The Cybernaut #3

AN ABANDONED TRAIN STATION, BETWEEN CALVIN CITY AND IVY TOWN
With the Cybernaut and Red Phoenix held at bay in the spy ring's headquarters by a cadre of Kobra martial artists, Rat speculates on who exactly Red Phoenix might be and why he is so familiar. It is clear that he does not know Red Phoenix is his brother. He also reveals he is in league with Kobra in an attempt to increase his weath and power, selling scientific and military intel to Chinese spies or the highest bidder. Then, Rat tells the Hoods (the martial arts operatives provided by Kobra) to kill the Cybernaut, but not to lay a hand on Red Phoenix-- Rat will defeat this interloper himself!

The Cybernaut defeats a bunch of the Hoods as Rat and Red Phoenix fight it out. But even as he finishes off the last of the Hoods, he is confronted by a monstrous robotic guardian which attacks with uncommon savagery and screams "Why?!?!?" at him repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Rat attempts to uses mystical kung fu combined with high tech weapons to defeat Red Phoenix, but the righteous martial artist overcomes them. During the battle, the Cybernaut realizes who the robot is-- it is the AI Sketch, corrupted by the computer virus and turned into a crazed killer. He realizes that even if he defeats this body, Sketch can come after him again: the AI can ride along inside other advanced computers and can possess robots, high tech aircraft, spacecraft, etc but it must transmit itself (which requires whatever Sketch is inhabiting to have the ability to broadcast or be connected via physical wiring).

Cybernaut manages to best the warbot but blows up most of the lab in the process, and Rat flees both Red Phoenix's kung fu prowess and the rapidly disintegrating lab. Red Phoenix and Cybernaut barely make it out alive. They discuss having common foes and decide to make a temporary alliance. They discuss Rat and his operation and the ramifications of his alliance with Kobra.

After Red Phoenix leaves, Cybernaut receives a message from one of his one of his Black Box contacts confirming his suspicions: Sketch the AI may have survived in one form or another, as signs have been detected all over various networks. His contact promises more info as it comes up, but Chet gets another call and excuses himself. He looks suprised as a strange voice asks if he "obtained the needed data?"

Chet listens, then responds sullenly, "Yes." It is unclear who the voice on the other end of the phone is, but it is clear that this person sent the Cybernaut to discover to get information on Kobra's attempts to create a new Lazarus Pit. It is also clear that, whoever this person is who can give the Cybernaut orders, it is someone decidedly sinister...