Alone Against Alpha Flight!: Difference between revisions

'''While trying to track down Madam Menace, Machine Man comes under investigation himself as the central figure in a potential international incident.'''

Barely a week has passed since [[Machine Man]] [[Arms and the Robot!|first encountered]] the underworld armourer [[Madam Menace]], and the living robot is haunted by the possibility that she remains at large. Floating over the city skyline, Machine Man recognises the warehouse on the deserted pier that served as one of her bases. He heads inside looking for answers, but finds a squadron of [[Madam Menace's henchmen|Menace's henchmen]] burning documents and destroying machinery to cover their tracks. The henchmen scramble to combat Machine Man. In a moment of over-confidence, he fails to spot a particular goon who opens fire on him with a sonic rifle, fusing the circuitry in his left knee. Machine Man destroys the weapon and incapacitates the henchman.

Most of the goons are down and out, but Machine Man is no closer to finding Madam Menace. He grabs one henchman for interrogation, bluffing that he'll drop him from a height if he doesn't squeal. All the henchman can offer him is that Menace has gone into hiding; with Machine Man's finger sensors monitoring the man's pulse, he is satisfied that he has been told the truth, and he gives the henchman a soft landing on some of his still-standing comrades. With nothing else to learn here and his left leg threatening to overload, Machine Man heads home.

In Madam Menace's underground headquarters, [[Rollins]] reports to the boss lady about Machine Man's interference. Sensors placed all around the warehouse have recorded the living robot's every action, and Menace demands her men complete a full profile on his capabilities. She must study Machine Man – and in particular, his vulnerability to sonic weapons – in order to replicate his abilities and produce a full range of multi-functional combat units.

At Aaron and [[Peter Spaulding|Peter]]'s apartment, the strait-laced psychiatrist's worry for his superhero friend manifests as a swipe at the boorish [[Gears Garvin]]. The conflict between them escalates, as Peter accuses Gears of using Aaron as a simply toy with which to tinker, and Gears responds in kind that Aaron is a mere case study for Peter. Machine Man returns home, and the two men play down their argument as a mild disagreement over what to watch on television. As Gears tends to Machine Man's injured leg, Peter privately reflects that they were acting childishly by fighting over their friend's attentions.

<!--Across town, in a posh [[New York City#Manhattan|Mid-Manhattan]] hotel, Senator [[Miles Brickman]] campaigns-->

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"Is the lady of the house at home? I've come to end her ruthless criminal rampage!"

:—'''Machine Man''' makes his entrance at the deserted warehouse.