Homelander and Queen Maeve entered the cockpit and found the terrorist with his gun to the pilot's head and the co-pilot dead. He mumbled some words and Arabic as Homelander tried to de-escalate the situation. It appeared the terrorist was about to put the gun down.
"There you go, just relax." Homelander said, but suddenly, the man shot the pilot's head, and the bullet went through the windshield.
When he turned around, Homelander swiftly cut the man's hand with his laser, taking the gun from him. When he fell to the floor in pain, Homelander quickly knocked him out with his knee. Now, a new problem: No pilot. Maeve frantically sat on the pilot's seat.
"Can you fly a plane?"
"Wouldn't matter if I did." Homelander told Maeve, pointing at all the cables under the controls the terrorist had cut.
What followed was a quickly ended discussion about their options. Physics wouldn't allow Homelander to fly the plane without breaking it half, he couldn't take the passengers one by one 143 times. So he did the one thing he found rational: He left. He left amidst the screams and begs of the passengers.
One little tap and the door flew off, he was ready to fly away. But he heard them screaming, he heard them begging, and he decided to go back. Maeve was unbuckling the belts of a mother and a daughter when surprisingly, Homelander came and took the two off their seats and carried them in his arms.
"You and you, you come with me." He said. "For the rest, I'm sorry."
Maeve consoled the mother and daughter on the shore when Homelander emerged from the sea carrying an injured passenger and put him near the others. Maeve raced to him and started applying first aid.
"That's the last one." Homelander coldly said. "All the rest are gone. All we got- -All I got was seven, seven out of 143."
They heard cars arriving. They were from the news outlets.
"What should we tell them?" Maeve asked.
"You'll tell them exactly what happened."
Homelander sat in his apartment chair, still wet with the seawater. He watched the news on Flight 37 when he heard the unmistakable sound of Professor X's wheels coming closer behind him.
"How are you feeling, John?"
"Fine."
"Are you?"
"Yes, Professor, I'm fine. I saved who I could, that's all that matters. And what they think…" He said pointing to the TV. "Doesn't change that."
"And the ones who didn't make it?"
"People die every day, but there are seven alive right now, thanks to me and Maeve."
Castle Doom, Latveria
Slowly and painfully, Annie opened her eyes as she clutched her abdomen and fell out of her cot. Annie noticed that she had bandages wrapped around her where the Goblin had hit her during their fight. She felt something metal around her neck. Annie got up and saw she was in a dungeon. It looked like something out of the Middle Ages or a fantasy movie with it being made up mostly of cobblestones. However, instead of iron bars, her cell was blocked by an energy barrier. Annie tried to siphon energy from the barrier, but she couldn't drain it. She tried to punch the wall of the cell open, but only hurt her hand instead. She clutched her hand in an attempt to soothe the pain. She was trapped and powerless. In a place she had never been to before. Possibly, with the psychotic man who injured her not far. Annie looked out the cell door and to her horror, there were other people in the dungeon as well. She soon saw a group of people approaching her. They were led by a woman wearing a silver mask with a golden helmet and armor with a green cape. Her brown hair flowed from out of her helmet. In her hand was a spear. Surrounding her, Annie thought they were men in red and silver, but soon realized from their sleek, metallic appearance that they were robots. Their eyes were red, and they carried strange-looking rifles. The woman stopped before Annie's cell, and the energy barrier dissipated.
"Annie January, you have been summoned by the Lord." The woman stated with a strong Eastern European accent. "I am here to escort you to his throne room."
Annie defiantly glared at the woman.
"Tell your 'lord' I said to go fuck himself! I'm not going to see him!" Annie told her.
Only for her collar to go off. It didn't electrocute her, but instead opted to burn her. Annie let out a scream of pain and got to her knees. The collar cooled off and she rubbed her neck.
"You have no choice in the matter, be thankful he is merciful." Victorious told Starlight.
The Servo Guards approached Annie and forcefully picked her off the ground. They shoved her out of the cell, and Annie angrily turned back to face the Servo Guards, all of which raised their weapons at her. Annie reluctantly followed Victorious out of the dungeon.
Forest Hills, Earth 616
It was morning, and the Parkers had just finished their breakfast of wheat cakes. Mayday was about to leave her chair when she noticed her parents looking at her.
