At Avengers Mansion, the now-powerless Steve Rogers is being given a full examination by Tony Stark. Tony is guardedly optimistic, which does not reassure the Falcon. Steve is brought up to date on Codename: Bravo’s escape from the raft (last issue) and he is angry that he cannot be pursuing him. Falcon is going to search for the source of the Madbombs and he can’t get in touch with Sharon Carter…
…who is engaged in the fight of her life aboard the Secret Avengers’ Quincarrier. The newly released Machinesmith has infiltrated and taken over the ship and is using all of its weaponry against her. As she dodges violent attacks she has one reassuring thought: that her hunch paid off. Machinesmith knows what is happening to Steve. Her goal: defeat the enemy before the ship self-destructs….
At Ryker’s Island Prison, Falcon interviews the Viper who was captured last issue. The felon is fed up with life as a costumed crook and is willing to betray his employers. Problem is, he afraid of them….
Aboard the ship, Sharon is engaged in battle with a pair of animated space suits. Defeating them, she leads Machinesmith into the repair bay where she scoops up a massive gun while the villain animates an android. Machinesmith causes Sharon’s gun to explode then says his farewells. She tells him that the ship is set to self-destruct and asks him what happens just before that…?
At the Mansion, an intense Steve is working out while the news reports on the latest Madbomb-induced riot. Tony asks whether the problem could be caused by a loss of faith in Steve—that he has given up thinking the county will ever get better and is burning with anger….
So what will happen on the Quincarrier? An E.M.P. pulse will go off destroying Machinesmith. With the certainty that they both will die staring them in the face, Sharon demands to know how to save Steve. Machinesmith agrees—if she will let him go….
Falcon heads to the address given to him by Viper and enters the building. A sudden sound scrambles his brain and knocks him to the floor. He looks up to see Bravo standing over him. The smug villain calmly tosses a small Madbomb into the hero’s hands and it activates….
At the Mansion, Sharon strides in and tells Steve and Tony that she knows how to fix the powerless hero….