants them."

"I never knew you were such a defeatist."

"It's called being realistic. Nothing in my life has ever gone right. Then I stumbled across the Doc and Yaz, things were starting to look so much better, and now they've been taken from me. I think I'm allowed to be upset." He put his head in his hands, leaning forward and groaning miserably.

"Then it's a good job that I'm here," Kamala pressed on. "I can keep poking you with positivity until you get out of this slump."

He glanced at her, though nothing else about his position changed. "That's going to get incredibly annoying very quickly."

"That's exactly the point."

"Don't you…I don't know…have superhero things to be getting on with? They'll need your help with whatever's about to hit."

Kamala looked back, examining how everyone was rushing about (besides Madisynn, who was taking her duty as chief tv-watcher very seriously). "Probably. But I saw a friend who was struggling and decided that was more important to attend to."

"I didn't know we were friends," he replied with a smirk.

"You're stuck with me now, I'm afraid."

"You'll make me feel envious of the predicament Yaz and the Doctor are in."

She nudged him gently, though she made sure to get a jab with her elbow in. "I'm going to focus on the fact that you're able to joke about what's happening, which is a sign that you're feeling better, rather than the massive insult you just gave me."

"That's probably for the best." He'd sat up now, though most of his body still felt numb from the overriding sense of despair.

Kamala turned to face him properly, crossing her legs underneath her. "Listen…you need to think about this rationally. Let's agree for the moment that Kang was the reason why you were pulled into this universe…if he was able to do that, then surely it would have been absolutely simple for him to kill you all without a second thought."

"You're not making me feel any better about this."

She rolled her eyes. "Let me finish. Because, if he could do that, why would he go to the effort of sending someone else to capture the Doctor? Unless…"

"...he needs her for some reason," Dan finished, his eyes slowly lighting up, his back straightening.

"Precisely," she said with a grin, enjoying how she'd been able to to turn his emotions around. "If that's the case, then there's no chance that she's dead."

"That doesn't mean that Yaz is protected. She wasn't supposed to go with them when the witch took the Doctor. He could see her as a nuisance."

"If Yaz was harmed in any way, would the Doctor do anything that the perpetrator wanted afterwards?"

"There'd be absolutely no chance. Even if it put her in harm's way."

"Kang must be reasonably intelligent to have done what he's accomplished so far, so he must know that he'll have to keep the Doctor sweet until he's got what he wants from her."

"And then what? He just gets rid of them when they've got no use left or something. Throws them into a pit of lava or a pool full of sharks."

Kamala stared at him for a few moments. "Lava? Sharks? He's not a supervillain from a cheesy action movie."

"He could be."

"Well…even if he is…it won't matter, because we'll have got to them before it reaches that point and saved them. There's your plan of action."

"It's not really a plan, is it? It's a list of hopes."

"I can't think of everything around here. We're surrounded by some of the most powerful people in the universe. They'll find a way."

"That's the thing," Dan returned glumly. "Everyone has a use. Everyone can be involved in the fight. I just feel that I'm just in the way now. I can't help. I can't help you, and I can't help my friends."

"You can…by not giving up. They need you more than ever."

"I don't exactly have any superpowers to contribute anything worthwhile. Unless you've got a radioactive spider hanging around somewhere…"

"I could ask for one…"

"You're joking, right?"

"Whatever it takes to cheer you up. Trust me…I understand that mindset. I was looking at this world through the pages of comics, always wanting to be a part of it but never actually being able to. Until I got an opportunity out of the blue, and I refused to let go of it."

"Maybe if I wore your bangle, it'd unlock something within me too."

She covered the object protectively. "No. That's mine. Get your own."

He smirked at her response, a reminder that she was still very much a child. The smile fell when there was a commotion coming from the room beyond, making them get up to investigate. As much as Dan might have been seen as someone who was simply taking up valuable space now, he was going to make sure that he was kept in the loop until they told him to get lost, and even then it'd take some big threats to budge him. Kamala was just happy to see him up and about after his momentary lull, wondering whether she could become some sort of therapist if the superhero gig didn't work out. Unless she became a therapist for superheroes. Out of all the people on the planet, they were probably the ones who needed psychiatric help the most. It would be a gold mine. She'd be practically printing money within the first week.