"Forgetting something, hot shot?" Mary Jane asked her daughter.
Mayday looked down and handed her plate to her mother.
"Here, mommy." May said.
"Smart girl." MJ praised as she kissed her on the forehead.
"Yeah, well she gets that from me." Peter remarked as he playfully rubbed her hair, eliciting a giggle from Mayday. "Right anyway I've got work to do. I'll be home tonight." Peter told them as he grabbed his phone and saw something that got his attention. A text message from Daredevil from late last night that read: "Earth-7622 now on the media. Check the news. Any news."
Peter was visibly unsettled to see that and went over to their TV.
"Peter, what is it? What's wrong?" MJ asked, worried about what shook her husband.
Peter turned on the nearest news station: News 4. At the desk were long-time hosts Gordon and Cynthia. There was a story about Earth-7622 and its heroes titled:
"Heroes of Earth-7622: Criminals of Vought"
"Oh great…" Peter sarcastically muttered to himself.
"Last night, details and practices related to the superheroes of Earth-7622 were anonymously leaked to major news outlets around the globe. These leaks depict a rather dour view of Earth-7622's superhuman population and their practices." Gordon stated.
"One such leak involved Vought's number one hero: The Homelander." Cynthia stated a picture of Homelander was shared. "For decades, Vought has presented Homelander as a shining beacon of heroism for the United States, not unlike Captain America. However, two years ago, Homelander entered a relationship with his teammate, a superhero known as Stormfront." Cynthia stated, as a picture of Stormfront and Homelander was displayed. A video of the two giving a speech at a rally played, but the audio was muted.
"This relationship soon ended after Stormfront's alleged ties to Nazi Germany were leaked to the public." Cynthia said with black and white photos showing Stormfront with the likes of Joseph Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler, and even Adolf Hitler himself.
"Stormfront was fired. His reputation in tatters, Homelander would spend the next two years issuing apologies for their partnership." Gordon said.
"I was just a guy who fell in love with the wrong woman." A clip of Homelander played.
Peter let out an amused snort, remembering it was the same excuse he used against Magneto.
"Once a spokesman, always a spokesman." He thought to himself.
"I'm getting more of a Ted Bundy vibe from him than Tom Hanks. What about you, tiger?" MJ whispered into Peter's ear, commenting on Homelander's smile with vacant eyes.
"Yeah, I thought so too." Peter admitted to her.
"Until the day of his 41st birthday celebration when Homelander unleashed a public meltdown on the airwaves. Fair warning to those watching with children: there is explicit language, but it has been censored." Cynthia said.
Peter immediately covered his daughters' ears just to be safe. Video of Homelander's birthday meltdown played:
"All my life, people have tried to control me. Rich people, powerful people, tried to muzzle me, cancel me, keep me impotent and obedient like I'm a f*ing puppet! And you know what, it worked. Because I allowed it to work, and guess what; If they can control me, then you can bet your ass they can control you, they already do. You just don't realize it. I'm done. I am done apologizing. I am done being persecuted for my strength. You people should be thanking C*t that I am who and what I am, because You need me! You need me to save you. You do. I am the only one who possibly can. You're not the real hero. I'm the real hero. I am the real hero."
"He's a meanie, Daddy! Meanie!" Mayday declared, pointing at Homelander, before pounding on the TV.
"Yeah, you have no idea, kiddo." Peter remarked, turning to MJ. "And it's not polite to point too." He added.
"As well as, hitting on the TV." MJ added.
Mayday stopped pounding on the TV, and MJ soon changed the channel to one of her daughter's favorite cartoon shows that played around this time. Mayday's mood changed from angry to delighted as she watched the show, entirely distracted from the outside world.
"It's probably one of the saddest and most dangerous mid-life crises I've seen, and that says a lot. Honestly, I'm disappointed I didn't get to zing him when we fought. I know I would've made him cry." Peter told MJ.
"I'm not doubting that. But you know this won't go well with certain demographics here, right?" MJ told him.
"Yeah, I know. Probably intentional from the so-and-so who leaked this." Peter responded. "I'll try to figure out who. Guess I'll have to pay Picklepuss a visit." He added with an annoyed sigh.
X Mansion, Earth 616
The X-Men gathered around the couch, watching a different news channel. The guest was a politician named Bart Ravenhead. He's become quite infamous among the X-Men and Mutants.
