Wolverine and Nightcrawler had become mobile after learning that Gambit had appeared near Opal City but in a different location then Professor X and the Kingpin.

They arrived just barely in time to observe Quasar leaving with a mysterious blue bundle cradled in his arms.

Wolverine sniffed the air. "Can't be!" he blurted.

"What?"

"I smell Destiny!"

"Isn't she dead?"

"So was Illyana."

"Touche. So what now?"

"We look around and see if we missed anyone else."

T'Challa located two characters that appeared to be superheroes in a conference. One seemed to stretch like Reed Richards. That had to be Plastic Man. The other dressed like a trendy hipster. He carried a dangerous looking staff.

T'Challa knew he had to approach this carefully, but he once fought the entire F.F. to a standstill so these two shouldn't be too hard.

T'Challa lit into them, Immediately disarming the hipster of his staff. Then he snatched up the staff itself and began to wield it as a blunt weapon before he discovered triggers that indicated the staff was much more then a bludgeoning weapon.

He attempted to manipulate the triggers.

Jack Knight said, "Sorry, you'd have to know the sequence codes."

Plastic Man stretched forward to snare T'Challa but underestimated his deft opponent.

T'Challa lured Plastic Man to a rooftop where he stashed the staff where he thought it might be out of it's wielders reach, then he turned his attention to outwitting his stretchable opponent.

What T'Challa didn't know, was Starman had a remote that would retrieve his staff for him if it were lost. The staff fired up and homed in on it's owner.

Meanwhile, the Black Panther and Plastic Man engaged in a cat and mouse game. It was unclear who was the mouse.

Wolverine and Nightcrawler searched around the perimeter of the city.

"Hold it!" Wolverine cried.

"What is it?"

"I sense traces here of the Silver Samurai ----- and, and fainter traces of the Black Panther."

He sniffed some more. "Yes, yes, definitely the Silver Samurai and a little of T'Challa."

He followed the scent to a specific spot, then he began to look confused. "Odd, the Samurai's scent disappears here."

"Is it possible, you're losing your touch?" laughed Kurt.

"Not hardly! I can still smell the Panther's scent. It looks like he's gone into the city but the Samurai's ends right here, but I smell sulphur."

"Sulpher? Like this?" Nightcrawler teleported briefly.

"Similar, but not the same."

Kurt Wagner rolled his eyes, Only Wolverine would distinguish different scent grades in Sulphur.

"Well why don't we find the Black Panther then? Maybe he'll know what happened to the Silver Samurai."

"I will. You're going to keep looking for other new arrivals. I'll get back to you when I've found the Panther."

Kurt shrugged and accepted his lot. Odds were the other X-Men would be back soon anyway. someone needed to let them know what was going on.
Besides Wolverine was a better tracker anyway.

Quasar arrived at his destination.

He was met by an enigmatic man apparently levitating a globe artifact before him.

"Ahh!" the stranger said. "Another one with Cosmic Awareness. Forgive me. I'm still trying to adjust to my new existance. You may call me Captain Beyond. You've found me! The one called Mar-Vell did so as well. I shall have to disguise my essence from you the way I had to with him.

"Why?"

"Why?"

"Yes, why do you have to hide?"

"I --- I don't really know? My creator demands it of me I guess."

"Why is it necessary?"

"I --- I can't answer either. I simply must obey the edicts of my creator."

"You don't question them?"

"I'm not in a position to question them. I simply must obey them. He is far wiser then I. He created me."

"I see. So why are you bringing us here?"

"Not I. He brings you here. I simply help guide the wayward and step in where I can."

"And you don't question this?"

What is there to question? I have only existed for 13 days. I am still learning much myself. I am not ready to emulate your kind and question my creator."

"I see. Well, perhaps you would learn more if you allowed me to see you again."

"I didn't think of that. My life has been lonely these past days. Okay, Quasar. If you promise to visit me regularly. I shall welcome your visits and not hide myself from you. You promise to visit me?"

"Absolutely. I'll meet with you as often as I can. You can count on me."

"That ---- I think I'd like that. Very well. I won't disguise my essence from you. I have to go now, but I look forward to seiing you again."

The two shook hands and then the child/man called Captain Beyond faded from sight.

It was getting toward evening and Patience Phillips was at a beauty shop, trying desperately to change her look so whenever she stepped out in public, autograph seekers wouldn't swarm her. Everyone was convinced she was Halle Berry.

The Huntress waited in civilian garb nearby. They were scheduled to step out later with the Danger Girls. It was meant to be an evening of fun but Helena also wanted to check on the Penguin and ensure he wasn't up to anything.

