Synopsis / Summary / Plot
The 2099 version of the Avengers (Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Hercules and Iron Man - but not the ones you're familiar with, except Herc) have clashed with Defenders 2099 (a female (Dr) Strange, Hulk 2099 and the Silver Surfer) over a bad guy Martin Hargood. We don't know why the Defenders want him, but he's connected with an attack on Cap's secret id Roberta Mendez.
While the teams face off Hargood makes his escape, but he runs into 2 more superheroes. He defends himself with blasts from his hands, and the sound alerts his would-be captors. They find that Hargood has been captured by 2 more of the Defenders, Roman the Sub-Mariner and Valkyrie.
Hercules immediately makes a play for Valkyrie, as 1 divine immortal to another, which annoys Roman who consider her his woman. They fight over her, which annoys Brunnhilde because she doesn't consider herself anybody's prize. Silver Surfer separates the combatants. Hulk punches an off-guard Hercules in the side of the head (somebody's been watching the 1st Avengers movie).
Strange says the Defenders are after Hargood because he's involved in a dangerous magic scheme. Cap insists that the Avengers take him in for questioning about her attempted assassination. She invites the Defenders back to Alchemax, and promises they won't be arrested. But Iron Man intends to keep a wary eye on them - Vision 2099 warned him they were dangerous in #1.
Miguel Stone, head of Alchemax, has Hargood interrogated while Strange watches. He stands up well to torture and won't say why someone tried to kill Roberta. But he tells them he is the grandson of Baron Mordo, the original Dr Strange's arch-enemy. And then he dies. But Stone orders him brought back to life, to be 'interrogated' again. This time he says he doesn't know who gave him the kill order, but mutters about the coming of 'the Dweller'.
The rest of the Defenders chill out with Hawkeye and Hercules. Herc and Roman renew their rivalry over Valkyrie. Hawkeye suggests a drinking contest. When Cap and Strange join them the 2 are far gone.
Cap takes the sober ones Hulk, Silver Surfer, Strange and Valkyrie with Hawkeye to a meeting with Miguel and Iron Man. Stone offers the Defenders a job with Alchemax. Strange politely declines - they operate in Downtown while the Avengers concentrate in well-off Uptown. Stone reminds them that all superheroes must legally work for Alchemax - if not they're supervillans.
The Defenders try to leave but are stopped by guards. Iron Man fires a device which disables Surfer's connection to his cosmic power. Strange opens a portal and takes Valkyrie with her. But Hulk is stopped when Miguel Stone bites his neck - his fangs inject a powerful paralytic venom.