"Worse is that their public eats it up. These supes have a history of taking drugs and causing collateral damage because of their incompetence. I mean, it's like having a bunch of coked-up celebrities in charge of crime fighting. All because a multi-billion dollar pharma company is footing the bill in their world." Ravenhead said.
"Says the politician." Jubilee remarked sarcastically.
"What's worse is that those freaks pollute God and Country, being presented as American saviors. Their company spent years lying that they were given powers by God and not them. Superhumans, like Mutants, were not made by God." Ravenhead remarked.
"Going right to the Purifier talking points." Kitty Pryde remarked.
"This is why cable news is dying. They just let anyone on just to stir the pot for ratings." Jubilee stated.
"Then why the hell are you two watchin' this crap?" Wolverine asked his former proteges.
Shadowcat and Jubilee turned to face Wolverine.
"You haven't seen the news?" Shadowcat asked.
"Of course, he hasn't." Jubilee remarked. "Some stuff about that other Earth you, Pitor, and Kurt went to got leaked." She told him.
Logans' eyes widened as Nightcrawler teleported in.
"I take it you've just heard the news?" Nightcrawler asked.
"I did think it was the work of Magneto and friends?" Wolverine asked him.
"Nein, I doubt Magneto would even entertain the idea of sharing something that anti-mutants would exploit." Kurt admitted.
"Great, just what we need. Another third party." Logan sarcastically stated.
"I know. I worry for some of the guests too. Before, I've already had to assure the younger children that the Sentinels won't attack them. Now, I fear my reassurances will do no good." Nightcrawler stated.
"Now it looks like they're in the same boat as us now." Wolverine bitterly remarked.
"All I can do is offer a prayer to God that they never see anything we've been through." Kurt told them.
"You do that, elf." Wolverine told him.
New York, Earth 7622
Payback was taking a rest.
"So who's their boss?" Hughie asked The Punisher.
"HYDRA has had many leaders from Baron Zemo, Madame Viper, Baron von Strucker, and the Red Skull. Their motto is "Cut off one head, and another shall grow to take its place." or something like that." Punisher responded.
"Don't they have any noticeable ways you can tell who's in charge?" Hughie asked.
"No, but if I were to guess, it's Red Skull." Punisher guessed as he finished cleaning his gun.
"What makes you say that?" Hughie asked.
"Didn't you say that a Nazi founded Vought?" Punisher asked Sage.
"Former Nazi." Soldier Boy defensively stated.
"Still means he was a Nazi." Sage stated.
Soldier Boy glared at her.
"Red Skull was Hitler's right-hand man during World War II. He still fights for Nazism to this day." Frank stated.
"So just another Jerry, I killed a fuck ton back in the day." Soldier Boy stated.
"He's dangerous. I'm willing to assume he's brought others from our world and gotten some from yours to do this." Frank stated.
"Is he working with the Cabal?" Butcher asked.
"No, Magneto's a holocaust survivor and Doom's Romani. Magneto took Red Skull as a sworn enemy. I also think Namor is with them, and he was a member of the Invaders in World War II." Punisher said.
"The Invaders?" Hughie asked.
"Captain America's team back during World War II." Punisher said.
"They couldn't think of a more friendly name? Like the Liberators?" Hughie asked, bewildered.
Frank remained silent.
"Well, at least they're honest about American history for the most part." Sage remarked.
Hughie noticed one of the Hydra's phones. It was playing the latest episode from Firecracker's show. He ignored it until he heard "Starlight." Hughie snatched the phone and turned up the volume.
"A horrific tragedy has been inflicted upon us, my viewers. I was visited by Starlight herself who lauded my efforts in fighting against Earth-616s' tyranny. When we were attacked by one of their supervillains, known only as the Green Goblin." Firecracker said, tears in her eyes.
Hughie watched helplessly as he saw video footage of Annie's fight against the Green Goblin. The others noticed this, and even Butcher winced upon seeing the brutal beatdown happening to Starlight.
"Starlight risked her life so that I could save those of you who joined my rally. Unfortunately, I couldn't save her." Firecracker said, showing the Green Goblin taking Annie through a portal. "Right now, I can only assume that she's being transitioned against her will and sold as a sex slave. How do I know?" Firecracker stated before transitioning to a question. "He said as much to me." She said.
