Using the Cosmic Cube to watch the Exiles from his New York hotel room, Red Skull realizes that Captain America must have evaded the Exiles by removing the Skull mask. On the Isle of Exiles, Sam dons his Falcon costume and Cap trains him in hand-to-hand combat. Back in the states, the Skull evades a crowd of Cap’s fans who storm his hotel room, seeking handshakes and autographs. Their disappointment plays into the Skull’s plans to ruin Cap’s reputation. Meanwhile in his room at Avengers Mansion, Rick makes the fateful decision to take “Cap’s” advice and quit as the Avenger’s partner. Later at AIM HQ, MODOK’s scientists continue their efforts to deactivate the Cube. Back on the Isle of Exiles, Cap and Falcon attack the Exiles and defeat them, but as the Nazis retreat, the Skull exhausts his patience and decides the time has come for the final confrontation.