"Any luck?"

"No. They never saw them. No big surprise though--it was apparently a big fight..."

"You sound like you regret not being there."

"Well... maybe, I'm an Avenger. I should have been with them," Janet Van Dyne, the wondrous Wasp says with a sigh; she straightens herself and looks her companion, Lorna Dane, Polaris, in the eye. "I'm a Defender. I should be with THEM."

"So, the Avengers can't help us?" Hannibal King asks.

Janet shakes her head. "They've offered their assistance of course. But they've got more than their own fair share of problems to deal with *. Finding the missing Defenders quite frankly isn't going to be high on that list."

(* See the Avengers for further details! - GD)

"Any luck getting hold of Doctor Strange? Or the Surfer for that matter? He got them into all this..." Lorna inquired.

"No one's seen the Surfer either. Apparently he went off after the big battle and no one knows where."

"Big silver freak," Hannibal mutters.

"He's a founding member of the team," Janet snaps.

"Take a good, long look around the room here, Waspy." Hannibal sneers. "We seem to be a little short of founding members of the Defenders. The Surfer is AWOL. The Hulk is... well, who knows where the Hulk is... and Strange? Where is Doctor Strange?!?"

"He's dead Hannibal," a woman's voice floats into the room, "but thanks for asking."

They turn as one, the last three Defenders left on Earth. Clea, the beloved of Dr. Stephen Strange, enters the room like a swift breeze, infiltrating their solace with her coolness.

"He's WHAT!" Janet finds herself screaming at the mage.

"Calm yourself Janet," Clea says, her voice soothing, "He went into a state of death, to save a friend.”*

(* As astute readers of Doctor Strange #101 no doubt remember - GD)

"Is he coming back?" Lorna asks, her voice filled with hope.

Clea stares at the ceiling, mute.

"Well, is he?" Hannibal repeats his team mates question.

Clea lowers her eyes to meet his. They are eyes of cold and fire, eyes of unspeakable power, eyes of despair, she locks her gaze upon his. After a moment, she looks away. "I don't know"

"But Stephen's the Sorcerer Supreme!" Janet exclaims, "He's the protector of Earth! He can't just..."

Clea shakes her head. "No longer. He gave me that charge in his absence. I, and one other..."

Lorna cocks her head in confusion. "One other?"

Clea finds herself smiling, "A boy with his amulet." she says brightly, "Who's destined to do great things.”*

(* And you can see the start of those things in Doctor Strange #102! - GD)

The Wasp shakes her head. "I'm not sure I understand."

Clea's smile broadens. "Neither did the rest of us. But I trust the universe to know her own business. I trust Stephen to know his."

"Well is Dr. Strange is ... out of commission..." Lorna starts.

Clea shakes her head. "He's dead Lorna. His body is being looked after by... friends, but he's dead."

"Fine, he's dead then," she says with regret. Some things were easier not to say. Saying that someone who'd you'd just seen a short time before was dead was very high on that list." Which means he can't be of any use at finding our missing teammates. What about you?"

Clea shakes her head again. "I'm afraid not." she says with regret clear in her voice," I've already been trying without success. I fully intend to keep trying - but it's like something were concealing them from my sight”*

(* A fair guess considering the events of the Defenders/ Space 1999 mini series - GD)

"So... should we go searching for them then? Or just keep going and hope they come back at some point?" Hannibal asks bitterly.

"Well - you for one CAN'T go after them..." Clea says to Hannibal. "If you've ever seen what happens to a true vampire in space, you know that to be true."

Hannibal reluctantly nods.

"As for you two..." she starts, then looks over toward the hallway. The rest of the group follow her eyes to the cloaked woman holding the baby.

"They're fine," the woman says with confidence.

"And how would you know that Miss... Your friend Timeslip went off with them too you know," the Wasp exclaims." I didn't even know that you were still here! They could be any where - they could be dead for all we know!"

The woman shakes her head and laughs. "I'm sorry Jan," she softly explains, "A few close scrapes aside - everything turns out fine."

"And how would YOU know that?" Lorna suspiciously inquires.

