We're in Virginia, where it's the first day of school at the Legend Factory for Mechanna. It's the Monday after the funeral of StarStrike, and Mechanna stayed behind when the other APEX members went home, so she could complete the 8-week program and get certified to be a practicing super-hero in the United States. A few days ago she was back home in Scotland, the only home she'd ever known. And now this. To say it's all overwhelming is quite an understatement.

The Legend Factory takes up quite a few acres in Virginia, and Mechanna's in the main building, in a room called Home Room with the other four members of her class. They're all meeting for the first time, each led there by a Legend Factory assistant (all of whom are former D.E.E.P. agents and have the highest security clearance). Banner has yet to show up. Mechanna meets Prometheus, an aging Chicago firefighter who gained abilities late in life through a chemical explosion at a factory fire. He's a lot older than most of the Legend's usual students, but has plenty of experience, in his line of work, being a hero. He tells Mechanna he just wants to use his new-found powers to help people, like he's always done. Mechanna likes him immediately, and thinks he's very kind, unassuming and fatherly.

She also meets Inferno, a young flame-wielding hero who seems anything but unassuming. He's very cocky, and thinks he's going to be the next big thing in heroing, and is sure the Vindicators will be looking to pick up his contract as soon as he graduates.

The only other female in the group (and Mechanna is happy to see one come in) is a young woman named Slide, who's about five years older than Mechanna's eighteen. She has the power to makes herself intangible and "slide" though objects. She seems smart and friendly, and Mechanna likes her right away.

And finally, there is a rather odd young man who seems sort of uncomfortable around people. He stammers a little when the others ask him about himself and his powers, but manages to tell them his name is Billy. It turns out he has power over water. He doesn't make it, but he can control it if it's around. It seems he was a pool boy, and got the job of cleaning the pool at D.E.E.P. Central, not far from the Factory there in Virginia. A villain named Hellbent was being held inside, and somehow broke free while Billy was cleaning the pool. Hellbent blew his way out of the building, using his devastating flame powers, and in doing so blew up the chemical lab. The explosion from it washed over Billy and knocked him into the pool. Hellbent stopped long enough to laugh at Billy and call him a little geek before taking to the air. Billy just remembers being very angry (and disoriented), and next thing he knew, every drop of water in the pool emptied out and flew after Hellbent. The villain was doused and knocked out of the sky. He fell to the lawn outside D.E.E.P. central, dazed and half-drowned, and D.E.E.P. agents easily re-captured him. But they had a problem on their hands. Their pool boy seemed to have super-powers now, and since the accident happened on D.E.E.P. grounds, that made them sort of legally liable for him. To avoid problems and lawsuits, D.E.E.P. decided to put Billy through the Legend Factory just so he'd learn to control his powers. What he does with them after that is his own choice. Billy isn't actually all that interested in heroing, but as they all quickly realize, is quite obsessed with pool care. He plans on cashing in on his sudden notoriety and starting up a whole new business, moving to California, and becoming the pool boy to the stars. He even chose Pool Guy as his hero name, but the D.E.E.P. officer responsible for him, and Banner, talked him into taking the name H2O instead.

Banner shows up to greet the new class, and though they've all met him by now, all are slightly awestruck with his presence all over again. He greets them as a group, and explains what they can expect for the next eight weeks. They're each going to learn how to use their powers properly, safely, and effectively. They're going to learn super-hero history and paranormal law, and lots about current super-villains. They're going to learn some science and physics basics, and some other areas that will directly affect their hero careers. And, he tells them, they're going to learn to work as a team. He gives them a speech about not caring how powerful a hero is...he can never do it all alone. He talks about diversity in skills and abilities, and how they'll learn to cover each other's weaknesses and compliment each other's strengths. He says they'll learn about the hero inside each of them, and will have to decide, by the end, what to do with that knowledge. He's confident that each of them will walk out of his factory as heroes their families, and their nations, will be proud of. It will be a hard eight weeks, he tells them, but it will be worth it.

