Star City and Fawcett City also were faced with a wave of newcomer populous.

Neither city had the advantage of an advanced telepath to calm them so it was left to the Teen Titans (in Star City) and Mary Marvel (in Fawcett City) to do what they could.

The Emerald Empress and the Persuader fled. She'd recognized that dog. That was Superboy's pet Krypto. She didn't want to face Superboy without Validus at her side. She didn't feel that the two of them were strong enough to face Superboy and the Legion along with that impressive fellow in black that had appeared.

Instinctively, she fled to Orando and discovered it existed in this reality.

The two of them began the process of subjugating Princess Projectra's people.

Day 31: Dawn; near Star City, on an alternate Earth, in an alternate reality.

Jamie Madrox was one of the few left that Cyclops could count on with so many X-Men gone. Jaime's ability to become several versions of himself was invaluable to Cyke these days.

So it was a tremendous loss to the X-Men when the Multiple Man inadvertantly entered a rift in reality.

Hydro-Man was confused. How'd he get here? Where was here? Star City? He'd never heard of any Star City! Ah what the hell. Who cares. One city is as good as another.

Morris Bench decided to enter the city. He was confronted by Checkmate Agents that demanded he identify himself.

"Why I'm uhh, I'm uhh, --- I'm the water boy!"

With that, Hydro-Man blasted the Checkmate agents with water with the full intensity of a fire hose.

While the Checkmate agents recovered, Hydro-Man turned into water and seeped on past them into the city.

Jaime Madrox stepped out of the rift in reality. He looked up at the near by city. Star City? Where was that? He saw that it seemed to be a coastal city.

He saw some oddly dressed men at some kind of checkpoint. They seemed to be sputtering and angry. They also seemed a little wet.

He approached them.

The Checkmate agents were severely ticked off after what Hydro-Man had done to them, now the Checkmate agents had no idea what had become of the man who assaulted them. This made them even angrier.

So when Jaime Madrox approached them the Agents were spoiling to vent their frustration.

They tried to take it out on Madrox.

"So who the hell are you?"

"I'm Madrox the Multiple Man."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'll show you." Jaime deliberately struck himself to create a duplicate.

The Checkmate agents glowered at Madrox.

"Okay, so you can turn into two people. What are your motivations?"

"My motivations?"

"Yeah. Your motivations. You want to take over the world? Destroy humanity? What are you planning?"

"I don't understand. Why do you assume I'm going to be trouble?"

"Your friend that appeared a minute ago was trouble, why shouldn't you be?"

"My friend? Who's my friend?"

"That guy who showed up earlier who's arms turned into water hoses."

"My friend who-----. I don't have any friends like that!"

"Sure you don't. Let's grab these two and take them in for questioning."

"Now wait a minute!" Jaime protested. Madrox created several duplicates who easily overpowered the Checkmate Agents through sheer numbers.

Orion, Hercules, Big Barda and Wonder Woman returned from their fruitless confrontation with Captain Beyond. They'd learned nothing.

Orion noticed his natural rage was slowly returning.

Superman was satisfied that his doppleganger had abandoned his foul motivations at the hands of an alternate reality Darkseid and felt confident that Supergirl could keep SoD Superman in line.

He left to return to Talok VIII to rejoin the Legion.

When the coast was clear, Hydro-Man reconstituted himself and paraded through the city.

When he learned that the city was being protected by superheroes, he decided to investigate.

Starfire? Beast Boy? Hawk and Dove? Cyborg? Raven? Who the hell were they?

Hydro-Man went off to the docks to hide out and learn whatever else he could.

Jaime Madrox reintegrated his bodies and wandered through the city.

Something was off, and he didn't know what. When he heard the names of the superheroes defending the city, he was even further bewildered. Jaime was certain he was a stranger in a strange land. (Which was true, but it was not as bad he thought it was.)

Jaime looked around to see if he could find a place to stay.

The Spectre headed off into space. He didn't know it, but he was headed into Shiar space.

He was on his way to confront the world eater Galactus.

Galactus, sensed the immense power that was bearing down on him.

Not recognizing it, he summoned his herald, who happened to be the Green Lantern, John Stewart.

When John Stewart recieved the summons, he was apprehensive.

Galactus should not be hungry for another month or two. He'd feasted on a planet and a moon only a few weeks ago.

John arrived before Galactus and asked what the world eater wanted.

John Stewart went away at the command of Galactus and was eventually confronted by the Spectre. John Stewart groaned, but then perked up.

The Spectre? Vs Galactus? Why not?

Galactus was a major threat. John was his herald just to make sure that Galactus only ate uninhabited planets, and stayed away from Oa.

If the Spectre defeated Galactus, John Stewart would be completely free to help defend Oa.

But John knew that that wasn't the best solution.

The Spectre often attacked those that didn't really deserve the Spectre's wrath. If the Spectre fell it might actually be better.

Finally John Stewart simply decided to lead the Spectre directly to Galactus and let the cards fall where they may.

When Black Bolt and Medusa finally came up for air, Crystal asked Medusa to interrogate Black Bolt about his arrival as their friends in the Fantastic Four needed to get the details of Black Bolt's arrival.

Black Bolt relayed his story to Medusa, who gave it to Crystal, who relayed it to Susan Storm, yet somehow, some way, the participation of Krypto kept getting left out.

"Vodka? What the hell is vodka?" the bartender asked.

Kraven looked at the bartender incredulously.

"You are unfamiliar with Vodka? What are you? A Bolshevik?'

"Look pal, All we got to offer is rotgut whiskey, weak beer and sasparilla. Take yer pick."

"Vot iss Sasparilla?"

Before Kraven could get his answer, the town sheriff burst in.

"You the guy that took out six cowhands outside?"

"Vhat if I am?"

"Well one of them's dead. Yer under arrest."

Kraven stood up and confronted the sheriff.

"You and what army, comrade?"

"Uhhh, the United States cavalry?"

The sheriff suddenly realized he was alone against a man who single handedly took down six tough cowhands.

The Sheriff quickly backed away.