It's the third night of the full moon. Gary calls Dr. Jackal and warns him that the Seattle Morning Post-Dispatch will carry the news that Dr. Jackal is being investigated for murder.

Darkseid, Lord of Apokolyps, arrives on Forte's front doorstep. He knocks insistently, then warns the heroes against interfering in galactic matters that are none of their concern. No problem - they haven't a clue to what he's talking about.

Ghost Girl confesses to Dr. Jackal that she initially dated him to make Steelhawk jealous, but she has grown to care for Jack and will help him with his current problem if she can. Meanwhile, Phantasm runs some tests and finds that the blood on Jack's suitcase and gloves is a nearly-perfect match.

The Mist, Phantasm, Phantashia and Knightsabre try to retrace Jack's steps, and discover that a record store near the "dead end" alley is currently home to the Pied Piper, Central City's sonic wizard. The Mist tries to enter and let the others inside, but trips the Piper's sophisticated sonic alarms.

The Piper gives a good fight, but is outnumbered and knows it. He flees behind some shelves, and Dr. Jackal decides to sandwich him. But the mortal Piper is impaled on some of his own equipment and is killed.

The Seattle Police and UNCLE investigators arrive soon after (Cathy Gregario has Radion in tow to keep an eye on her). The investigation is cut short as Barney's Records and Tapes is blown to smithereens by a sonic explosion. Fortunately the few injuries are relatively minor — but the Piper's organs, bagpipes and other equipment are destroyed, leaving the police very little to go on.

The police and UNCLE aren't too happy about the death of the Piper, and the death is noted in their reports, although no charges are filed for the time being.

But this evening is the night of the Mubarek-Markov royal wedding, and the heroes hurry home to clean up and make themselves presentable for the social event of the season.

Inside the fabulous nightclub, the anticipation is mounting. Guests include the President of the United States, statesmen, singers, actors, and the just plain famous.

Cathy Gregario is in charge of Federal security tonight, and the speakers in the pit are carefully examined to detect any possible Piper-planned surprises. Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat, is here, as is Jack Parker. Johnny Duncan (aka Leviticus) recognizes Mist without her mask, but doesn't let on. The heroes try to keep an eye out for trouble in the
vast crowd.

The ceremony commences soon after nine, an opulent spectacle that climaxes with the royal bride and groom kissing under a shower of flower petals. At that moment, however, the lights suddenly go off!

Chaos ensues as hundreds of people scream and run every which way in a frantic effort to find an exit. Roche, Sampson, Brutus, Leo and Clavius make a beeline for the Pit. Phantasm, Knightsabre, the Mist and Jack Parker move to stop them. Phantashia throws an illumination spell over the area, and the Secret Service uses the opportunity to try to hustle the President out of there.

The Roman Legion attack, and golly are they strong! Soon the floor in the Pit starts to glow red-hot, and the floors above start to tilt to dump everyone into the Pit. Knightsabre attempts to hold things down, while Phantashia and Phantasm try to jam the mechanisms that are lifting the floor by jamming debris into the openings beneath the floor.

Phantashia tears down the heavy drapes and uses them as a net to catch patrons tumbling toward the Pit. The President has been escorted out through a hole in the wall that UNCLE agents made when the doors were sealed shut. Jack follows to make sure the President is not abducted.

Forte destroys the mechanisms that threaten the patrons, and dozens of grateful celebrities pour out of the ruined Lion's Den. The last our heroes see of the Roman Legion is their bodies afire, revealing what look to be metal cybernetic skeletons, as they fall prey to their own insidious devices.

Miraculously, there are no deaths and few serious injuries. The President and the wedding party were unharmed, and most of the guests escaped with minor cuts and bruises.