"As one could imagine, the results of so many people crowded under a veil of darkness has been catastrophic. Panic and enraged people have taken to the streets, and widespread looting and vandalism are being reported. All phone lines in New York City have been overloaded as the numbers of calls to and from the city have overloaded the telephone circuits systems. Hospitals are scrambling to cope with patients without electronic supports, increasing alarming amounts of injuries, and staff that are running to find their own families and safety. Local police are taxed beyond limits, trying to keep their own staff under control, and deal with a city drenched in total chaos.

"President Kelley, in Hong Kong for a summit on cloning and cellular engineering, has been informed of the situation and is currently headed back home aboard Air Force One. The president has already declared New York in a state of emergency, and has asked most of his top aides to be ready when he arrives at the White House soon.

"The cause of the outage at this time still remains a mystery. Because of the unique fashion by which it has spread, and the large area it has enveloped, most experts we have consulted seem to place the possibilities at this time at one of two causes. One is that some sort of virus had someone made its way into New York Power and Electric's computer system and has somehow managed to erode the company's heavy security systems. This one seems unlikely as we have recently learned that NYPE recently upgraded their security to the tune of nearly five million dollars thanks to CyberLock Security. The other theory, one which seems to be gaining steam, is the idea that this is in fact a terrorist attack on New York City. This is pure speculation at this time, as no group has come forward yet to claim the blame. The terrorism theory would help to explain why NYPE employees, on the sights of several generators and operations within the city, have been unable to restart any power and determine the cause of the outage.

"One curious item is that one section of New York City appears to be completely unaffected by the outage. Paris Island stands out like a strange beacon of light in a city enveloped in total darkness. The fact that this section of the city, known for its high-tech corporations, is home to international policing agency SHIELD, has caused further speculation that foul play is indeed involved in this situation. Strangely, both bridges, which provide access to Paris Island have been raised and all calls to SHIELD, regardless of which worldwide bureau one contacts, go unanswered.

"Okay, I am now getting word that we have established a satellite phone link to Martin Johnson, one of our correspondents inside New York City. We are now going to take you live to him.

"Martin, can you hear me?"

"Indeed I can, Vicki."

"Martin, it sounds like there is a lot of action going on around you. Can you tell us what is happening?"

"Well Vicki, it all started at Gotham University earlier this evening. Nearly twenty thousand college students and high-school age urbanites were here at Gotham U. Stadium attending a concert by 70's funk sensations Hypno-Hustler and the Merci Killers and controversial rap artist NME. Barely ten minutes into NME's set, all power disappeared, and the crowds went wild. Incited by an angry NME, the crowd went crazy, destroying everything in sight, and building a huge bonfire in the center of the stadium. Soon, the riot spilled onto the streets and now has flooded the nearby streets with a frenzy of destruction and chaos.

"Right now I am standing outside a nearby Omega Mart discount store. Vandals have broke out many of the building's glass windows and doors and people are streaming in and out, looting whatever they can get their hands on. Just two blocks down a four car pile-up resulted in an explosion that we can see still burning. Even though it happened nearly twenty minutes ago, still no police or ambulance has yet to arrive.

"Wait, Vicki, something is happening . . . "

"What are you seeing Martin?"

"Something big and loud is coming this way in the sky, Vicki. Wait, I can see them now. Large transport helicopters, Vicki, three of them. They are landing in the large industrial complex just south of us. Okay, Vicki, the hatches are opening. I see large vehicles, Hummers, heavily packed with spotlights and other equipment. Wait, they have insignias on their side. It is SHIELD, Vicki. There are SHIELD Agents coming out of each vehicle. Lots of SHIELD Agents. They appear to be in riot gear. They are dispersing in tight formations, apparently set to bring some type of order to the ravaged area . . . "

They had Oliver trapped and he knew it. They had given him a choice, either try to deal with them or go out and try to save a city thrown into total chaos by this devastating power outage. They had known that it really wasn't much of a choice at all for Oliver. He couldn't sit by and watch the city devour itself. He had to try and save people from themselves.

There was another problem. How could Oliver stop the Manhunters? Right now, he wasn't even sure whom he could trust. He already discovered that one of his trusted friends, Agent Mark Shaw, had been a Manhunter. Who else? Other than Roy Harper, who he known since a child, and Agent Sasha Martens, who was currently in SHIELD's infirmary, nursing wounds, Oliver wasn't sure who he could trust. He was pretty sure his old allies Forge and Henry Pym were safe, because they had been attacked by the Manhunters and were currently being held captive by the Manhunters at the SHIELD base. He hoped his good friend Ben Turner wasn't one of them. Everybody else? Well, he just wasn't sure about. That scared Oliver, because it made a plan to retake SHIELD that much more difficult.