Each of them are inspired and motivated by his speech, and ready to get their first day of training started (especially Inferno). Mechanna is very nervous, wondering what she's gotten herself into and if she has what it takes to be one of these heroes he's talking about. One way or the other, in the next two months, she's going to find out.

Meanwhile, back in Phoenix, the other members of APEX have gathered--after each of them FINALLY taking a couple of days off and getting some rest--back at the APEX base. Since the team first formed, there hasn't been a moment to stop and breathe...with the murder of StarStrike, the quest to clear Dare's name and find the real killers, the journey to South America, and finally the trip to Washington D.C. for StarStrike's funeral (APEX #'s 3-10). After a long weekend with a chance to catch up on sleep (for everyone but Mercury, who doesn't sleep anyway), everyone's feeling much better, and ready to start answering some important questions.

Atlas, Mercury, Magistrate and Talon are in the base's ground floor kitchen, sitting around the table there and eating lunch. Mercury called the meeting, such as it is, because she felt they hadn't had time to really sit down and talk about APEX...what the team is about, where they want it to go, etc. And they hadn't really gotten a chance to know each other, either (except during flights or on super-sonic jets to mortal combat or funerals). With nothing too big in the city needing their attention, Phoenix's now-famed heroes have raided the fridge, made sandwiches, and are talking and laughing. Atlas has teleported his armor back to its storage place at AZtech, and sits there as Dr. Robert Mason. He's already revealed his identity to the other heroes, so he figures it's okay if the live-in support people--house manager George Darby and team pilot Nita Tores--know the scoop, too, so he's not going to stay in the armor all the time. After all, they both signed strict confidentiality agreements as a condition of their employment, so they could tell somebody, but would end up sued by the city of Phoenix. The things lawyers think up.

Magistrate is in costume, as normal, but is occasionally "body-switching" with his human alter-ego Dayton O'Brien, as she has thoughts and ideas to offer, too. As the two share the same mind, essentially, he could just speak for her, but prefers to let her do so herself. Everyone's beginning to get used to the idea of the two-in-one state of Magistrate, and Dayton is pretty much considered a part of the team as well. Talon is there in jeans and plain tee shirt, and he and Dayton seem to get along very well when she's occupying the Magistrate chair. And Mercury's wearing a tee shirt, too--it's the first of the new APEX shirts being sold to the public. Darrell Barrett, the team's agent, dropped off samples for each of them.

The heroes start talking about the structure and future of APEX. While they have a meeting room in the base proper downstairs--dubbed the "War Room" by the people who built the base--they feel the kitchen is the best place for this first discussion. They first recognize that none of them have ever been on a hero team before, so they're all starting from scratch. Before long, they've asked Mr. Darby to come in and join, and to join in the discussion. After all--he did used to be with MI-5, and has worked with strike teams before. George is reluctant at first, since they're the heroes, and he's just the house manager, but he's soon coaxed into offering some ideas. All of them have ideas to contribute, from different points of view. Mercury, from her vast reading and photographic memory, who's learned just about everything about the history of supers by now. Robert, looking at things from both a corporate perspective and from his putting together several teams of engineers and scientists over the years. Talon, from his military and intelligence background...and, yes, even from being on the other side of the law. And Magistrate, with the most crime-fighting experience of all of them, from his days in the Space Enforcement Corps, serving with other Magistrates. They also invite Nita downstairs from her room (where she seems to spend most all of her non-flying time), because they feel she's an important part of the team as well...and for the unspoken reason of wanting to get her to open up a little bit more. No one's quite figured out what a billionaire's daughter is doing working as the 24/7 pilot for a hero team, or what it is she seems to be hiding from.

First, some general ground rules are decided on. None of the heroes feel like they fit the role of a team "leader", like Wonder is with the Vindicators or Whitewing with the Herald (Talon and Magistrate trade a couple of biting remarks regarding that team at their mention, and manage to crack each other up, though both of them are known to laugh very rarely). They decide on a concept of a rotating chairmanship, each of them taking a stint as team leader at regular intervals. As Mr. Darby has gotten them all into a semblance of parliamentary procedure, a nomination, by Mercury, is made that Magistrate take the first stint. The others vote the idea right in. Magistrate's not too sure about it, citing that he's not even from their planet and is still getting used to their culture, and one of the others might be a better choice. He's reminded that he's got Dayton in his head to cover that problem, and concedes and accepts the nomination.

