Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, is on a WW2 battlefield under
fire. His friend Randall Peterson is okay but he asks Namor to find their other
pal Tommy. Namor, weakened from having been out of water so long, finds Tommy
just in time to see him gunned down by Nazi troops. Namor goes berserk and
kills the two enemies before collapsing. He awakens to Captain America's giving
him a drink of water and telling him the battle's over and they won...
...and Namor awakens from his recurring nightmare as his
aide Machan offers comfort and assurance that his plans for conquering the
surface world are ready....
While Captain America fights a horde of virtual villains in
the Avengers' training room, he chats with Jim Hammond (the original Human Torch)
who is writing a history of the Invaders and he can't count on his own
memories as his creator included the ability to forget to make him more human.
They move on to their concern that Namor is at war with the surface world again
and Jim pleads with Steve to help their friend....
WW2: in the aftermath of the battle, Cap learns that Subby's
pal Tommy was killed. Hearing that Namor will not attend the burial service,
Cap tracks him down at a cafe where he finds Namor canoodling with a local
girl. Cap tells him that this behavior is inappropriate for one who lost
friends and comrades that day; Namor counters that he is not human and is
coming to resent having to protect frail humans (and he picks up a random guy
by the throat to illustrate) when he should be out killing Nazis. Cap reminds
him that Tommy was his friend and he should pay his respects and walks out,
spotting Bucky in the bar and telling him to come along too....
Namor and Machan take a swift seacraft to the land of the
Sea Blades, another renegade Atlantean splinter group that Namor wants reunited
with his people for the coming war. Parleying with their leader Karris, Namor
demands they return to their rightful home under their rightful king. Karris
refuses, even pricking Namor's chest with a dagger to release a few drops of
blood. With a wave of his arms, Namor parts the waters before him, leaving the
Blades gasping on dry ground. Defeated, Karris gives in to Namor's demands....
As Namor explains that he now has power over water itself to
Karris, we see Namor, in US military uniform, attending the memorial....
Jim Hammond visits his old comrade Randall Peterson at his
home on the coast of Maine. The elderly and infirm Randall helps Jim with his
memories of the Invaders and gives him a large photo album to help with his
research. Outside of her father's earshot, Randall's daughter Nay (named Namor
after her father's friend) asks Jim to return the album as the contents are
personal. As he hands it over, a few photos fall out; picking them up Jim sees
that one is a picture of Namor with Charles Xavier....
Cap announces his intention to visit Namor alone which Tony
Stark thinks is a foolish idea; Steve contacts Bucky, the Winter Soldier, for
help in persuading Namor not to start a war....
Underwater, Karris explains to his aides Namor's audacious
plan of conquest but they are concerned as Namor is standing by his ship and
apparently talking to himself....