She played the recording of the Green Goblin.
"Oh, and every word you've spewed. It's true. All of it." Green Goblin said.
Butcher turned to Frank, as Hughie sat there watching the phone.
"This Goblin, how fuckin' messed up is 'e?" Butcher asked.
"Osborn's a psychopath. He's been tormenting Spider-Man out of petty spite for years." Frank stated.
"Why would he take her?" Hughie weakly asked.
"Fuck if I know, but the Goblin has done some horrible things. If he took her, he must have some shit planned." Punisher told her.
Hughie crushed the phone in his hand, and he gazed at Vought Tower.
"I'm going to Vought." He angrily said.
"Hughie, wait!" Butcher called out. "I'm not fond of 'er, but I'm sure Starlight can get 'erself out of that mess." Butcher said.
"No, Butcher, I'm not fucking waiting!" Hughie angrily declared. "If this were Becca, you would have done the same fucking thing and I won't lose her!" Hughie yelled as he turned into his black suit and fired a web line towards Vought Tower.
Butcher was stunned momentarily, but soon, his anger returned before he could yell. Hughie swung away. Butcher turned to the others and saw their expressions. Sage was disinterested, Punisher glared at him, and Soldier Boy had a proud smirk on his face.
"I gotta say that shit has changed him for the better. Glad to see he's managed to find his balls." Soldier Boy said.
Butcher only glared at SB in response and saw Kessler smiling at him.
"Stop fuckin' smilin'. I'm gonna get 'im back. Castle, you're in charge." Butcher told the others as he started to follow Hughie, with Terror not far behind his master.
"Why the fuck is he in charge?" Soldier Boy complained.
The Punisher glared at Soldier Boy.
"Man up." Frank told him.
Oregon, Earth 616
Frenchie was sitting on a park bench drinking a bottle of water next to a paid phone he broke into. He was covered in bruises on his body and face. Finally, Sam Wilson landed in front of him and took pity upon seeing his bruises. Frenchie didn't mind, as he was just angry.
"Can you explain what happened?" Falcon asked concernedly.
"Kimiko and I were kidnapped. A big blond with dead white eyes and claws kidnaped us."
"Sabertooth." Falcon guessed.
"I suppose. We were on a plane, and I felt we were going lower. I managed to slip my hands from the zip ties. I was going to open Kimiko's cage, but Sabertooth came to the back of the plane so I opened the back door and jumped out. Fell on a mountain and rolled down on rocks and dirt." Every word he said came with bitterness, but the next came triumphantly. "But I think I know where they're hidden. The plane was landing near those mountains, their hideout is somewhere there, if you fly above it- -"
"They're not there." Falcon said with certainty.
"What?"
"They wanted us to think they were there. They wanted you to escape to lead us into some wild goose chase for them, or else they would've killed you on the spot. Zip ties for you and a cage for Kimiko? Does it make sense to you?"
Frenchie perfectly understood it and angrily threw his bottle on the pay phone.
Castle Doom, Latveria
Starlight was brought to the door to Doom's throne room. The corridors were full of portraits, tapestries, statues, and other works of art, most centered around Doctor Doom. One of the more notable ones, depicted an unflattering depiction of Reed Richards disfiguring Doom's face by placing a burning hot mask on his face. All of this told Annie that the man had an ego, one that potentially dwarfed Homelander's.
"Remember to kneel before the lord. Do not look into his eyes or else." Victorious told her.
"Fuck you and him!" Annie angrily told her.
Her collar went off and Annie was on her knees.
"Shall we continue?" Victorious asked.
Annie defiantly glared, but relented.
"Fine." She bitterly remarked.
The door opened and she was dragged through the door. Annie kneeled with the others, her eyes darting to the side. There, Annie saw Doom's throne, which had stained windows that depicted Doom surrounding it. Another one just above and behind his throne depicted his logo. She noticed a portrait of a Romani woman over the fireplace. Doom, of course, sat on the same throne he did when announcing his intentions to destroy her world. Loki, Magneto, and Namor were with him.
"My lord, I have brought you the prisoner as you requested." Victorious told him, kneeling.
"Thank you, Victorious. Leave us." Doom ordered.
Victorious stood up before Doom, as the guard followed her out of the door.