Next, the concept of functioning properly as a team comes up. Thrust into life-and-death situations together a number of times already, they've started to learn to work together. But they need more work together. They need to be able to read each other’s moves and signals and function like a unit. Mercury brings up the Mindscape system they have downstairs, the psionic VR machine designed to let them train in any environment, all in the comfort of their own minds. Everyone's pretty nervous about the thing, not liking the idea of something plugging right into their subconscious—they’ve tried it, briefly, to share in Veil’s psychic visions, but haven’t used it for extended periods, or for its main function as a combat training system. At this, Dayton emerges again, and discusses things from a scientific point of few, explaining the safety of it. Robert Mason agrees, reminded that he IS the guy who teleports a big suit of armor around him, only millimeters from his skin. They decide to give it a try, and make it a regular part of their schedule. And each of them will take turns "hosting" the sessions...choosing the environment and bringing their own experiences into play, exposing the others to new ways of thinking.

They decide that they need to really become part of the city, to get out there and let the people get to know them. Talon's the only one who's uncomfortable with this, but more or less agrees. This would include some publicity appearances (like the proposed "APEX Day" event Darrell Barrett is putting together, but that the team asked to be put off until Mechanna returns and the whole team is together), as well as regular scheduled "patrols" of Phoenix, just to let the people see that their heroes are out there watching over them. They discuss the idea of publicity, too, and all the marketing things that Barrett wants to put them through. They agree to keep it to a minimum, to focus on their jobs are heroes instead of the fame portion. The others feel that most of that kind of thing can be handled by Mercury, who's already being groomed for it with upcoming ad campaigns and television appearances. They all agree that she's the perfect one to represent the team that way...smart, well-spoken, and people seem to love her. Mercury, with a metallic blush, appreciates the vote of confidence.

They talk all through the afternoon, with Mr. Darby taking notes (he wasn't asked, he just started), and hammer out a good foundation. Something of a "mission statement" is worked out, as well as the beginnings of handing out responsibilities and duties. There's a lot to consider beyond just fighting crime. There's dealing with the press, relations with the city government and D.E.E.P., and any other number of necessary evils. They at least get the basics down, with particulars to be decided at the next regular "official" meeting. And they agree this one will take place in the "War Room" itself (and Mercury proposes coming up with something else to call it), and George and Nita will attend...that one, and each one that follows. A group thank you goes to Mr. Darby, in fact, for helping them get the day's discussion organized and for all his good ideas. Mr. Darby humbly accepts their thanks. They also take the time to go over team flight issues with Nita, and get as much input from her as possible.

Pleased with their progress, APEX splits off for the night. Before he leaves, Talon takes a moment to talk with Robert Mason. Since Talon's the one guy on the team who can't fly, teleport, or levitate himself, he's been thinking about personal transportation if they really plan on doing this "patrolling" thing. He's thinking motorcycle (he prefers to keep his Harley to his secret ID life, of course). He knows enough about them and can do the engine work, but he could use a few extras that AZtech would be able to supply. Mason tells him to give him a call, and they'll get to work on design. He's sure that between the two of them, they can come up with just what he's looking for.

Magistrate flies off over the city, and he and Dayton mentally discuss everything's that's happened, and how it’s going to affect her life. Due to a cosmic accident, he became a part of her, and he often feels like an intruder. She assures him, as always, that he's a welcome guest in her life, and though things have gotten more complicated, she's seeing and doing things she could never have otherwise imagined (she reminds him that just days ago, while experiencing things through his eyes, she actually flew through space, and was part of StarStrike's final release to the stars, something she'll never be able to forget). But, she agrees, things are getting more complicated for her school and career, and it has been on her mind (as he knows well). Her internship at AZtech is integral to the completion of her degree, and the more time Magistrate is needed (and right now, needed as team leader), the less time she'll be there, and the harder it gets to explain. Dayton comes to a decision, and mentally tells Magistrate where to fly to. She's got an important visit to make.

