Rich Rider attempts to reason with Galactus's herald but the Surfer replies with another energy blast! The WorldMind generates a gravimetric shield and successfully stops the blast. Discovering that his foe can not or will not listen to reason, the Nova Centurion changes his tactics and heads towards Galactus himself! Nova tells the WorldMind that the Silver Surfer won't fire at them if they are so close to his master. The artificial sentience agrees with Rich's move.

However, the silver-skinned herald continues his pursuit of the Earthman as they both fly past the silent body of Galactus. Nova uses the opportunity to attempt contact with the Surfer on all channels of communication. The only response he receives is silence. Rich Rider decides that he is no longer going to keep running and decides to fight back! He has the WorldMind generate a full shield and routes full gravimetric power to both hands. Nova turns and races towards the Silver Surfer at full speed! The powerful collision knocks the Surfer off his cosmic board!

Unfortunately, the Silver Surfer quickly recovers and their struggle begins again. Nova is barely able to hold his own against the herald as Galactus continues to look on. Rich Rider continues to plead his case for extra time to save the Orbucenians. The two combatants plummet to the planet's surface and crash hard into the ground. Without warning, the Silver Surfer begins talking to Nova. The Surfer explains that he can talk now that they are beyond the range of Galactus's perception.

The silver-skinned herald explains that Galactus does not recognize Nova as the devourer perceives him to be a lower lifeform. As the conversation continues, Nova realizes that the herald has changed since he became a herald for the second time. The Silver Surfer tells the Earth hero that he respects him and asks the young Centurion to leave the planet before it's too late.

Rich continues trying to convince the Surfer that he needs a few hours to save the planet's inhabitants. The possessor of the power cosmic asks for more information regarding his request. Nova explains that Galactus's ship is generating an electromagnetic distortion that prevents the drive systems on the Orbucenian's space arks from being able to launch. In a silent display of pure power, the Silver Surfer blinks his eyes and announces that the ships are now shielded!

As the Silver Surfer departs, he instructs Nova to get the ships to safety and leave the planet. The human rocket contacts the Orbuceni Central Authority and informs them that they can now launch. Fifteen minutes later, Nova arrives to collect the shadow creature Harrow to deliver him to an offworld tribunal. However, when he arrives, Rich discovers a number of dead bodies! The WorldMind immediately activates the Nova helmet's psi-shields to protect them from a mental attack.

Rich instructs the WorldMind to scan for Harrow's psionic profile and pinpoint its location. The artificial sentience argues that there is not enough time to search for Harrow. After a brief argument, the WorldMind informs Nova that Harrow is located at the Zeta launch site at the western city limits. The angry Earthman flies to the site.

Elsewhere, Harrow continues its murderous rampage across the launch site using the body of the Adjudik. On Ark Ship 42, the last remaining ship, the Authoritik is preparing to leave behind a number of refugees in order to protect the others from Harrow. Before the order can be completed, Nova rockets in and knocks the Adjudik to the ground with a blistering hit!

Rich Rider quickly contains the creature in a localized gravimetric node of twenty gravities. He yells to the people to finish boarding the ship and that they are now safe from Harrow. However, the shadowy creature has learned from their last encounter and has adapted its power. Harrow escapes the node and throws Nova hard into the ground! Rich quickly responds with an energy blast.

Meanwhile, the Orbucenians have finished loading onto space ark and launch into space. However, Nova and Harrow happen to be located underneath the ark as it launches and are caught in the drive system's ignition. The energy destroys the Adjudik's body and incapitates Nova. When the Earth hero recovers, he is informed by the WorldMind that they waited too long to leave the planet. The electromagnetic distortion has made it impossible for them to open a stargate to escape. They are trapped on the doomed world as Galactus descends to finish its destruction!