The woman reaches forward with her free hand, and pulls her ever-present hood back, to reveal a familiar face. "I know that because I was there." she states," My name is Rina Patel, Timeslip. And no matter what time frame I might have come here from, I AM still one of

MV1 #192 May Year 4

I trust that still counts for something..."

His purple gloved hand bangs on the door to 177A Bleecker Street. It's a nice enough door, good solid wood. It makes a nice loud bang.

"Come on out, Strange!" he shouts at the top of his lungs. "I need to talk to you NOW!"

He taps his foot impatiently. He looks back to the door.

It continued to not open. He sighs and bangs again with his purple- gloved hand. He wasn't really sure why he had picked the glove up, nor why he was wearing it now*, but it seemed like the thing to do.

(* Clever readers though might have an idea of where the tribute is coming from though - GD)

He stands on the top stair, concentrating on the door. He's never had the power to open doors with his mind - but after all, what could it possibly hurt to try?

The door stands firm in its wooden resolve.

And then, it doesn't.

A large black man opens the door, without a smile. "Can I help you?" he asks, his voice deep and menacing.

"I'm looking for Stephen Strange," he says, pulling himself up to meet this new challenge. "Who are you?"

The man at the door shakes his head. "He's not available right now. Is there something I can help you with."

He sighs inwardly. "That really depends on who you are. I really need to talk with the doctor about some important matters."

"Medical or supernatural?"

He feels himself smiling. "I guess you could say supernatural."

"Then I can help you. What do you need?"

"Who are you anyway? I think I should know who I'm speaking to..."

"I could say the same of you."

"You first..."

"Listen, I'm not the one who's on the doorstep asking for help. I could just close this door and let you go on your merry way..."

"But you won't. You can't turn away someone in need. It's against the code. So you might as well tell me..."

The man at door sighs. "Very well. My name is Brother Voodoo."

"Ah - I thought that white stripe in your hair looked familiar." He pauses, trying to remember, then he lights up. "Jericho Drumm!" he exclaims with delight.

Jericho takes a step back in shock. "Who are you?"

The man on the door step runs a hand through his wavy blonde hair. "Isn't it obvious?"

Jericho shakes his head. "Enlighten me..."

He smiles. "I'm Craig Hollis of course!"

Jericho shakes his head again. "Sorry, never heard of you..."

"Mr. Immortal!"

"Sorry." He looks more than a bit confused. "Are you an X-Man or something?"

"MISTER IM-MORT-AL," Craig draws out. "I was an Avenger..."

"Never heard of you."

"I was a Defender..."

Jericho cocks his head to the side. "I don't recall ever hearing that you were a Defender."

"Of course not," Craig says with flourish. "As a matter of fact - I still AM a Defender!"

Jericho shakes his head. "I've met the Defenders... and you don't look like anyone I've ever seen."

"Well of course not silly," Craig confides, then dramatically lowers his voice. "I'm a SECRET Defender... shush, don't tell anyone, ok?"

Jericho nods and smiles warily. "You can rest assured of that."

Elsewhere

Kyle Richmond feels the draft. But it doesn't feel cool. Or even warm. It's just a draft. Just a wave of air that is hitting his body. His body - something doesn't feel right...

He opens his eyes.

He opens his eyes to find himself in a large underground cavern filled with machinery. And people milling around tending to what appear to be the type of giant super computers he's only previously seen in old film of secret government operations. And mad scientist's headquarters. They always tended to have at least one, maybe two super computers...and giant robots... those were the days, he sighs, when everyone had a giant robot to destroy their enemies...

He looks around, and realizes that the cavern is upside down. The machinery is attached to the ceiling. The people are defying gravity by walking on the ceiling...

He looks down, to see his feet lashed together attached to the floor.

He glances back up at the machinery, trying to feel for his own innate sense of balance.

He closes his eyes again.

Then opens them.

He's hanging upside down. But he doesn't feel light-headed in the slightest. No blood rushing into his head.

No blood running into... he stops himself before he gets there.

He glances over to his right. Moonscythe was hanging there, not moving.

He looks to his left. Moondancer was there, oblivious to everything.

He wonders where they are...what they are doing there. He wonders... about the time he had spent being dead... and if it was all really over...

Still Elsewhere

"You can have it all again..." Mephisto says with a smile.

The red man remains silent, taking it all in...

