Captain Atom likes to think of himself as a hero, but he can't shake visions of another fate that could be far more monstrous. And maybe there's more truth to this nightmare than he'd like to believe as he finally comes face-to-face with the bizarre creature that's been lurking in the shadows. Captain Atom wrestles with the guilt of hurting Ranita Carter. He is wanted by the United States Air Force and not trusted by Doctor Scott Alexander of the Continuum Research Facility. He ends up in the town of Washington where he discovers a whole town has been killed by some kind of monster that is both familiar and yet alien to the Captain.