The two of them ventured through the corridors, spotting Wong and America hurriedly coming up the stairs. They both looked panicked, barely registering their presence until they nearly ran into them. At the interruption, Wong looked disgruntled more than anything, as if they were holding him up just by being there. That played into Dan's worries about being a nuisance instead of an actual form of help, though he stood his ground, trying to take on Kamala's advice. He wasn't going to be of any use if he focused on his fears. He'd fought Daleks and Cybermen so he wasn't an inexperienced novice. He'd even saved one universe already in his short time in the Tardis, so was it really that big of a deal to save another?

"What's happening?" Kamala asked.

"Carol tried flying through the glass window because she was in such a haste to tell us the news," Wong complained. "I'm sure it wouldn't have taken her much longer to use the front door, which I kindly asked her to do."

"And we already know what she's going to say," America told them, beckoning them into another room where a tv was playing a live helicopter feed.

Madisynn was on the sofa, leaning forward with her eyes glued on the screen and the remote clutched tightly in her hand. Katy was no longer there, opting to go with Shang to Kamar Taj where he was getting his rather serious wounds tended to. With Scott already there, Dan reckoned the sorcerers must have been happy that Moon Knight had waved off any concerns, claiming he could get treatment once he was dead (a sentiment that Mister Knight had strongly advised against).

Dan peered at the television. "Is that Big Ben?"

"You'd think it was a movie, right?" Madisynn responded. "But I double checked to make sure I was definitely on the news channel. I didn't want to give you any fake news."

"But what's happening in London? Is that where the next attack is going to happen?"

They didn't have to answer his questions, for the reason behind the report was soon blindingly obvious. A monster rounded one side of the clock tower, a great big red creature that roared into the sky, looking directly into the camera. Before they knew it, it was tearing one of the gigantic hands off from one of the clock faces and throwing it straight towards the helicopter that was proving to be too much of an annoyance. Understandably, the camera feed instantly turned to crackling black, and they grimaced at the implications.

Dan was at a loss. "What was that thing? Is that just something normal that happens in this universe?"

"Yes and no," Wong replied.

Kamala turned to the Sorcerer Supreme. "It almost looked like a…"

"Hulk, yes. It seems so. The damage one could do to a city as densely populated as London is unfathomable." He paused as the Captain strode into the room, looking particularly displeased at being forced to take such a mundane route. "It's alright, Captain. We've already seen the latest developments. We'll need our strongest team to take on this multiversal Hulk."

Carol frowned, her hands on her hips. "What are you talking about? I was going to tell you that Wakanda has solidified its defences. I'm trying to make contact with them but it seems like they might be under attack."

"Two things at once…dear lord. And you haven't been able to get a visual yet of what's targeting them?"

"Nothing so far. I thought it best that I get the news back to you, so we can send in a strike team to deal with it."

"This is exactly what Kang wanted," Dan said. "The Scarlet Witch said it herself…everything is working as a distraction so that we forget to help the Doctor and Yaz."

Carol's expression softened, placing a strong hand on his shoulder. "Sadly it's working. I know what you must be thinking right now, but our duty is to protect everyone in danger. Right now, more people are going to die if we don't get a handle on this. Then , we can work out a way to reach the others."

"With the injuries we've already sustained, I reckon we're going to need a few more recruits," Wong reasoned. "It's a good job that I've got a few contacts who are perfectly designed to go toe to toe with a Hulk…"

xxxxxxxxxx

The Doctor watched the man prowl in front of them, making sure to keep Yaz as close as possible. She'd even considered holding the other woman's hand, before realising that she needed to show all of her strength in the face of this latest adversary. Now that he'd walked into the light, they could better see just what Kang was wearing. It might have been considered a spacesuit if it wasn't so ridiculously colourful, as if he wanted to exude power whilst also showing a touch of personality. It was the sort of mindset that she'd come up against plenty of times, where someone was driven by their ego more than anything. She only had to think of the Master to conjure up an example.

She turned to face Yaz, seeking the comfort that came from such an innocent gesture, whilst also using it to do some surreptitious investigating. Whilst looking around at the chamber they'd been brought to, refusing to be amazed by the advancements on show, the Doctor activated her sonic, which stayed in her pocket as she did so. She wanted to get as many details as possible that didn't have to come from the horse's mouth, particularly concerning the strange suit he was sporting. The issue was that she didn't want to give him any indication as to what she was doing, which is why she gave Yaz a warm smile.

"Be brave," the Doctor said to her. "Just as I know you can be. I don't know what's going to happen here, but I need you to stay by my side, no matter what."

Yaz nodded her head. "Always."

Kang allowed them to have their short chat before bringing attention back to him. "I'm sure you've got a lot of questions."