She had not expected the backlash from her new companion's uncanny resemblance to a current superstar. One who didn't exist on this world but due to the bizarre rules of this world, had a new movie due out soon that everyone would be able to enjoy.

Sometimes she thought this strange world existed to drive them all crazy.

Kobra was taking it slow. Subversive tactics were the order of the day. he sent his followers to seek any and all new recruits. He also was trying to engineer his invasion of Capital and Midway City. This was difficult while there were only a handful of cities to work from. Metropolis was the most difficult. Luthor was a totaliarian ruler. It would be difficult to remain unnoticed by him. He bided his time in Metropolis but began aggressive recruitment campaigns everywhere else.

He began working excessiively on the malleable nature of truckers and pilots to ensure the achievement of his ends.

Aquaman confronted Son Of Darkseid Superman expecting the worst.

"What do you want?"

"I want to apologize about the rough way I treated you the other day."

"Why?"

"I -- I'm having a change of heart. I met Supergirl who might be my cousin in another life and she's taught me some things."

"Taught you some things? What things?"

"A sense of nobility perhaps, the ability to feel an affinity for others and understand their point of view. A powerful alien who fought me well had a hand in my new outlook as well. Darkseid kept my judgement clouded. Even if this one isn't the one I knew, I can see no difference between them, just pure darkness. I'm switching sides. I want nothing more to do with Darkseid except as a foe."

"If you meet with the Justice League and discuss this with them, Batman and the rest will decide your sincerity. Our Superman is as good and noble as they come. You've got a long road ahead of you if you want to catch up with him."

"When can I meet with them?"

"I'll contact them now."

Aquaman called them and a meeting with the available members was set up for two hours from that moment.

SoD Superman agreed and the meeting was set to be held in the fields near the mountain facility.

Wolverine stole through Opal City, trailing the Black Panther's scent. This was more difficult then most scents because the Panther took pains to cover his scent just to prevent this very thing from happening. Still he hadn't quite mastered the technique to hide it from someone like Wolverine, who's sense of smell rivalled a grizzly bear's.

Eventually, he found the Panther toying with Plastic Man and the Starman that were protecting this city.

Wolverine watched T'Challa as he gave them fits trying to subdue him for several minutes, then stepped in to break it up.

After listening to Wolverine's explanations about who the two heroes were, T'Challa made peace with them and then left with Wolverine in order to join the other Avengers and then check on whether Wakanda existed on this world.

Quasar used his powers and swiftly located Mar-Vell, Adam Warlock and Moondragon. The first thing they noted was that both he and Mar-Vell wore Quantum bands.

They were not surprised that Quasar was whole and healthy; after all, it happened for Mar-Vell.

They greeted him warmly and introduced him to Kilowog.

Kilowog was a little uncomfortable because Quasar's powers reminded him of a Yellow lantern's, but his demeanor did not.

Once this meeting was over Quasar and Mar-Vell went to Xandar and met with Firelord. Firelord was very excited to see his friend. He introduced them to the female android Aphrodite IX who now resided on Xandar.

They then went to meet with John Stewart who noted the same things Kilowog had. Quasar was sympathetic with John Stewart's present plight as Galactus' herald.

Next they met with the Starjammers and Samandahl Rey who were working together to do their best to keep an eye on the threats of Skrulls, Manhunter robots, Kree, Saurians, Shiar, Sinestro, Brood, Despero and Maxima.

Quasar and Mar-Vell promised to stay in touch. Regularly.

Day 13: Late Evening, an alternate Earth near a replicated Opal City.

Peter Rasputin; aka Colossus, was frantic, There were now more missing X-Men then not. There were still several of the New Mutants available but of the X-Men; it was down to himself, Cyclops, Warren Worthington, Havoc, Polaris, and Bishop.

Although Magneto and Sabretooth seemed to be among the missing, there were still a great deal of dangerous threats to deal with. The X-Men had a long list of enemies and very few left to combat it.

Mainstream heroes like Thor, Iron Man and the F.F. were trying to help but they had their own problems. Even the F.F. had been reduced to the Fantastic Three.

Peter was torn. Not one of the missing heroes had been rescued and the villains that had not been kidnapped had; themselves become very bold. They'd even begun breaking other villains out.

The world was in chaos since there were many more supervillains then there were superheroes.

Still, Peter desparately wanted to save his friends. If one of those rifts appeared before him, would he go? while he was contemplating that, a rift appeared directly before him. Immediately, his thoughts went to Kitty Pride, Storm, Nightcrawler and Wolverine. Without hesitation, he plunged in.

He stepped out and noticed a woman he thought looked like Madame Hydra or the Viper as she'd been known for a while. She was fleeing rapidly into an unfamiliar nearby city. Instinctively, he started after her.

