Meanwhile, Rich Rider is sitting on a rooftop agonizing over his crippling of Ginger Jaye's husband. Rich decides to quit being Nova and shatters his helmet. He quickly realizes that is impossible because being Nova is part of who he is. He wills his helmet back together and races off to stop a bank robbery.

When he arrives, Nova discovers that it's Kid Quarry who has committed the crime. After knocking Quarry through a brick wall, Nova remembers what he did to Ginger's husband and hesitates. Kid Quarry takes advantage of the situation to blast Nova and escape with the safe.

Later, Rich talks to his friends, Bernie Dillon and Roger "Caps" Cooper, at Marvel Burgers while he's working. As they are talking, Jennifer Smith comes in with Randy Reed. Jennifer is the attractive freshman Rich has a crush on and Randy is the baseball team's biggest player. While playing around with Bernie, Rich accidentally sprays Jennifer with the dishwasher hose! Randy tells Rich he's doomed.

Some time later, Rich decides to visit Ginger's husband at the hospital. He's not allowed in since his name is not on the visitor's list. Rich sneaks in through the window as Nova. Ginger is in the room and the two discuss what has happened. Rich promises to call her later. As he's leaving, Rich literally bumps into one of his enemies, Diamondhead! Fortunately, Diamondhead doesn't recognize Rich and walks on.

After changing into Nova, Rich chases down his foe. Diamondhead is about to kill one of the hospital's abortion surgeons. To Diamondhead, murdering the doctor is only a paid job, not an abortion issue. Nova grabs Diamondhead and throws him through the hospital and miles into the air. As they grapple, Diamondhead accuses Nova of being a mass murderer on Epyrus-7. Nova is stunned by hearing the planet's name and Diamondhead sends him falling to the ground.

While he's falling, Nova remembers the events on Epyrus-7. During the Skrull/Xandar War, Nova and Diamondhead had been allies against the Skrull. However, Diamondhead made a pact with the Skrull and betrayed the Nova Corps on Epyrus-7. He also betrayed the Skrull at the same time and infected both sides with a bacterial weapon that dissolved their cellular structures. As his Corps friends were dying with no hope of salvation, Nova released a full energy blast to express his anger at Diamondhead. The blast also disintegrated the dying Nova Corps and Skrull warriors. Afterwards, Nova couldn't deal with the guilt and the Xandarians buried his memories of the event. Diamondhead's mention of the planet have revived Nova's memory.

After the memories are recovered, Nova and Diamondhead look up to see Captain America watching their battle. Nova tells Cap that this is a grudge match and that he'll handle it. Diamondhead knocks Nova into the street where Captain America offers his hand to help him up. Nova pulls Cap's glove off his arm and activates the energy shield contained inside. The Human Rocket then slices the shield completely through Diamondhead and shatters him to pieces!

Captain America assures Nova that it was self-defense and not to agonize over protecting himself. Nova gives Cap back his glove and flies home. Back at his apartment, Namorita arrives to visit Rich. She tells Rich that since he wasn't there for her, she was going to find someone else. She then proceeds to take Rich's roommate, Bernie Dillon, into the bedroom and locks the door.