"First of all, Doom would like to apologize for the treatment you and your companions suffered at the hands of Norman Osborn. Their deaths would have been needlessly cruel and senseless. Needless to say, I have forbidden him from being near you." Doom told her.
Annie continued to glare and refused to speak.
"It was unfortunate that such beauty had to endure his torment." Namor spoke up, offering her a charming smile.
This had the opposite effect as Annie's glare transferred from Doom to Namor. Doom turned to face Namor, no doubt annoyed. Loki let out a chuckle at Namor's chagrin. Magneto just rolled his eyes at this display.
"The mortal has spirit." Loki remarked. "How high must you view yourself as an equal to royalty and divinity?" He questioned.
"As said before, you have Doom's sympathy." Doom told her.
"I don't need it." Annie bitterly told him.
As he clenched his armored hands, Doom seemed surprised and slightly angered by her defiance.
"Spare us your attempts at defiance. Your demeanor brings to mind that of a spoiled child not a defiant hero." Magneto told her.
Magnetos' words cut at her like a heart.
"No, stop it… He's wrong! They're all wrong!" She thought to herself.
"Very well, Doom has a proposition for you." Doom told her.
"What is it?" Annie asked.
"I only wish to know what secrets Captain America has uncovered in regards to the Illuminatis' plans." Doom stated. "Share them with us, and Doom shall give you whatever your heart desires." Doom said.
"Like letting me go?" Annie asked.
"Of course." Doom replied.
This surprised Starlight, Doom's tone seemed genuine, but she remained skeptical.
"I can offer you and those you love a place in Latveria." Doctor Doom offered. "Or perhaps you desire retribution? I can give you Homelander, stripped of his powers and dignity. His life shall be in your hands."
"I don't need your help with fucking anything!" Annie barked.
"So you refuse Doom's offer?" Doctor Doom asked.
"Yes, I do." Annie defiantly stated.
Doom let out a sigh.
"Very well, Loki." He simply replied, turning to face Loki and nodding.
"Aye." Loki simply responded.
Loki stepped forth with a smile. His eyes glowed blue with magic as he stared into Annies' eyes. Annies' eyes glowed blue, and her mind replayed her memories of when the Incursion started.
"The mortal knows little of anything in importance. However, I have unearthed the location of the Captain's base and that most of his followers are back in our world." Loki stated.
He created a magical projection of those who returned to Earth-616.
"The Hulk is also on the other Earth as well." Loki told them, utterly cautious.
"Perhaps, this has not been a total waste." Doom said.
"What are your intentions?" Namor asked.
"If Captain America and his followers wish to help her world. Perhaps, it would be best to aid him." Doom proposed.
"You wish to keep Captain America in that world alongside the Illuminati?" Magneto asked.
"Yes, with them trapped on Earth-7622 perhaps we may gain more. With Thor and the Hulk no longer being a factor, our enemies are weaker." Doom said.
"I find that plan to be most agreeable." Loki remarked.
"I thought we were interested in saving our world, not fulfilling your ambitions, Doom." Magneto said.
"I have no interest in seeing Captain America die." Namor said.
"You did not bring up Lady Richards? Quite surprising, Your Highness." Loki sarcastically brought up.
Namor glared at Loki and grabbed him by the throat.
"You will hold your tongue, Trickster!" Namor angrily declared. "How do you think the Avengers, let alone everyone else, will act if we let Captain America die? Not to mention, how will Wakanda and Attilan be with their kings dead?" He argued.
"You needn't worry, old friend. I shall save them all. I have no interest in seeing Richards, Stark, Strange, and T'Challa die in another world." Doom remarked.
"I raise no objections." Loki remarked.
"Fine." Namor accepted.
"Very well, I shall handle Xavier." Magneto told him.
Annie proceeded to let out a chuckle at this.
"Do you find amusement in this?" Loki asked.
"I do, actually. I was told you were all dangerous and intelligent, but the funny thing is. You didn't consider it." Annie told them.
"Consider what?" Doom asked.
"That if you decided to push aside your egos, you wouldn't be here. You could have worked with them and stopped all of this, but you didn't." Annie told them.
