The Germans knew they were losing ground on the Russian Front. They also knew that they couldn't walk away from it, ether. So, they called in their big guns. The German scientists had been developing a type of nerve gas for quite some time now, this was the right time to test it.

It was called Acrow Gas, after the guy who'd developed it. It was made originally only to stun, but enough of the gas proved fatal. The man who'd made the stuff wasn't even German, he kept his history a secret. But there was something about him, something creepy, something that would make you want to turn and run. Something evil.

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Jim Hammond, the Human Torch, was laying in bed when, "Brinnng!"

"Hmmm," he moaned. "Just five more minutes."

"Brinnng!" That ring woke him up as he grabbed for the phone. At first he missed. "Brinnng!" The second time he picked the phone up.

"What do ya want? I'm trying to sleep."

"Hi ya, Hothead. It's Dickson."

"I was trying to sleep."

"Sorry. Well, you do know it's well past eight, right?"

"Well of course I know it's -- Did you say eight? As in "Eight 'o' clock?"

"Yup, you over slept, I take it. Aren't you late for work or some- thing?"

"Thank you, but no. Vacation. Police don't get many."

"Toro get to school?"

"Just a sec," Torch set the phone down and went to go check. There was a cereal bowl in the sink and a note.

"Dear Jim,

I went to school by myself because I knew you had a hard day and probably wanted to sleep in.

Your Pal,

Toro"

Torch picked the phone up and started talking again, "Yeah, but I think I'm about to kill myself. There was a reason for calling me right? Or do you just like to annoy me like Namor?"

"Nope, there's a reason. You know how I keep dibs on what's go'n on in the war?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So, there's something going on with the Russians. They're losing ground, and quick. It seems way too fast. I'm thinking we should check it out. I couldn't get a hold of Cap or Subby, so --"

"So you want to send The Human Torch and The Human Rubber Band to the Russian Front. Am I clear on that?"

"Well, are we going or not?" Dickson asked.

"Wait for Toro, would you?"

"Fine, what time does he get back?"

"Round three, why?" Torch knew why, but just to be sure he asked.

"Meet me at the base as soon as he gets home. No delays."

Torch did as he was told. The minute Toro got home he told him everything. They flew to their part-time base and landed. Of course, Dickson was there to greet them. He told them that he had finally reached Subby and that he'd be there in a little while.

Dickson gave the Torches a little more detailed description of what was going on. "A couple of Russian soldiers said the Germans had some sort of weapon, but they couldn't remember. They said their memories were blank."

Just hen Subby flew in. "Oh, I see the firefly's already here. Hello, Dickson, Toro." He landed on the floor next to Torch as Dickson told him what was going on.

After Dickson told Namor about the Russians and everything else in between, he led every one to the small hanger that Namor's flagship was kept in. Toro had one question, "Hey, Bruce, where's Cap?"

"Don't know," he replied. "I tried a while ago .... nothing." Dickson walked up to the ship and opened the door. "Kept trying for a while, almost as long as I tried to get Subby, maybe longer."

"Hey!" Namor didn't like what Dickson had said. It got him real annoyed, you really don't want to get Namor annoyed.

"Don't mind him, Dickson," Torch laughed. "The only thing I'm worried about is Subby crashing us into a cliff."

"Don't worry, I wouldn't hurt them. I'll just throw you half way to Japan." Namor added quietly to himself. With that he walked into the ship and sat down at the pilot's seat.

Then the rest of the bunch walked up the ramp to sit down inside. Toro was last in and closed the door, "Click, click, slam!" He sat down in back with Torch.

"All right, keep in mind, this could be very, very dangerous."

Every one looked at Dickson like he was a complete idiot, the only sound was the wall that slides up like a garage door to reveal the New York night sky. "Crrrreeeaaakkk, snap, boom!" Then the thrusters on the ship powered up and...."Shhaa-booom!" That ship was outa there.

All was quiet until about an hour into the flight. They began talking about what they thought could be leaving hundreds of Russian soldiers without their memories, in comas, or dead. No one had any real idea, but they did have guesses. They talked through the flight until Namor spotted land.

"There's Russia, covered in snow, like it always is. Why didn't Germany wait for spring or summer. Even Germany's like this in the winter. Well, Russia never really gets rid of the snow, it just melts for a couple of days, then it snows again." Dickson tried not to think about the war that was raging over in Germany. He knew they had to stop in Russia to find out more about what was happening. Then he thought Man, Cap's gonna hate missing this.