Synopsis / Summary / Plot
A guy referred to as Loco shows a hologram simulation of Quarry, the latest armour he has designed, to Aaron and Carson. Apparently it is to be used by someone who has agreed to be hunted by them. Carson is enthusiastic about the sport this new armour will provide, Aaron less so. Loco isn't happy that this hunt will be near a city, but the candidate insists on the venue and Carson thinks he'll be worth it. He's Owen Segar who used to be a Navy pilot and SEAL but is now living in a Vets' shelter. Aaron just hopes he'll give them a better chase than most previous candidates, which Carson says is exactly the point.
James Rhodes is flying his War Machine armour over Los Angeles, exhilarating in the improvements Tony Stark has made since they regained their friendship after the Hands Of The Mandarin crossover. Now he heads off to see his parents in Philadelphia for the New Year. And girlfriend Rae LaCoste will be joining them by plane tomorrow. Worldwatch will have to manage without him.
In the Worldwatch offices Ranald Jeffries welcomes their newest member Archie Park. Rhodey recruited him last issue from Stark Enterprises to maintain the War Machine armour. Archie doesn't know that JR and WM are the same person, and Jim only confessed to the rest of the team last issue. Meanwhile Sheva Joseph is setting off on a mission to Santiago, Chile to investigate reported human rights violations.
Rhodes arrives in Philly, hires a car and packs away his armour before approaching his suburban family home. He gets a frosty reception when he mentions Rae. They think he could do better, even though they've never met her. At 1st it seems they disapprove of her being a beautician, even though she actually runs a chain of stores in LA. But then it becomes clear it's because she's white.
Jim leaves in a huff and drives around town. He finds his High School boarded up, but Otis is still around to sell him a coke, and Marilyn to serve him a burger. She directs him to the Vets' shelter where he'll find an old army buddy Joe Barnes. And Joe tells him how another pal Owen Segar had 2 weeks ago gone off with Carson Rowntree, who Rhodey has less fond memories of and who has seemingly done well for himself.
Owen Segar is now in an abandoned industrial site in Penn's Landing, Philadelphia on the banks of the Delaware. He's wearing the Quarry suit and facing Rowntree in his Gunship armour. They fight for a while and Quarry is losing until he unleashes a mighty blast and then flies away. He messages back that he only agreed to this in order to get the Quarry armour, and now he's taking it. Rowntree calls in the other 2 as they chase Segar into the city.
Jim Rhodes has booked into a motel in Center City, the heart of Philly, remembering how Carson Rowntree was a thorn in his side through High School and then into the Marines. Then an alarm in his stored armour signals trouble reported on the police waveband.
Outside Gunship knocks Quarry out of the sky into the night-life of Philly's city centre. Loco tries to abort the game and call Rowntree off because of the danger to civilians, but Gunship won't quit. Quarry gets up and back into the air but it's War Machine who knocks him down again. So Gunship attacks *him*, figuring he'll put up a better fight. WM fires off some of the bigger guns Stark has equipped him with, and then crushes part of Gunship's armour before tossing him to the ground. Then Rhodes turns his attention to Quarry, who is confused by the current developments.
Another interlude. Rae LaCoste caught an earlier flight and turns up at the Rhodes' doorstep the night before she was supposed to get there. She gets a stony-faced reception.
War Machine rips off Quarry's mask and adds to Segar's confusion by recognising him. But they are both attacked by all 3 members of the Rush Club (so-named because of the adrenaline rush they get during the chase). Loco occupies giant armour under the name Locomotive Breath. And armoured Aaron has claws and a crossbow as Sanction.