Her words actually got to them in some way. Magneto's dismissive scowl was gone in its place, a look of shame. Namor averted his eyes from Annie. Even Loki seemed visibly uneased. Doctor Doom was visibly angry. His posture was tense, and shaking as his fists clenched. He fired a blast of energy at Annie. She was blasted out of the room and unconscious.
"Get her out of my sight." Doom ordered his servants. The tone of his voice underlied his anger.
Becca followed Homelander to his apartment. She talked about his points going up and down and how she and the team have been trying to manage his social media to minimize the damage whilst Homelander grabbed the champagne, which very much confused her.
"Yeah, I'm out." Homelander said.
"What do you mean?" Becca asked.
"Vought, the business, the whole thing, I'm not renovating my contract."
"B-But you're the Homelander! The world needs you."
"I'm still going to save people, but not under Vought. This whole ordeal, opened my eyes. Humans are delicate. They die, going on a rant about my mistakes every time it happens will do no good. It's just public relations. It's stupid. I don't need Vought."
"What about the brand deals and the salary?"
"I don't need it. I have millions saved. I'm out, Becca." He poured some champagne for her. "Which means you'll soon find yourself unemployed. I'm really sorry." He offered the glass and she drank it.
Soon, they were both drinking on the couch. Homelander weren't affected at all. Becca was already half drunk. She lifted a toast for Homelander.
"To our last day." She said.
Before she could drink it, Homelander forced a kiss. He was on top of her, she tried to push him out, but it was like trying to push a brick wall. She felt his tongue invading her mouth and tapped on his arm until he stopped.
"What?" Homelander asked, confused.
"I don't want this, okay?"
"Come on, I thought we were having a moment."
"We were not. I said no, I don't want this." Once again, she tried to push Homelander away but she couldn't. "Let me go."
Homelander looked at her. She was about to scream. He lifted his hand to cover her mouth for a second but instead got off her and Becca immediately got up and quickly left his room. Homelander didn't know what to do, so he grabbed his champagne glass, and it shattered with his touch. He got up when he heard a voice whispering.
"This is not how it happened… He's lying to you."
Homelander looked around and saw his reflection in the mirror, but there was nothing else. When he looked away, the voice whispered again.
"It's not real, it's a- -"
"John." Professor X's voice interrupted it. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. You should probably check on Becca. I think I just messed up and did something stupid."
"I thought I heard someone."
Vought Tower, Earth 7622
Every employee within Vought Tower rushed out of the building. Maeve was with Ashley and her assistant, Also Ashley.
"Holy shit! What the fuck is happening?!" Ashley demanded upon seeing the chaos throughout the city.
"The guy with the eyepatch called them Hydra. They're basically neo-Nazi terrorists." Maeve told Ashley. "I'll take both of you to the shelter." She told them.
"Oh god, they probably want Vought. They probably heard about Frederick Vought and think we're Nazis too." Ashley fretted, collapsing down on the ground.
Maeve rolled her eyes.
"Ashley, I need you to calm down. Right now, know one gives a shit about Vought. They haven't since this bullshit started." Maeve told her. "So get on your fucking feet and move!"
Ashley nodded, slowly getting off the ground. Just then, a large green robot appeared. One of its arms had spiked knuckles , while the other was a drill. The Hydra Dreadnought closed in on them. Maeve leaped onto the robot and started to punch the android. Maeve winced as it was the hardest thing she had ever punched. The robot shook her off and tried to impale her with its drill, but Maeve rolled. She picked up a nearby car and started to use it as a weapon. The car was more effective, as it did more damage to the robot. It caught the car and shook it, causing Maeve to let go. It tossed the car over to where the Ashleys were, and they screamed as it nearly crushed them.
Until Maeve heard a familiar sound, the car hit nothing but pavement. Maeve turned and saw them with A-Train. Needless to say, they were all stunned by this. Until Maeve was swatted by the robot, she crashed into a street light. The light snapped like a twig onto Maeve, giving her an idea. Maeve fully broke the pole and held and threw the pole at the Dreadnought like it was a giant metal javelin. The pole managed to impale the robot through its face, and it exploded. Maeve got up from the ground and sighed. She looked at the others.
"You okay?" A-Train awkwardly asked her.
"I'm fine." Maeve told him.
Hughie landed on the car, gaining their attention. His gaze was fixed onto A-Train, and pulled him with his web and soon had his hand around the speedster's neck. A-Train gasped as he started to strangle him.
