| A mysterious, crazy, disfigured man named Firebolt has come to "Slime Street" to "clean up the filth". Unfortunately, he has selected the Gem as a starting point! Worse, he has some kind of fire starting gaze! The Heroes control the blaze but Firebolt escapes with the help of a mystery benefactor. The 42nd Street Merchants association, concerned that the crazy villain will "cleanse" them out of their livelihoods, hires the Heroes. At the Port Authority Luke hits pay dirt when Rebecca Sloan arrives. She explains that Firebolt is her brother Anthony, and she seems to have some kind of ability to foresee the future. She relates how their strictly religious father punished them for using their abilities, until Anthony snapped and struck at his father, killing him and burning himself horrifically. She sees Iron Fist falling and her brother dying, which she wishes to avert! They reach the State Hotel, just as in her vision, where Firebolt is "cleansing". Danny avoids a bad fall and Luke realizes this is all the work of one of the 42nd Street Merchants - Phil Loman, who owns the building being cleansed. It's part of a plan to cheat his insurers and tenants. Luke and Danny try to help, but Firebolt cannot be reasoned with, and creates an enormous blaze that apparently consumes him. Just as Rebecca had tragically foreseen... |
