Hulkling, who was on his way to help but moving more slowly, then met with Captain Beyond himself, who told Hulkling to go to the Markovian palace as there were superheroes that needed his help.

Hulkling tried to protest but something about Captain Beyond was very convincing and Hulkling headed back to invade the Markovian palace.

Hulkling entered the palace and was guided by implanted knowledge given to him by Captain Beyond that led him to the cells holding Hawkeye, the Thin Man and the Blazing Skull.

Hulkling used his shape shifting powers to disguise himself as a guard,

He had all three free within a matter of minutes.

Day 49: late afternoon; In a replicated Markovia. a few miles from the capital in an alternate reality.

Toro; Thomas Raymond, was on a mission given to him by his mentor Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch.

They were deep behind enemy lines and would soon be joined by Captain America and Bucky. The War was still going strong and Toro was holding off a panzer tank division while the Torch was fighting a fleet of Messerschmidts.

Suddenly a Panzer missile came too close and Toro had to evade it and ducked right into a rift in reality.

Yondu Udonta of the Guardians Of The Galaxy was very upset about the absence of his friend and teammate Vance Astro. Aleta and Starhawk were also unaccounted for.

Yondu, Charlie 27 and Martinex were all out looking for clues as to where they may have gone.

They had separated with intent to join each other if any of them were to discover a lead. They were staying in contact with each other via communicators suddenly Yondu suddenly could not be contacted at all, which alarmed Martinex and Charlie 27. What they didn't know was that Yondu had been taken by a rift in reality.

John Watkins III; Citizen V, had been trying to step up his game in the absence and was trying to bring down Batroc's Brigade, by himself.

He was closing in on Machete when he was taken by a rift in reality.

Tony Masters; Taskmaster, was watching intently as a huge fight between a giant girl, Dragon Man and what looked like might be Thor was going on. Dr. Doom and some girl hovering on a rock who he couldn't identify were also nearby but seemed to merely be watching the battle.

Taskmaster was well away from the battle which had begun where he'd appeared but had moved away considerably since it began. Still you could hardly be expected not to notice a sixty foot costumed teenager and Dragon Man when they're only a football field away.

Taskmaster was trying to guess how he might profit from this strange situation he'd been thrust into. He was still trying to think of something when three rifts in reality opened up.

Toro, Citizen V and Yondu each emerged from the rifts in reality.

They each saw Taskmaster crouching while watching the fight with Dragon Man but only Citizen V knew who he was. Toro had no idea who anybody else was and wasn't sure if any of the other's were villainous but strongly suspected Taskmaster was.

Citizen V immediately challenged Taskmaster but watched Yondu uncertainly. He wasn't sure about Toro either because the Torch he knew was not the size of kid in Junior High.

Yondu was completely confused. All three of the others appeared to be potential threats. He tried to keep an eye on them. The small one on fire seemed especially dangerous.

Taskmaster turned as he was challenged by Citizen V.

When He saw Toro and Yondu as well as Citizen V, he nearly bolted toward the fight he'd been watching but decided to stand his ground despite what he saw. Yondu was a complete unknown but he felt he could handle him.

Toro demanded that everybody identify themselves.

Citizen V responded. "You're the Torch correct? I am Citizen V. We fight the same fight, I assure you."

"I am not the Torch, I'm Toro, the Torch's sidekick."

Yondu listened without comprehending. Citizen V said, "Ahh Toro, I've heard of you. Glad to see that you are alive, but, shouldn't you be older? You appear to be a child."

"Taskmaster listened intently, waiting to learn who the alien was. Toro? How could that be Toro?

"Wait, I think I've heard of Citizen V. He fights for England against the Nazis doesn't he?"

"That would be my grandfather, yes."

""You're grandfather? But that's impossible."


At that moment, Taskmaster struck.

Taskmaster shot a fireproof arrow through the upper shoulder of Toro and Toro fell to the ground in shock with the impact of the fall snapping the arrow. As soon as he'd fired the Arrow, Taskmaster fired a pistol shot at Yondu that grazed his temple and knocked him out while Taskmaster lunged and disarmed Citizen V with his shield a split second later.

Yondu fired his bow at Taskmaster before he was felled and Taskmaster was dismayed that the arrow followed him wherever he went.

The arrow was blocked by his shield in a desparate defensive maneuver.

Taskmaster made his escape toward Dr. Doom.

When Yondu came to his senses he found Citizen V administering first aid to a young boy who's fire was out. Citizen V was trying to remove the broken arrow while trying to stop the bleeding. Luckily, the arrow had missed the heart completely which Citizen V suspected was deliberate.

Yondu stepped over to Citizen V and indicated that he had peaceful intent. Yondu then moved toward the boy, pulled some alien herbs from a bag and applied them to Toro's wounds, front and back. He then sealed the wounds with poultices.

Before too long, Toro was up and around and ready to find Taskmaster for revenge.

Meanwhile Taskmaster approached the ongoing battle involving Dragon Man, Stature and Thunderstrike.

Dr. Doom and Terra had decided to aid Dragon Man and began to attack Thunderstrike as well. Doom had decided he could use Dragon Man as a soldier and was going to claim the creature.

As Taskmaster approached, he was confronted by Crossbones, The Grim Reaper and the Living Laser.

Crossbones spoke, "Doom was expecting somebody like you. Sent us to intercept you. You got a choice. Fight us; which means ya also gotta fight Doom or join us. What's it gonna be Tasky ol' boy?"

Taskmaster decided to side with Doom.

Despite orders from Thunderstrike to stand back and let him handle it, Stature continued to try to help him, at least until Terra began pelting her with a barrage of boulders, which distracted her.

Meanwhile, Thunderstrike was forced to defend himself from two fronts.

This was alleviated by the appearance of the Midnight Rambler and Diablo, who used his potions to calm Dragon Man and the three teleported away.

Hulkling broke Hawkeye, Thin Man and Blazing Skull free. Then he led them out of the Markovian palace and toward the battle raging between Stature, Dragon Man and Thunderstrike.

Suddenly Dragon Man disappeared but they were still able to see Stature and kept moving in to help.

Thunderstrike realized he was fighting Dr. Doom and thought. "I've been restored to life to fight the greatest supervillain of all time?"

Thunderstrike began throwing everything he had into it but Doom initiated some anti Thor tactics and before Erik realized it. He was likely on his way to joining Lionheart in incarceration in Latveria.

Back in the U.S. Gargoyle was reunited with his fellow Defenders who were still helping to defend Star City.

Darkhawk was brought to the attention of fellow New Warriors, Justice and Night Thrasher. They got back together.