Omega the Unknown,
confused by his recent encounter with Blockbuster, flies through the
air and lands on Park Avenue. He is immediately caught in an explosion; as he
watches, the vapors coalesce into Nitro who laughs. But Nitro saw Omega’s
red-and-blue costume and mistook him for his enemy Captain Marvel. He shoves
Omega and walks away; Omega follows and attacks him. They trade blows and Nitro
fells the hero and again walks away. Omega again follows but Nitro explodes
once more, vanishing in the act….
James-Michael Starling
and Amber Grant accompany Ruth Hart to the Port Authority Bus Terminal
to greet her friend visiting from Florida. Richard Rory arrives and Ruth greets
him with a romantic kiss; introductions are made and they return to the Hell’s
Kitchen apartment. On the step, James-Michael looks to the roof of the building
across the street and sees Omega standing there; they share a connection, then
JM goes inside. There is an explosion in the distance and Omega flies in that
direction. But someone who has followed Richard Rory from Florida stands in the
shadows and watches….
Omega arrives
at the disaster area, a now-ruined warehouse where a police officer ministers
to his injured partner. The cop directs the hero where the villain went. Omega
comes upon Nitro looking over equipment owned by Stark International. His plan
is to cause a ruckus and Iron Man will come and Nitro will get to Captain
Marvel through him. Omega arrives and attacks the villain. They trade blows for
several pages until Nitro determines to unleash a blast that will level the
building and kill Omega. As his power builds, Omega picks up a titanium steel
cylinder and brings it down over Nitro’s head, funneling the massive explosion
upward, bringing down the roof on them…
…which
James-Michael feels, causing him to react. Rory is confused for a minute but
Amber hands him a letter that just came in the mail for him. It is a warning
from the Foolkiller, giving Richard 24 hours to repent or die. But the
Foolkiller is dead….