Tom Revere has attempted to instill in Phantashia all the “good” knowledge of the world by having her bone up on National Geographics, U.S. News and World Reports, and Atlantic Monthlies, and keeping her away from People Magazine and TV. Nevertheless, she decides to take a map and go downtown, where her abbreviated outfit (this is Seattle, in November, yet!) gets stares in the shopping district. Evidently, Phantashia does not get cold, often. As she rounds a corner, she is literally run over by a fellow who hurridly excuses himself and takes off. It turns out this fellow had severely beaten one Sheila Bishop in an alley and left her for dead. Jack (Dr. Jackal) Parker is called at his office and he comes down to see how his girlfriend is doing. Not too good. She’s comatose. And under police guard. In her room are two agents of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Turns out she is an agent who was investigating someone at the Seattle Star.

Meantime, John (Phantasm) Clayton is suspicious of Tom Revere and checks out his personnel file by making friends with the receptionist. He finds Tom has a long and checkered career—three different degrees from three prestigious universities, pilot in both WWI and Korea, employed by Hughes Aircraft and Nelson Aviation. Tom claims he piloted the Spruce Goose, hints “more than once”, and inherited a bundle from Howard Hughes.

Phantasm also finds a young cancer patient at Samaritan whose computers and nimble fingers allow him access all over the place. Phantasm is idolized by the kid, so the hero gives him a super-hero name, Hacker.

That evening, Phantasm is asked by Martin Chance to look into the kidnapping of a heroine in Vancouver, Blue Jay, whom he reveals to be Mark Hudson’s cousin. Indeed, her powers are derived from a powered costume based on James Hudson’s principles. While checking out a possible drug deal, Phantasm sees a small submarine surface behind the locks and fire a missile at two beach-goers. The only clues remaining are parts of waders, even though there are no clams here.

Dr. Jackal is also a busy boy. Downtown in the college district he meets a Bogart-type in a light trench coat, who roughs up alleged drug-dealing kids. The man says he is called Radar, and is out to stop the supply of a powerful and so far, legal, new addictive drug called “Q”. Jackal finds out the drug lord’s handle is “The Barracuda”.

Our heroes rendezvous at the hospital parking lot at midnight. First a car starts by itself and tries to run down Phantashia, then a crane swings over to try and drop a girder on her. The ghostly images of five Celt-like warriors called the Scourge of Fendahl arrive, intangible to all. But the heroes find non-reflective surfaces can hit them, using a car door and fists-in-capes. They manage to dissipate the specters, and our heroes have caused very little damage to boot.