Hawkeye, now security chief of Cross
Technological Enterprises on Long Island, is taking his new rocket
sled on a test drive through the sky. He spots a trio of interlopers
on CTE's roof and goes down to investigate: he fires three arrows
simultaneously, containing a bolo, a net, and some glue and traps all
three. Then we learn that the “baddies” are the sky-mobile's
creator Jorge Latham and two colleagues, helping Hawkeye test his new
toy. The firm's publicity director Sheila Danning arrives and she and
Hawkeye go off on their date. Back at his apartment, Clint showers
and changes, then, in response to her question, he recounts his
history: Clint Barton, orphan with brother, joined circus, taught
archery by his mentor the Swordsman, discovered mentor was crook,
nearly killed for his trouble, inspired by Iron Man he decided to
become a superhero, was mistaken for a villain and fought Iron Man,
omits mention of Black Widow. Then Clint's emergency beeper goes off
and he insists on going off to investigate. At the CTE warehouse he
encounters a costumed lady adventurer called Mockingbird; they takes
turns getting the drop on each other while she tells him that Cross
is creating some sort of mind control device—and then the guards
arrive and Hawkeye hands her over....
Returning home, Clint finds Sheila
asleep and wakes her—but something is still bothering him and he
returns to the warehouse. There he is surrounded by twenty guards
intent on taking him prisoner; he shoots out the lights and takes
several of them down in the dark until they reveal they have Sheila
prisoner. Hawkeye surrenders and drop him into a storage tank with
Mockingbird; he asks if Sheila is safe and then Sheila reveals that
she is working with the baddies and her part was to keep him
distracted—and then they start filling the tank with liquid
industrial waste. Hawkeye sinks into a depression while Mockingbird
nags him into trying to escape; with a cord and a rocket arrow-tip he
summons his sky-mobile, snags it and they are pulled to safety.
Dropping Mockingbird off, he crashes the sled into Sheila's office
window; he threatens her but can't bring himself to hurt her. He just
takes his bow and arrows and departs; as he goes by Mockingbird jumps
aboard. The rest of the ride is quiet....