Mercury, the only team member living at the base with Mechanna gone, decides to spend her evening studying the ins and outs of the Mindscape system, starting by just reading all the manuals. She'd hoped to get Nita to join her, maybe seeing if the two of them could test it out and pull up a beach environment and have some margaritas with computer-generated hunks or something, but Nita politely bowed out, saying she was tired and just wanted to turn in. Mercury tried. She realizes it's going to take time to break down whatever walls are there. So, instead, she heads down to the sub-basement and studies manuals and watches training videos for the system provided by P.S.I. Labs. While she's down there, she hears a voice ask how she's doing. She turns at the familiar voice, and sees an intangible, ghost-like figure. She tells her brother Jack that she's fine, and asks the same of him. He just shrugs and says more of the same. She'd learned a long time ago not to ask her dead brother, whose ghost appears to her regularly, about what's happening on the "other side". When she was only fourteen, and he first started coming to her in the hospitals they kept her in, he told her a few things, but soon decided he probably wasn't supposed to talk about it. So they don't anymore. He just pops and in checks on her, and she tells him about everything going on in her life and accepts his advice. Tonight, he asks about their younger brother, Martin. She says he's still living with their foster parents in San Francisco, but when he graduates high school in a few months, he's talking about wanting to come to Phoenix and live with her. She's not sure how good of an idea it is, bringing him into the super-hero spotlight. Since her identity is not secret, everyone already knows he's the brother of the famous super-hero, but having him around it? She's not sure. Would he be safe? Would he be happy? Jack suggests she should let Martin make his own choices, and just be there for him. That's what family's for. She'll think about it, and see how he feels when school ends. They talk for a while longer before he has to go. She tells him she loves him, and she misses him, and wishes she could hug him good-bye. He smiles, and agrees on all counts. Jack Clark disappears. His sister Sandi thinks it's now probably a good thing Nita didn't make it down, so she could have a little time with Jack. Not that Nita would have been able to see him. Since the visitations started, no one has ever been able to see him but Sandi.

Dr. Mason heads back to AZtech and to his lab (less lab than powered armor body shop). No one else on his "Pit Crew" is there, all of them gone home for the night. He'd hoped (and yet didn't) to find one of his team there this time of night. He has big concerns on his mind, ones he hasn't shared with anyone--no one in APEX, not even his boss at AZtech, Eris Garner. Ever since the super-intel man Veil had told him someone on his team was selling company secrets (APEX #9), he's been watching for any kind of clue as to who it is. He trusts them all so completely, it kills him to think of one of them as a traitor. He wants to find out who it is on his own, and find out why. Sitting at his desk, he starts to come up with a plan of attack to discover the mole.

While he's doing so, he notices his mail in his in-box. A postcard is there from Paris. It's from Dana Fischer, the Myst International P.R. Rep who recently came to town under the guise of negotiating an inter-company project with AZtech, but was actually trying to recruit him for Myst. Lovely woman, but her subterfuge--and making him feel duped--fairly pissed him off, so he doesn't think too strongly about the phone number on the back with the "call anytime, day or night" note below it.

Dayton O'Brien knocks on the door of a very expensive home, and the CEO of AZtech, Eris Garner, answers. He's rather surprised to see one of his employees showing up at his house unexpectedly, but invites her to come in. He introduces her to his wife Barbara and teenage son, Derek (who very obviously thinks Dayton's a hottie). Eris takes Dayton into his study so they can talk privately, since something's obviously on her mind. She explains that she's concerned about her internship, and the number of days she's missed. As Eris is the one who recruited her for the program, he's taken notice of it, too, but knows that her work with Aztech's X-Port Sector has been exceptional. He asks if there's anything he can do to help. Well, as a matter of fact...

