Watching the capture is another masked man who hasn't been seen by the heroes. He's on a separate mission in a nearby building and worries he will be discovered. As he attempts to break into an office, the masked man sets off a burglar alarm. Nova hears the alarm and bolts into action! First, he uses metal bars to contain the criminals and flies over to the burglarized office. The Human Rocket crashes through a window, grabs the thief and rips off his mask. Nova is stunned to find that the criminal is none other than Mike Burley! Burley takes advantage of Nova's hesitation and escapes.

Later that night, Rich Rider and his brother, Robert, discuss their father's recent behavior. Charles Rider has made the mortgage payment for the next four months even though he is currently unemployed. He is also coming and going at strange hours and has been very secretive.

In Huntington, Long Island, Charles Rider is meeting with his mysterious benefactors; The Inner Circle. The mysterious group tells Charles he owes them one mission for the money he was given. If he refuses to honor the contract, everything he owns will be taken and he will never find work again. For the sake of his family, Rich's father agrees to the mission.

Meanwhile, Rich has been studying for hours but is not getting very far. He is too concerned about his father and the situation with Mike Burley. To help clear his head, Rich changes to Nova and flies into the night sky. Suddenly, his helmet's radio picks up a police alert at LaGuardia Airport.

Arriving at the airport, Nova is suddenly attacked by fellow super-hero, Iron Man! Before Nova can regain his senses, Iron Man is joined by another hero; Spider-Man. Escaping their onslaught, Nova is ambushed by the incredible Hulk and Captain America! As they battle, Nova realizes that Spider-Man and Captain America are flying. He knows that neither hero has that particular power and concludes they are robots. The Human Rocket unleashes his fury and demolishes the robots with his bare fists!

After the last robots is destroyed, Nova encounters the man behind the robot attack. His name is Nick Fury, leader of SHIELD. SHIELD stands for Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division and they have come seeking Nova's help. The attack by the Life Model Decoys was a test to qualify Nova for their assignment.

As Fury briefs Nova on the assignment, he reveals to the young hero that he knows his true identity. The leader of SHIELD assures the Human Rocket that all information linking Richard Rider to Nova has been hidden. SHIELD has approached Nova due to Mike Burley's involvement in a particular case. Fury reveals that Burley's brother, Samuel Burley, is one of America's leading nuclear scientists. He is also the captive prisoner being held by the mysterious man who controlled the Sandman. Mike Burley was told to commit a robbery or his brother would die. Nova prevented the robbery and SHIELD was not able to track Burley any longer.

SHIELD is trying to get to the mysterious mastermind and stop his plans for world domination. Fury shows Nova a slide of the elusive super-villain. Although shocked by the man's identity, Nova agrees to help Fury.