In
Tunnelworld, Valkyrie pursues Professor Turk and the three Lunatiks who have
kidnapped Hellcat while the other Defenders are occupied elsewhere. The native
Sputs are helping Doctor Strange and company find their way. Clea regrets
bringing the others to this world but Strange tells her that the Defenders knew
what they might be getting into. The three Nilffim captured turn out to be
three more fragments of Arisen Tyrk and all are in the service of the
Unnameable. The heroes mount the Nilffim’s giant birds and search for their
missing comrades….
The
baddies have led Val to a frozen area of the land and there she assaults them
but is quickly outnumbered. The other Defenders arrive and Hulk drops from the
bird to take down all of the Lunatiks in one blow. The team reunited, Strange
explains how he and Hulk came to Tunnelworld searching for an evil power that
controlled the Lunatiks back on Earth. They take Turk, the Lunatiks, and the
Nilffim with them as they go in search of sanctuary and Strange informs them
that he cannot perform any of his magic lest he draw the Unnameable’s attention
to them. And so they set out to fly across Tunnelworld, as a massive malign
storm rises ahead of them….
Back
on Earth, Justice Department agents are investigating all of Kyle Richmond’s
business dealings and are wondering why Richmond himself can’t be found….
And
it’s because Kyle Richmond, Nighthawk, is in Tunnelworld with the rest of the
Defenders. They have run into a scaly giant monster controlling the storm.
Nighthawk draws its lighting away from the group while Strange conjures up a
magical tornado to carry them all through the monster’s turf. Leaving the
tornado, they run into winged electrical insects; Strange freezes a few of them
and Nighthawk leads the group on. A huge spherical monster with a giant mouth
and multiple tentacles threatens them next and Hulk tangles it up and punches
it into the distance. They exit the storm and find themselves in an area
without gravity. They take a few moments to enjoy the odd feeling before moving
on. As night falls, the group sets up an encampment near a forest. Strange
explains that they are near to the sanctuary of this world’s master of the
mystic arts, Xhoohx. He warns them that they do not have the strength to face
the Unnameable and would do well to avoid attracting his attention. Meanwhile
they are being watched from the nearby foliage….