She deftly defeated some Shield agents and some other strangely garbed individuals, along with several national guard troops. Despite Peter's greater speed given him by his mutant powers he could not catch up to her. She looked back at him and hissed. She actually hissed! She then took to the rooftops where Peter could not follow.

Peter began to look after the fallen, all of whom were suffering from poisoning.

He learned that the strange uniforms were called Checkmate Agents. These were some that he was unfamiliar with.

Suddenly, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he met Nightcrawler. "Kurt!" he shouted. And caught him up in a bear hug.

"Mein Gott, Peter! Do you mean to crush me?"

"Tovarisch! I have forgotten." Peter returned to human form. Once he did, he caught Kurt up in another bear hug, which was almost as uncomfortable for Kurt as the first one was.

The two friends gave each other a quick heads up and moved off to meet with Wolverine.

Madame Hydra, alias the Viper. fled through an unfamiliar city. Being brought here severely disrupted several long range schemes she had in place. She was not in a good mood.

Fleeing deeper into the city, she was greatful she'd escaped that lunking X-Man. The last thing she needed was to encounter Wolverine right now.

She stopped on a rooftop to collect her breath and her thoughts.

"Psst!, Mistress!"

Startled she looked at who was addressing her. A Hydra agent was on the fire escape beckoning her.

"How, how did you know I was here."

"No time to explain. Follow me."

They rushed down the fire escape where they encountered a small Hydra hovercraft at the base. They took the hovercraft to the docks where the hovercraft sped off quickly to rendezvous with a submarine. Madame Hydra was loaded into the submarine which quickly submerged to bring her to the Azores where Hydra and Aim were located.

On the submarine, Hydra agents quickly filled her in. Hydra agents had infiltrated all of the cities available, they were on the lookout for either herself, Baron Strucker or the Red Skull. They needed decisive leadership badly. It looks she was who they'd have to go with.

Son Of Darkseid Superman stood before every member of the J.L.A. who existed on this world.

Wonder Woman, the Flash, Aquaman, Batman, Plastic Man, John Stewart, The Atom, Firestorm, Zatanna, Big Barda.

Supergirl was also invited.

Batman spoke. "You say you've reformed?"

"Yes, I no longer wish to blindly follow my adopted father Darkseid's ways."

"What has changed for you?"

"I --- my eyes have been opened. I realize now what a dark unrewarding path my father was leading me on."

"Elaborate."

"Kara --- er Supergirl, woke me up to my true calling, she showed me what a true family was about. That and my epic battle with the noble alien Beta Ray Bill."

"What did Beta Ray Bill do?"

"He gave me the noblest fight I've ever had save only Orion who I regrettably killed."

"So you regret having killed Orion?"

"Yes, he was a true son of Darkseid who rebelled against the evil that was his father, and now I choose to reject Darkseid's evil too."

Wonder Woman stepped up. "That's all well and good, but how can we be sure you don't have ulterior motives?'

"I'll ---- I'll agree to any terms you choose to set for me. I'll prove to you my sincerity."

"That is very self-sacrificing of you. We wish to confer. Will you excuse us?"

"By all means."

Supergirl was there more for the SoD Superman's benefit then the JLA's and she was left to keep him company while the League conferred.

Finally, the JLA returned.

"We've come to a decision." They waited to see his reaction. "John Stewart says Kilowog needs help defending Oa in the absence of the Guardians and the rest of the Green Lantern Corps. To prove your sincerity, you need to live on Oa and help Kilowog defend Oa from agressors until it's determined that you aren't needed there. Do you agree to these terms?"

SoD Superman was aghast. "You wish to entrust me with that? After my time with Darkseid?"

"Supergirl has agreed to accompany you, to supervise you. Until we find a way to return to our respective realities or the Guardians and/or more Green Lanterns appear, that is your lot."

"I'll take it. I'll prove to you I'm worthy."

"It's decided then. SoD Superman and Supergirl are now assigned to Oa to defend it, along with Kilowog against aggression. This meeting is dismissed."

John Stewart gave passage to SoD Superman and Supergirl to Oa so that they could begin their tenure as protectors of Oa.

T'Challa was brought to the Avengers mansion where he connected with Captain America, the Pyms and the others. Ms. Marvel, The Vision and Scarlet Witch agreed to go with T'Challa to Wakanda if it existed here to verify it's existance and help him protect it if it were there, which they fully expected it was.

Colossus was brought by Nightcrawler to the X-Men mansion. Wolverine stayed behind to try to track Madame Hydra. He failed to catch her but routed fifteen Hydra agents hidden in Opal City. He shook hands with Starman and Plastic Man and left for Xavier's mansion.