"We can offer you whatever you desire," Hela, the goddess of death, repeats.

The red man smiles. "You know what I want."

"We can get it for you," the man in green says, his voice dripping things that make the red man shake.

"You can really do that?"

The man in green nods. "Once they are out of our way - we can do as we please. The signs have all pointed to it. No one will be left to oppose our will, once they fall."

"What of the Triu..." the red man starts, but Hela cuts him off with a glare.

"They are nothing against us." she snarls. "We shall gnaw on their fragile souls."

Belasco, the former demon lord of Limbo, grins, and places his hand on top of theirs. "Then count me in."

The Van Dyne Mansion

"I can't believe that you were here the entire time and..." Janet starts for what seems like the hundredth time.

Rina smiles."...And just let them go off without a word of warning? And risked changing things?" She looks down to the baby in her arms. He is soundless and smiling. She smiles back down at him, as if sharing a secret. "They are fine. Nothing is going to happen to that we couldn't... that they can't handle. We're going to learn about ourselves - about each other. And make new friends. And oh yeah - we're going to come back with a warning about the Dragons..."

"The Dragons?" Lorna asks, intrigued.

"Like the Dragon of the Moon that Moondragon was involved with?" Clea inquires.

"Exactly like that," Rina confirms. "There are more of them... quite a few of them actually. And they're involved with some big doings against the Defenders here on Earth."

"More Dragons..." Hannibal ponders aloud, unsure of what to say next..."I..." he starts, but then snaps his mouth shut.

"Why are you telling us this?" Clea asks.

"Yeah," Janet interrupts, "isn't this risking changing something?"

Rina shakes her head. "No," she declares, "you knew all about it when we came back. In fact, you were already on the trail yourselves. You never told us how you knew - at the time. But eventually it came out - I, the me now that is, came back and told you all about it."

"And some time between now and... I guess then... I hate time paradoxes" Lorna interrupts herself to mutter. "I guess,” she says, getting herself back on track, "that you got pregnant. How long of a time span are we talking? You certainly haven't aged much..."

Rina smiles. "I certainly thank you for that..." But says no more on the subject. She just smiles, and looks down at the baby.

"You know - he's been awfully quiet...and...calm..." Clea stops herself and looks back to Janet.

"He's not a normal baby - is he?" Janet asks, getting to her feet suddenly, alert.

Rina shakes her head. "No... no.. he's quite... special".

"Is this why you have come here? Come to this now?" Clea inquires, on more than a bit of an alert herself.

Rina nods. "It's the only place I thought he... we would be safe. HE wants my baby. But I can't let HIM have him.... I just can't..."

Janet walks over and puts her arms around Rina's shoulders. "Who's after your baby Rina? If you don't tell us - we can't possibly help you..."

Rina shakes her head. "I can't... I can't tell you. Not yet... I can't let him know when I am... He's already here... planning, plotting for then...

"Who is?" Clea asks, alarmed. "What is he planning for?"

Rina looks down at the baby in her lap. "HE is," she says, her voice breaking. "The HIM from THEN. He wants my baby..."

Janet brushes the tears away from Rina's face, her voice gently soothing. "So - it's an older version of your baby that's trying to steal him?"

Rina nods, on the edge of out-right sobbing.

"Why would anyone want to do that?' Lorna asks. "Why not just leave his younger self alone?"

"Unless," Janet, a veteran time traveler herself, queries Rina, "does he want to save his younger self? To protect him?"

Rina shakes her head violently. "No… he wants to... kill him."

Hannibal glances down the hallway. He considers mentioning what he knows, what SHE had told him. But, he stays silent... perhaps it was all connected, but perhaps not. Either way - maybe there was a chance that he wouldn't have to do... what he had to do.

"Why would he want to kill himself?" Clea asks. "Wouldn't that just wipe himself out of existence?"

Rina shakes her head again. "He doesn't want there to be another him... another possibility of him..." She looks down at her baby. "This baby may or may not turn out to be HIM - if HE can kill him, well.. then there is no chance of another..."

"I'm afraid I don't follow," Lorna confesses, wishing more than ever she had been paying more attention during Professor Xavier's lectures during her time associated with the X-Men. Maybe one sort of theory based background would have helped her deal with another...