"Wow, Vicki, SHIELD has really started to take control of the situation here. Armed with water cannons and stun guns, they are cutting a swath through the rioters. They seem to be trying to inflict the minimum amount of damage to people, simply trying to incapacitate and prevent any further damage. There also seems to be quite a few medical technicians with them also, because many of the injured are being treated as best as possible. SHIELD agents have also stopped the fire created by that pile-up. They seem to simply be moving block by block, restoring order to the insane chaos which is plaguing our city."

"Thank you, Martin. We here at the CNN Broadcast center are now receiving reports that similar SHIELD troops have touched down all over the city. It seems with the local police incapacitated, and the national guard not moving fast enough to prevent the chaos and damage, SHIELD has decided that it is there place to step in and restore some sort of order. It appears that SHIELD has even set up several mobile hospitals in makeshift areas, including the abandoned Gramercy Theater in Manhattan. They have even gone so far as to fly in emergency doctors and nurses they were able to persuade to join them from nearby cities and states. Reports are that casualties, as the results of fires, looting, and rioting are rather high.

"Another report we just received places SHIELD Agents aiding the Super Unit Police in stopping a gang-war riot in Chinatown. Apparently the Blood Syndicate gang saw the blackout as an opportunity to attack and destroy rival gang, the Black Dragons. The firefight has apparently killed several, and erupted into a full scale assault on Chinatown and it is taking the combined efforts of the Super Unit Police and SHIELD Agents to stop the fighting.

Roy and Duchess arrived at the Second National Bank of New York to see shattered glass and burnt steel. Curious, but cautious, the two stealthfully made their way into the building. Looking deserted, the quiet was disrupted by a loud explosion below them. Leaping behind the counter, they found their way to stairs that evidently led to the bank's vault below.

After quietly walking down the stairs, the cause of the explosion was quite evident. Roy had to duck quickly as a razor edged boomerang zipped across the air above his head and back to it's wielder. Standing before them were the notorious two-bit costumed criminals Captain Boomerang and Heatwave.

"Buggars, Mate," shouted Captain Boomerang to his partner, "it appears we got ourselves a problem."

"You bet you do!" shouted Duchess as she threw her massive gun at Boomerang's head. As he ducked he threw another boomerang at both her and Roy. Duchess leaped through the air at Heatwave, the boomerang striking it's victim and embedding into her leg. Seemingly unfazed, Duchess reached Heatwave before he could fire his heat gun, and pummeled the man into submission. Roy dodged his boomerang again, and fell to the ground, firing a barrage of needles from his Viper Stungun. Boomerang fell to the ground as the needles struck him in the chest, causing temporary paralysis.

"Are you all right, Duchess?" asked Roy as he curiously stared at the Boomerang sticking in the side of her leg.

"I'll live," said Duchess very matter-of-factly as she pulled the boomerang from her leg. She then harshly pulled the silk scarf from Captain Boomerang's neck and tied it around the wound to stop the flow of blood. She then grabbed the two villains by their necks and began to harshly drag them up the stairs, making sure they hit each step hard as she slowly walked up the stairs.

Roy just shook his head as he watched. He began to follow, then noticed his communicator was pulsing on his wrist.

"Agent Harper here."

"Roy, it's Ollie. You busy?"

"Not really, just bagged a couple of costumed cheeseheads trying to make some quick cash. What do you need?"

"You here, as soon as possible."

"I am on my way, Ollie."

"I am," said Oliver. He decided he had to take a chance. He had called Roy Harper and Ben Turner from their duties, so he could tell them the truth about the Manhunters. "This whole blackout is part of some grand scheme of theirs. I am not quite sure what it is. Worse still, for all I know my whole team, hell, the whole SHIELD force out here could be filled with undercover Manhunter Agents. I have no idea who we can trust. They have infiltrated and completely taken control of the Paris Island headquarters, and maybe other headquarters as well. They are holding Forge, Henry Pym, and probably others hostage."

Roy bit his lip, frustrated, "So what is your plan, Ollie?"

Oliver shrugged. "Good question. Right now, I think it is best to play along with this ‘game' of theirs. I just am not sure why they are letting us live or what this whole plan of theirs is. I figured I let you guys know, keep you close, and maybe, when we get this blackout under control, we can make our way back to SHIELD and put a stop to these Manhunters. I am not sure who else we can trust, so right now, lets just keep this between us, and we will deal with it when we get back to the base."

"Director Queen called both Agent Harper and Agent Turner from their assigned duties for a special meeting. They spoke secretly for around ten minutes, then went back to quelling a nearby uprising. It is obvious that he told them both of our presence."

"Does it appear they are speaking with anybody else?"

"No."

"Excellent, and is our plan moving ahead as scheduled."

"Perfectly."

"Excellent. Then at dawn we will restore power to the city and the final stage of this operation will begin."

"Agreed. I had better get back to the mission before they suspect me. Agent 35. Out."