After leaving the diner, the group navigated the war-torn streets of Vista Verde. Sergeant Palmer and the rest of his team took point, while Marr and Icon worked to keep everyone safe. However, this turned out to be a much more challenging task than initially expected. The enemy was powerful and persistent, constantly emerging from all sides to attack them. Due to their sheer physical strength, the Jedi knew he had to keep these creatures at a distance. Using the Force, Marr pushed back any attackers who got close, while Icon used his lightsaber to deflect incoming fire.

Occasionally, enemy aerial drones attacked from above. However, Icon managed to dispatch them by using his "Force Judgment" ability to short-circuit the drones, causing them to drop out of the sky. This continued until the group reached the street leading to a multi-story car park that had been repurposed as a forward command post. They moved quickly down the street, just as snipers posted on the upper levels spotted them.

"This is Eagle 3 to Main Gate; we have friendlies incoming," one of the snipers reported. Marr's group managed to reach the main entrance without further incident. From there, Marr, Icon, Sarah, and Herb were led past the armed police officers guarding the entrance by Sergeant Palmer. They entered the ground floor, filled with armored police vehicles preparing to move out with civilian passengers to safety outside the city limits, while officers armed themselves at weapon stands.

The second floor served as a makeshift hospital, where medical staff desperately attended to civilians wounded in the initial waves of attacks. It was here that Marr and Icon parted ways with Herb and Sarah after reuniting with Julia and other residents from her shelter, which brought Marr relief. The pair continued to the top floor, where several tents were set up for communication, reconnaissance, intelligence, and planning, allowing the police force to coordinate their efforts. Sergeant Palmer entered one of the nearby tents, unaware that he was being closely followed by Marr, while Icon remained outside. Inside, a group of officers crowded around a table, arguing with one another.

"It's going to be at least an hour before S.H.I.E.L.D. can provide reinforcements," one officer spat out in frustration. "Even longer for the National Guard!" Another officer slammed his hands on the table. "What the hell do they expect us to do in the meantime!?"

The sergeant stepped forward to interrupt his superiors. "Captain," he said, following it up with a salute.

"Sgt. Palmer, it's good that your team made it back," the Captain replied. "We feared the worst when we lost contact."

As the sergeant began giving his report, Marr kept a wide berth from the group. Nobody seemed to notice the Jedi's presence; that was because Marr was using the Force to bend the perceptions of those around him, allowing him to listen in unnoticed.

"Captain, we can't be expected to do nothing," Sgt. Palmer protested.

"We have our orders," the Captain explained as he activated a holo-map of the town, showing the invading ship hovering over the skyline. "According to our intel, the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. made it inside that massive ship. Apparently, there's some kind of disruption device onboard that's been causing havoc with our tech, which is why we haven't been able to shoot that thing down. We have to hope that, when S.H.I.E.L.D. finally gets here, they can blast that thing out of the sky, or that the Hulks can destroy it from within."

"Have we heard anything from them?" one of the officers asked.

"We lost contact with the Hulk's team when they boarded the Leader's ship," the Captain responded. "Since then, more of those muscle-bound freaks have been dropping out of that ship."

"Then you have no more time to waste," Marr interjected, startling the occupants of the tent as they suddenly became aware of his presence.

"Who the hell is this?" the Captain remarked as Marr joined them at the table.

"Sir, this man helped me and my team when we were pinned down earlier," Sgt. Palmer explained.

"You have to act now, or this town and its inhabitants will be lost," Marr said.

"Now hold on…" the Captain began, but the Jedi quickly interrupted him.

"I know you have your orders, Captain, but the enemy has your home in their grasp. At this rate, they will level your entire town before any reinforcements arrive. It is up to you and your men to turn the tide in this battle."

The Captain pondered for a moment before looking over to the sergeant, who only nodded in agreement.

"Okay, pal... What are you thinking?"

After a long and grueling battle, Hulk and his team of smashers find themselves captured aboard the ship of their archnemesis, whom he unsurprisingly named The Leader's Will. With their arms and legs bound by inhibitor collars of the mad scientist's own design, the gamma-powered heroes are forced to prostrate themselves before the Leader as he sits on his command chair.

"Look at you now, locked in the stocks like the peasants you are, as you kneel before your king." the Leader mocked his captives.

"This is embarrassing," She-Hulk muttered under her breath.

"At long last, your gamma-infused brawn has proven no match for unrivalled intellect." the Leader continued to brag.

"Has anyone else noticed this guy really likes the sound of his own voice?" A-Bomb said sarcastically.

"With my new gamma-infused army, the whole world will bow before me." The villain continued to postulate, much to Red Hulk's frustration, "Geez Louise! We get it already."