"Hey! Put him down!" Maeve told him.
Hughie refused to, but the Symbiote revealed his furious face, which was much to everyone's surprise.
"Hugh Campbell?" Ashley asked.
"The… fu…ck?" A-Train gasped.
"How does it feel, huh?" Hughie asked him. "To have somebody with more power than you with your life in his hands?"
"I said put him down!" Maeve told him.
"It was you, and you sent her out there!" Hughie angrily accused. Hughie tightened his grip and A-Train struggled for air.
"Send who?" Maeve asked, but the growing dread in her heart, clued her in.
"You sent Annie out and got her kidnapped!" Hughie angrily yelled.
"Starlight's been kidnapped? I didn't know!" Maeve shouted. "These fucking nazis, they just- -"
"No, not them, someone else! I should know you wouldn't know shit, fucking alcoholic mess." Hughie told her.
"Hey, easy! Just because you can beat A-Train doesn't mean I can't still split you like plywood." Maeve threatened.
"That's what Homelander did to you when he was bored?" Hughie asked.
His response stunned Maeve. As were, the Ashleys who remained silent with their mouths open, and even A-Train whispered out a subdued "Oh shit…".
"You're fucking dead, you little shit!" Maeve told him in a restrained, but intense tone.
Hughie violently hurled A-Train at Maeve and they cracked the pavement on impact. Hughie turned to his hulking Venom when he was struck by fire and instinctively returned to the Spider-Man-type form. Hughie angrily turned to see Billy Butcher, which only further shocked Maeve.
"You got to be fucking kidding me, Butcher! You're saving A-Train?!" Hughie asked. "You're a fucking hypocrite!"
"OI! E-fuckin'-nough outta you, son!" Butcher angrily yelled at Hughie. He turned to Maeve.
"He… He told me he killed you…" Maeve told Butcher, trying to comprehend what she was seeing.
"Yeah, well, you oughta know his first language is bollocks." Butcher told her before turning to A-Train.
"As for you, fuck off. Try to avoid gettin' another heart attack while you're at it. Don't want you wastin' that brand new ticker of yours now, do we?" Butcher told him.
A-Train was about to leave when he felt an invisible barrier around him. Butcher turned and saw the Invisible Woman materialize out of thin air.
"Time out." Sue sternly told Hughie, who lunged into the forcefield to no avail.
Doctor Strange appeared out of a portal as Mr. Fantastic stretched past the wreckage.
"Mr. Butcher, glad to see you are amongst the living once more." Strange greeted Butcher, but his controlled demeanor turned into confusion as he saw who stood beside Butcher. "Zarathos, is that you?" The Sorcerer asked.
Butcher was surprised to see someone else being able to see Zarathos.
"He's the Sorcerer Supreme." Zarathos explained.
"Not your typical look?" Strange questioned as he circled the two of them. "Am I allowed to ask why?"
"It's for him to take me seriously." Zarathos told Strange, pointing at Butcher.
"Oh, I see." Strange remarked.
"What do you want?" Butcher asked.
"We would like your assistance in stopping Hydra on your world." Strange told him.
"You're comin' to me. Touched." Butcher sarcastically remarked.
"We don't know why Hydra and Red Skull are being this direct. We need all the assistance we can get, please." Reed told him.
Butcher was about to speak when Zarathos spoke up.
"Do it." Zarathos told him.
"Fine." Butcher told him as he faced Hughie. "So long as you let 'im go after Starlight."
Reed and Sue looked at Hughie, who was busy pounding at Sue's forcefield to no avail. The two looked back at Butcher, obviously unconvinced even more when Hughie lunged himself into the forcefield only to awkwardly slide down the forcefield briefly.
"Don't mind 'im, the poor lad has a bad history with invisible and rubber people." Butcher told them.
"I know. We just heard about Annie, and I am sorry, but that won't be easy. In all likelihood, she was brought to Latveria, the country that Doctor Doom rules. Getting her out will be easier said than done." Reed explained.
"You sure about that? Because I was told that cunt in the goblin cosplay has quite the hateful hard-on for one of your own." Butcher told them.
Reed and Sue were surprised to hear about Butcher's knowledge.
"What are you trying to imply?" Reed asked.