Clea’s face turns ashen. "I'm afraid that I do. He wants to be the only HIM in existence. If this baby grows up, it might become someone who can either challenge him, or replace him..."

Rina nods in silence, trying to hold back her tears.

"But who is HE?" Janet asks, as she strokes Rina's arms, trying to calm her.

"He's ME," a voice booms from the doorway.

The group turns with a start. But only Janet recoils. "KANG!" she screams as she sees the man with the metal mask in the doorway.

Hannibal King looks down the hall with longing... and sighs.

Clea appears in the spot between Kang the Conqueror and his intended targets. "I would not suggest bringing any sort of harm to any under my protection." she warns, her face going dark.

"I have no intention," Kang cackles, "of causing any harm to anyone in this house. OR," he adds, "under your puny protection. I simply stopped by to check up on..." He smiles through the mask. "Me.”

"You think I'LL believe that?" Janet rages. "I've gone toe to toe with your schemes before you madman! The Avengers have stopped you time and time again - don't expect the Defenders to be any different..."

Kang the Conqueror, scion of millennia shakes his head. "My dear Ms. Dyne..." he says with exaggerated regret, "have I not said that I intend to harm no one in this house? Is not my word worth anything?"

"No," Janet replies coldly.

Lorna Dane stays silent, tensing for the moment. She reaches out for the metal armor itself, reaching out and getting a grip on it. She senses it's patterns, it's flaws. Her magnetic fingers slip off the sides, obviously he's prepared for such an attack. She switches over to other energy patterns, grabbing hold where her traditional methods would have failed. She stands silent, prepared, waiting to be under-estimated.

"I'd suggest you leave now," Clea says with menace. "The Avengers might play your games. But don't expect the Sorcerer Supreme to allow you to walk away from a fight once you join it..."

Kang puts his gauntlet-covered fist to his heart with gusto. "I'm hurt," he mocks. "Wounded to the core... Have I not said that I have no intention of harming any of you...?"

"I don't believe it," Janet repeats.

"But it's true." Kang laughs. "Unfortunately that apparently doesn't hold true for HIM..."

From behind them, they hear the scream of Rina Patel.

The three Defender women turn as one to see Hannibal King removing his dripping fangs from the neck of his former teammate.

The Sub-basement

She hears the scream. Hears it and wonders if this was the moment she was waiting for... after all, she would have to come out sooner or later. She'd hoped to be formally introduced by the vampire, that way, she reasoned, they would have more of a reason to trust her...

But the sound of the scream touched off something inside... perhaps it was pity... or enlightened self interest.

In either case it was a chance to prove her intentions to them.

She considers simply "appearing" in the room, but just as quickly dismisses it... after all, how would they know where she had come from.

Better, she reasons, to come up the stairs, like a civilized person, coming to help...

She dashes up several flights of stairs... and down the hallway in time to see a metal faced man vanishing from the room, after striking a green-haired woman who seemed to have flung herself at him.

The Wasp and Clea... she recognizes the latter all too well... are fighting a man dressed in black. She stops at the edge of the hallway... they're fighting Hannibal King... she sighs, wondering if she should just leave.. after all - who will believe her NOW?

She takes in the commotion again, catching something out of the corner of her eye. A human baby, crawling across the floor… toward her, smiling. She follows his path backward, her eyes coming to rest at the woman lying on the floor, looking quite dead.

She looks back at Hannibal, who is batting at the diminutive form of the Wasp. She sees the blood on his face, the rage in his voice as he howls at them like a madman, howling how very sorry he is...

She looks back at the woman on the floor... she looks and she knows who it is. The cloaked woman... the one who told her that everything would be alright... the one who might be her friend... who might have been her friend...

She feels the rage building inside of her. The flames dance in her eyes. Whatever his reasons - Hannibal King had killed the chance of a life that might never be. For that - he had to die...

The woman who was Satana Hellstorm, Mistress of Limbo, and sister to the former Defender and Lord of Hell, launches herself into the fray with nothing less than murder on her mind.

NEXT: The battle between the Defenders! But what will happen when Satana joins the fight? What will be revealed when Valkyrie and Jennifer March reach Valhalla? And just how secret are the Secret Defenders anyway?