Rom crashes through the skylight of Laserium Corp. in Lansing, West Virginia, interrupting a heist organized by mobster Archie Stryker, who has kidnapped the company manager to force open the vault. Rom activates his Energy Analyzer, which reveals that the terrified manager is in fact a Dire Wraith in disguise. The Stryker gang, whose bullets bounce harmlessly off Rom's armor, fires a laser cannon at him — the first Earth weapon to cause him pain — but Rom shrugs it off and turns his attention back to the Wraith.
The Wraith reveals its plan: it was placed in control of Laserium Corp. to covertly build a massive laser-based transmission beacon, using human science to attract other Wraiths still wandering space back to Earth in preparation for a full-scale invasion. Before Rom can banish it, the Wraith fires a disruptor weapon, then, as it is struck by Rom's Neutralizer and begins dissolving, manages to hit the master control button — activating every laser display in the showroom. The resulting blasts stagger Rom, and Laserium Corp. erupts in flames. Rom rockets skyward as the building burns, and the fleeing Stryker gang is arrested by police, who assume Rom destroyed the building.
The next morning in Clairton — a small suburban community twenty miles from Lansing still reeling from Rom's first visit — Brandy Clark is recovering at her parents' home. Her boyfriend Steve Jackson and family doctor Dr. Peters believe she suffered shock-induced delusions. Brandy insists the Dire Wraiths are real, living among humans in disguise. In the backyard, Rom returns seeking information. Brandy, following her heart, speaks with him. Rom tells her he tracked a Wraith to the Laserium lair, and that a hardened criminal had displayed misguided valor trying to protect the Wraith from his vengeance. Steve, returning to find Brandy with Rom, calls the police.
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., a raven flies into a secret military intelligence facility called Safeguard and transforms into a Dire Wraith woman disguised as Clara Knowles, the switchboard operator of Clairton. She reports to a Senator and his aide that Rom has arrived on Earth and has already banished five Wraiths to Limbo. S.H.I.E.L.D. has confirmed his presence. The Senator — himself a Wraith — orders Rom destroyed, with human resources to be used unknowingly toward that end.
Back in Clairton, Chief Rogers arrives with officers and a special bazooka blaster — a weapon he claims military intelligence has been preparing since learning of Rom's arrival. The police open fire. When ordinary bullets and the bazooka blaster alike fail to stop him, Rogers — revealed as another Wraith — activates a Wraith Sonic-Shatterer mounted on his patrol car, causing Rom severe pain. Brandy's dog is caught in the crossfire and killed. Enraged and grief-stricken, Rom uses the Energy Analyzer to expose Rogers as a Wraith, tears open the patrol car, pulls Rogers out, and banishes him to Limbo with the Neutralizer — as horrified bystanders believe he has murdered the police chief.
Rom hesitates to explain himself. Knowing his presence has brought Brandy only grief, he chooses to depart in silence, deciding his war against the Dire Wraiths leaves no room for friendship — or love. Archie Stryker, watching from the police car, vows to hunt Rom down and destroy him. The final caption announces the coming of Firefall.
Give that special marvelite a timely gift