The Avengers respond to a group of Moloids and Lava Men violently rising up in the streets. Heading down to investigate, they find Mole Man, Tyrannus and Grotesk have joined forces against a common threat: Brutus and his army of mutates, from whom their minions were trying to escape. The Avengers reluctantly agree to help them, so long as they never attempt to conquer the surface again. Cap and Black Widow return to the surface to call for backup while the rest press on, until confronted by Brutus and his army. During the scuffle, the Avengers’ “allies” slink back and Vision and She-Hulk are captured, forcing the Avengers to surrender. Brutus captures them in an energy bubble and takes them for reprogramming. Meanwhile, an old woman who was watching down below hails a cab to head for the West Coast and find Iron Man.