To keep him from having a heart attack, Dayton comes out and tells him that she's also Magistrate before actually pulling the big switch to prove it. Eris is at first shocked, and then completely amused. Half the APEX team is either working for his company, or their fathers are (in the case of Mechanna's "Da", Dandus). She explains how the two become merged during an X-Port experiment, and how Dr. Richard Hatch was the only one who knew, and she'd asked him to keep it secret (so please don't fire him). Eris is amazed, and understands the problem perfectly. Dayton proposes this to him--a slight change in her work description. Suppose she were to become the official teleport rep for APEX, working with them to upgrade and fine-tune their T.O.T.O. system at the base? That way, her absences could be explained away more easily (off at the hero base), and having Dayton seen with the team as an AZtech rep would make keeping the secret ID easier if she's spotted with them at other times. She assures him she has no intention of asking for special treatment regarding her internship, and her work will not suffer. She just needs to allow Magistrate time to be a hero, too. Eris understands this, and thinks it’s a great idea. He'll talk to Dr. Hatch first thing in the morning, and get things set up (and tell him he can stop keeping the big secret from the boss now).

Dayton heads home, and sees Officer Pete Webber, her roommate Maureen's boyfriend, come storming out the front door, looking ticked-off. He sees Dayton approaching and softens up, giving her a smarmy "Hey, babe." She asks what's going on, and he says nothing, just a little spat...just Maureen needing to learn to grow up a little. He takes off, checking Dayton's bod one last time. Dayton quickly heads inside, and finds that Maureen has locked herself in the bathroom. She also notices broken glass in the corner of the living room, where someone obviously threw a drinking glass at the wall. She bangs on the door, asking Maureen to let her in. Maureen, obviously crying, won't, and says that everything's okay, that she and Pete just got into a fight, and it was her fault, and she just wants to be left alone. Dayton wonders if Maureen's really hiding in there to hide some fresh bruises.

Dayton is very angry, and through with this. Tal (Magistrate) feeds her anger with his own, at the idea that someone in authority, someone supposed to be upholding the law, might be acting in such a way. She decides she's going to find out what's going on with this Pete Webber, and find a way to help her roommate, even if she won't help herself.

Talon--Alec Kahlil--has turned in early this evening after returning home to his sparse, simple apartment and doing his nightly prayers (good Muslim that he is). He has a lot on his mind tonight. After finally having some time to slow down and think about it, he's dealing with the idea that he's suddenly an internationally renowned super-hero, and is trying to figure out what to do with this knowledge, and what to do with his life in Phoenix. He drifts off into sleep with more questions than answers.

And finds himself nailed to a cross.

He's hanging on a wooden cross, and glowing energy daggers are stuck through his wrists and feet, holding him there. All around him is a hellish landscape...fire, brimstone, Stonehenge-type structures and such. The sounds of horrifying, blood-curdling screams echo from all around, and the heat is almost as unbearable as the pain.

A man comes walking casually up below him, at the foot of the cross. He knows the man...Pedro Castillo, better known as Mind Dagger.

Mind Dagger greets him, and says it’s good to see him again. Says he just wanted to pop in and say hello. He pauses to fire up one of his mental daggers, and it sticks into Talon's side, bringing fresh pain and a grimace of agony to his face. Dagger says that Talon and his APEX friends caused him a lot of trouble, and he's not the kind of man who forgets easily. He's got some things to do, but he'll be looking them all up soon enough. He sticks a few more daggers into Alec before telling him that he has special plans for him and everyone else involved in the government department that both Dagger and Talon were once part of. Mind Dagger levitates up to face-level with Talon, runs a finger under one of his gushing wounds and licks blood from his finger. He tells Talon that his nightmare has just begun. A shimmering dagger appears by Pedro's head as he smiles (with blood on his teeth), and with violent speed he grabs it out of the air and plunges it into Talon's heart.

And Talon awakes, shooting straight up in bed, holding his chest.

He's covered with sweat, and can actually feel lingering pains in the places where the daggers were stuck in him. He leaves his bed and steps out on his balcony, breathing in the Arizona night air and trying to calm his nerves. Knowing Mind Dagger's telepathic abilities, he knows it's a safe bet that he hadn't just had a strange dream. Mind Dagger had been in his mind.

But...isn't Mind Dagger supposed to be dead?