Stephen Strange lay in the back of a ship, beaten and bruised. He hadn't known much about his opponent, only that his name was Kang and that he'd nearly prevented Strange from stopping the incursion in the other universe.
Clea's location was unknown.
His sling ring had been taken from him, and his cloak was gone.
It had sacrificed itself to help him escape from Tony Stark of Earth 838.
Strange didn't know the fate of that universe before Kang had come for him.
The device holding Strange face-down with his arms crossed hurt him, and he tried to magic his way out to no luck.
He felt the ship stop.
Kang came before him and chuckled.
"Well, we've arrived at our destination. You're an interesting man, Stephen Strange."
"Oh, enough of the chit-chat. Where are you taking me?"
"A place," began Kang, "where you may be dealt with."
Kang did an odd motion with his fingers, and the device holding Strange in place levitated, causing him to groan in displeasure.
Kang used his telekinesis to lead to two outside the ship, on top of a massive temple in what appeared to be... outer space??
Strange's third eye opened, taking note of everything around him.
Strange was taken to a dark room, and the device on him opened, dropping him to the ground.
He groaned and slowly got up, wincing as he did so.
"I've brought him!" announced Kang.
"And... not in bad condition," said a cold, raspy voice that sounded as if it were in dire need of a cough drop.
Strange looked forth. Kang stood away from him, and next to three figures that looked like him.
One was dressed as an Egyptian Pharoah, and his name was Rama Tut. The other appeared to be a type of cyborg, and he was the Scarlet Centurion.
The other was the only one with facial hair. His skin was blue, and he dressed as if he were some sort of philosopher. He was the leader of the trio. His name was Immortus. He was the one who had spoke.
"Who the hell are you?" asked Strange.
"Variants... of the same being," said Immortus. "You are brought before The Council of Kangs."
"What is this, a lookalike contest?" remarked Strange.
"If this is a joke to you," said Rama Tut, "then let me allow you to see the seriousness of your situation."
He turned his staff to Kang, and a red light spurted out, going through Kang's stomach, and vaporizing him from the inside out.
Strange watched in shock as the variant fell to the ground and screamed in agony, until he was no more.
Strange then did a slow, unenthusiastic clap.
"Bravo, quite a light show. Just give me my sling and you'll see I can pull a few fireworks myself."
"It would appear your arrogance clouds your judgement," said the Centurion.
He raised his arm and a purple blast of light spurted out, hitting Strange and knocking him against a wall.
He yelled in agony and was slow to get to his feet.
"You, Doctor Strange, are a remarkable man. A threat to our empire... it would seem," said Immortus.
"I've got a few tricks," remarked Strange. "What do you care?"
"A lot! You see, there are countless versions of us. Kangs. We live as we please and our empire tells as much. But one day, a rogue of us saw the multiverse. He claimed it were dying. It soon came apparent that he were a threat, and we banished him!"
"Ooh, you put him in the time-out chair?"
"The Quantum Realm," continued Immortus. "But it would seem that he was defeated by a so-called hero of your universe."
"He's what you'd say... a little threat," said the Centurion.