The Doctor spun slowly to look at him again, her expression hard and unmoving. "First things first…where are her children?" She pointed a hand at Wanda, who looked surprised at the mention.

Kang seemed to be just as perplexed. "Seriously? After everything that's happened… that's what you want to ask me before anything else?"

The Doctor shrugged. "I'll always focus on any kids that are in danger. You drove her to do some despicable stuff, which shows just how much she loves those boys. I won't begrudge her doing anything in the name of such strong feelings. I've fallen into that trap far too many times. She's completed the job. Now let her have her reward."

"Well…I don't see why not. I'm a reasonable man, after all." He clicked his fingers and an imposing, slender robot appeared from the walls, waiting for its instructions. Yaz took a step back at the sight. "Take our dear friend to holding pen seventeen. A mother deserves to see her children." Before they left, he clutched the witch's arm, hinting at the strength he possessed, though still wearing a smile. "I want you to know that I ensured they were looked after properly. You'll find them in perfect health. And I know you'll want them to stay that way."

The warning was clear and they watched the witch leave with her metal convoy, leaving them alone with the men in charge. The Doctor didn't mind that. One of the first rules of dealing with an enemy was to get captured so that you could glean information from those who put you in bonds. And, if she could take anything from the initial exposure she'd had to Kang, she'd guess that he was exactly the sort of man who liked to talk, especially when the topic was himself.

"Any more questions?" he put to them, throwing his arms out wide. "Treat this as a sort of…Q , I suppose."

"Where are we?" the Doctor asked.

"That's more what I was expecting from you."

Kang trudged over to the barricaded window, pressing a button on the wall. The metal shutters began to rise, revealing the scenery beyond. The Doctor was quick to take a look. It was a glistening metropolis outside, gleaming towers dominating the skyline as hovering vehicles soared between them. There were numerous statues dotted about the place, all in the visage of the man they were currently accompanied by. The Time Lord wanted to explore every corner of it, something that Yaz picked up on almost instantly. She nudged the Doctor's elbow gently, as if to remind her friend that she needed to remain focused.

"Earth," Kang said, joining them by the viewing point. He enjoyed the way Yaz's eyes widened at that declaration. "I know what you're thinking. This can't possibly be Earth! Look how amazing it is! But that's what you get in the thirty-first century. Technological advancement after technological advancement. There's so much for you to learn here."

"I didn't think we'd get the chance to," the Doctor said. "Seeing as we're obviously your prisoners."

"That's not a word I like to use. You should see yourselves more as…guests. You won't come under any harm as long as you're a valued guest under my protection."

Yaz could easily pick up on what that really meant. If they annoyed him, they'd lose their value and their protection in one fell swoop. "If this place is so amazing, why have you been so focused on the other Earth?"

"Because I've built a society that is amazing. Why shouldn't I share that with other realities? I could bring these advancements to the planet ten centuries before they naturally evolve. Just think of how many people I could save, how much environmental damage I could resolve…"

"It doesn't work like that," the Doctor argued. "You have to give humanity the chance to grow themselves."

"Not when you're me. The rules don't apply."

"That's a very dangerous perspective to have."

"Why should I let humanity make countless mistakes when I know I can eradicate them? I want to help them to create a better society."

"And that's why you ended up in Ancient Egypt…"

"A trial run to test if my bridge between realities could work. And it did ! It was glorious. The only issue was that, for some reason, I faced resistance."

"Funny that," Yaz fired at him. "Who would have thought that the human race wouldn't want an egotistical overlord?"

Kang bit his lip, the first crack showing in his mask. "They were too stupid to understand what I was trying to create. So I reasoned that I would have to pick a more suitable time, when they had enough knowledge to accept what a magnificent gift they were being given. But I also came away from that initial experience with a new mindset. I couldn't allow myself to go there without a means of…reinforcing my work."

The Doctor arched an eyebrow. "Which is why you've been taking superheroes from one reality and placing them in the other."

"No." It was the first time that he'd properly put her on the backfoot. "I've got an army for that, if I face any backlash. That's simple. They'll be armed with weapons that no civilisation from the dark ages could stand against. Muscle is not what I'm lacking."

"Then what are you hindered by?"

"The painful reality of the fragility of life. I could change one world…and then the next…and then the next…but I would grow old, soon turning to dust before I could bask in my brilliance. Yet…that's where you come in, Doctor. Because you have a power no one else seems to have. It's why I brought you here. I provide a gift to humanity…in exchange for a gift of my choosing. You can regenerate, Doctor. And frankly...I want a piece of the action.