We're not down and out yet, watermelon head!" Hulk spat out defiantly. However, despite his efforts to break free from his shackles, he seemed to grow weaker with each attempt. "My, my, Hulk, you certainly look a little... drained," the Leader chuckled to himself, enjoying the moment. "That's to be expected. These collars not only inhibit your powers but also drain your gamma energy, making your escape quite impossible.

As the Leader continued to gloat at his prisoners, one of his many gamma-troopers hurried over to him. "My Leader, the final wave is ready to be deployed." the gamma megalomaniac smiled with a menacing glee, "Excellent, tell Abomination the show no quarter, and with that my dear Agents of S.M.A.S.H., enjoy your front-row seat to the destruction of your pathetic fan club of a town."

After completing a full inventory of the arsenal at their disposal, Marr began offering suggestions to reinforce their position. He proposed moving some of their armored vehicles to barricade the more vulnerable entry points and positioning additional snipers at higher vantage points in surrounding buildings. He also advised equipping more officers with riot gear for closer encounters. However, Marr knew that even these improvements wouldn't shift the tide in their favor unless they sabotaged the enemy ship. To achieve this, the Jedi offered to take a small force to infiltrate and destroy the enemy's objectives. Everything was planned down to the last detail, but before they enacted the operation, the VVPD captain had one last favour to ask.

"You want me to lead the assault?" Marr repeated, surprised by the captain's request. "Hey, this was your idea and plan," the captain reminded him. "My guys are well-trained, but they're not soldiers. If we have a chance at pulling this off, I'm going to need someone like you watching their backs and bringing them home." Marr considered the request only briefly before accepting. Suddenly, Sgt. Palmer approached them, accompanied by the volunteers whose lives Marr was now responsible for.

"Thank you all for your courage," Marr addressed the officers. "This assignment we are about to undertake is both dangerous and vital for securing victory here today. Despite the short time I have spent on your world, the people of this town have been very kind to me during my time of need. It is only right that I return that kindness during yours. My companion will remain here with your captain to help reinforce your defenses while I transport us to our target. From there, we will infiltrate this 'Leaders' ship and neutralize whatever is disrupting your targeting systems in time for our reinforcements to deliver the crippling blow. Our window of opportunity will be tight, but I believe that every man here is more than up to the task."

Thankfully, Marr's words were enough to reassure the officers and boost their confidence in the gambit they were about to undertake. As the captain began to address his men, Icon approached Marr and pulled him over to a more secluded spot. "Master, am I to understand that I won't be coming with you?" he questioned, concern evident in his voice. "That is correct, Icon," Marr confirmed. "I need you to remain here and protect these people. I can't shake the feeling that something dangerous is quickly approaching, and they will need your help."

The droid looked stunned. "But Master, I'm programmed for etiquette, not military tactics!" Marr's tone grew serious. "Icon... Despite what you may think, you have demonstrated great skill, courage, and a willingness to protect others. You have overcome every limitation and shortcoming that your programming might have imposed on you. You are far more than you realize, despite not wielding the Force. You only need to look deep inside yourself. I wouldn't put the lives of these people in your hands if I didn't believe you were more than capable."

"I'm only a droid, Master," Icon finally said. "What good can a droid like me do?" Marr turned his back to his companion and took a few steps away, pondering his words, before making a decision that would normally be unthinkable for a Jedi. "Only a droid, you think?" Marr asked. "Take out your lightsaber." The droid complied, but was startled when Marr used the Force to call the lightsaber to his hand. "Kneel," he instructed simply, and the confused droid complied. Marr ignited the lightsaber, its green glow illuminating the night around them and catching the attention of some passersby.

The Jedi stepped closer to Icon, who knelt before him. Marr waved the green blade just above each of the droid's shoulders, finishing at the top of his head. Throughout this, Marr spoke softly but firmly. "By the right of the council. By the will of the Force. 1K-0N." He lifted the blade away from the droid. "Rise... Knight of the Jedi Order." Icon stood, and Marr handed the now-knighted Jedi back his weapon. "You are worthy," Marr informed Icon, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. He turned to leave as the droid stared at the lightsaber in his hand, reflecting on his new position.

As Marr walked back toward the group of officers, Sgt. Palmer began to ask how they were going to be transported across the war zone that was Vista Verde. Marr simply responded that they were waiting for a friend of his. Just then, a thunderous noise erupted from high above them, causing everyone to look up and see Marr's ship, The Outbounder, descending from the sky. Its landing gears extended as the ship carefully set itself down on the surface. Several people approached in awe as the boarding ramp lowered, and R5-TY exited to reunite with Marr.

"He was flying the ship?" Sgt. Palmer asked. "Yes, this is R5," Marr replied simply.

"How?" Another officer asked. "He's very determined," Marr said.