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The Cancerverse has invaded the Negative Zone, and once sworn enemies, Blastaar and Annihilus band together to stop the encroaching forces, however, as Blastaar commands his forces, Annihilus slips into the Positive Zone in an effort to find help – only to discover the Cancerverse has already arrived here – led by the Sentry!
The scene of the issue opens with Richard, as Nova reflects on his life – how Dey had bestowed him with the Nova powers, how he fought a number of villains such as Sphinx and Diamondhead, then joining the New Warriors, then how he and Starlord chased Thanos into the Cancerverse to ensure he never escapes; but he did and when Nova followed, he didn’t know he brought something with him and Sam Alexander, a younger Nova, was able to help Richard. Realizing Earth was in good hands with Sam Alexander, Rich had taken to living in space.
Nova finds himself facing a beaten Annihilus, a being that Richard himself once killed during the Annihilation wave. Annihilus pleads for Richard to summon the other Nova Corps, but Richard explains that he would – except they’re all dead. Just then Annihilus’ own soldiers arrive but they’re clearly infected by the Cancerverse! Richard freaks out – but quickly comes to his sense. He returns, pushing Annihilus’ ship into a nearby sun – and surprise when Annihilus explains he’s surprised Richard survived – much to Richard’s disappointment that Annihilus is still alive.
Richard takes Annihilus to Earth to seek out the assistance of the Fantastic Four, but discovers they’re gone and that Franklin and Valeria Richards are home. While the two young children refuse to help Richard and Annihilus originally, they change their mind later, explaining that the other members of the Fantastic Four were investigating the reports of the Cancerverse. (See Fantastic Four – Annihilation Scourge). The kids help restore some of Annihilus’ energy and send him and Nova through a portal, teleporting them to the moon that orbits the planet Ollirg – and the duo observe the planet has been incinerated.
When they arrive on Ollirg, they discover that the planet had been incinerated by the native alien species on the planet as way of ensuring that the Cancerverse would not win the war against them, and that they’d taken the victory away from the Cancerverse assault. When a young alien begins to wimper, Annihilus offers to kill it before they’re discovered, but Nova stops him – but it’s too late, their position is discovered and Nova goes out to fight them – as he blasts them – he waits for them to rise again, as they’d always done in the past – but Annihilus explains that in the Negative Zone, things work differently and they’re cut off from their ability to rise again. Nova realizes this is where they need to fight the Cancerverse assault then – because this is the only place where they stay dead.
Nova fights the approaching assault and is decimating their forces when he’s struck by an unseen enemy – and when he looks up – it appears to be Sentry. Sentry explains that there is no good or evil – he simply exists – and time displaced versions of the Avengers capture Nova. Before “Captain America” can infect him, Nova blasts off – and seemingly escapes, abandoning the planet entire.
Note: The story then concludes in Annihilation Scourge: Omega.