"That it's possible that the Goblin is goin' to kill Starlight as a way to fuck with Spider-Man." Butcher cooly brought up.
"Might I ask how and why you know about Spider-Man and Green Goblin's enmity?" Reed asked.
"I fought the spider at Herogasm. Annoyin', but somewhat funny. Castle told me about the hateful hard-on the Goblin has on 'im." Butcher said.
"Then you don't know fully enough." Sue sternly told him.
"So you know 'im? Let me take a swing at this. Guessin' you lot are friends with 'im, are you not?" Butcher asked.
"Family." Sue corrected Butcher.
"And yes, to your previous question, it remains a distinct possibility that the Green Goblin targeted Starlight because she reminded him of someone they both knew. As well as, possibly being reminded of Spider-Man and someone else." Reed brought up as his mind started to make connections.
"I know you're the smartest man in your world and probably mine. Do you want Hughie fuckin' things over 'ere because of Starlight's current predicament?" Butcher asked.
Reed pondered Butcher's proposal. He rubbed his chin with one hand, while his arms wrapped themselves around his body. After a moment, Reed let out a reluctant sigh.
"Very well, I suppose he can be brought to our world and look for Starlight." Reed remarked.
"Dear?" Sue skeptically asked.
"I know, darling, it is likely hazardous. However, if Mr. Campbell were to lose control, it would be nothing Spider-Man hasn't dealt with. Not to mention the others back home, like Ben or Johnny." Reed told her.
"Good." Butcher remarked. "Hughie you're movin' to greener pastures."
"What am I supposed to do?" Hughie asked.
"Look for Spider-Man, if anyone knows about the Goblin. It's goin' to be 'im." Butcher told him. "How hard can it be?"
"I should let the both of you know that two are Spider-Men operating in New York." Reed told him.
"Thanks for the uninteresting fact, Stretch Armstrong." Butcher sarcastically thanked him.
"I know what he looks like." Hughie told him. "He wears a red and blue costume. What does the other one wear?"
"Black and red." Reed told him.
"Good, do some research on the right spider, and you should find him." Butcher told him.
Strange opened a portal to Earth-616 before Sue stopped them.
"Hold it! I understand you two have been through a lot these past few years, but if you even think of dragging him, his family, or anyone else in our world into your mess. There will be hell to pay." Sue warned them.
Butcher looked over to Hughie who seemed to be intimidated by her threat despite his immense anger and desire for retribution.
"Right." Butcher said to her as Hughie went into the portal.
"I know who wears the pants in that marriage." Butcher quietly said to himself looking at Reed and Sue.
Payback Mansion, Earth 7622
Bruce Banner was at his when his screen started beeping.
"What on Earth…?" He mouthed.
The screen presented a missile coming in their direction. Then it split and showed a second missile, then a third. Banner touched his earpiece and spoke to Falcon.
"Sam, you have eyes on it?" He asked.
"Yeah. I'm carrying Frenchie right now but maybe I can explode it before- -"
"Don't waste your time. There's three of them." Banner said, grabbing a microphone, his voice echoing in every corner of the mansion. "Evacuate the mansion, now! This is not a drill, evacuate, now!"
Chase had Soldier Boy's old wine collection in hand when he heard that.
"Oh, not now!" He said and opened a hole on the winery's wall with a kick from his footstigons and ran, still carrying the wine.
Klara controlled the plants outside the manor so her and Molly could slide down the giant roots as Ryan flew away. Karolina and Nico flew out of the manor, respectively carrying Patriot and Dr. Banner. They gathered outside the mansion and waited.
"What now? What do we do?" Ryan asked.
"There's nothing we can do." Banner told him.
Soon, a missile hit the Payback Mansion and with a quick explosion, reduced it to ashes. Then another boom, and another boom. Nothing but flames left. Johnny absorbed them, but the damage had still been done. Falcon and Frenchie arrived at the same time Cap and Bucky arrived on motorcycles.
Captain America for the first time was wearing his uniform. Carrying his shield, wearing the red, white and blue from head to toe, the wings on his helmet, the red boots, he was back. But that wasn't the moment he hoped for. He stood by the flames and asked Banner:
"The Quinjet?"
"It was there. We're stuck here."
"No, we're not. It's time to swallow our pride. I'll talk to Tony. We'll send these kids home and find out who did this."